JAG

Operation Unified Response: JAG CORPS IN Haiti

Combating Piracy off the Horn of Africa

2010 

Vol. 12 

No. 2

Official Magazine of the United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps 

Making a Difference Around the Globe 

Shore

Sea

to
2 JAG Magazine - 2010 II 

The JAG Magazine is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Comments are not necessarily endorsed by the U.S. Government, DOD, or U.S. Navy. This magazine is prepared by the Public Affairs 

staff of the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the United States Navy. Address changes and submissions may be 

sent by e-mail to Ms. Natalie Morehouse at natalie.morehouse@navy.mil or by mail to: Office of the Judge Advocate 

General of the Navy; 1322 Patterson Avenue, SE, Building 33, Suite 3000; Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5066. 

Telephone inquiries should be made to (202) 685-5394.

4 Life in the Red Zone

6 Operation Unified Response: Navy Judge Advocates Assist Haiti

10 Mission Ashore: Legalman Provides Aid in Haiti

12 Combating Piracy off the Horn of Africa

14 Making a Difference in Afghanistan

18 Women, Peace and Security: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325

20 Impacting Diversity with Tradition

24 New Series: What’s in an OJAG Code?

Columns INSIDE

On the Front Cover

FEATURES

22 JAG Corps 2020

25 Fleet News

31 Civilians

32 Alumni 

33 Book Review: Flyboys

34 Milestones 

35 Photos From the Fleet 

Compilation: LT Benjamin Sandel, LT Billy Holt, LT Stephen Rosenlund, and LT John Konst

LT Jonathan Blazek 

LN1 Rachel Allen 

LT Janelle Kuroda

CDR Kimberlie Young

CDR Scott Thompson

LT Tashinda Glover

LT Jaimica Giarraputo- Criminal Law (Code 20)

Update from JAG Magazine. In the first edition for 2010 we published an article on Physical Disability Evaluation System that stated “the 2008 Act (2008 National Defense Authorization Act) now requires that lawyers be available early in the process." To clarify, in Enclosure 8 to the DOD Memorandum on Implementing Disability-Related 

Provision of the Act of 2008, paragraph E8.2. Legal Advice and Representation: E8.2.1. "Government legal counsel 

shall be available to consult (by telephone or otherwise) with a Service member regarding the Service member’s rights 

and elections following the Service member’s receipt of the decision of an Informal Physical Evaluation Board (IPEB). 

Military Departments may make legal counsel available to respond to inquiries by Service members earlier than receipt 

of the IPEB decision." The JAG Magazine staff regrets the misstatement.

Sailors assigned to USS Normandy (CG 60), unload humanitarian relief supplies to 

a village on the island of La Gonave, Haiti. Normandy conducted humanitarian and 

disaster relief operations as part of Operation Unified Response after a 7.0 magnitude 

earthquake Jan. 12. Find out more on page 6.
jag.navy.mil 3

The phrase “A Global Force For Good” is truly 

embodied in our Corps. Not many law firms can 

say that, but we can. From the legal assistance that 

we provide our Sailors and their families to the operational work overseas in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, 

and Horn of Africa; our professionalism and legal skills 

are in high demand. The unique services provided by 

our Corps are essential to the Navy’s mission across 

the globe. RADM DeRenzi and I are incredibly proud 

of the outstanding work done everyday to help fellow 

American citizens and citizens of the world. 

In this issue we offer a series of articles from members of our Corps who have 

been essential members of joint and international operational and strategic commands across the globe. From deterring sea piracy to providing disaster relief, they 

have provided superb legal solutions to their clients. 

Humanitarian Relief in Haiti

Within days of the earthquake that caused catastrophic damage in Haiti, Navy 

ships were off the coast of Haiti. Several members of our community participated in 

the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. In this issue, LT Benjamin Sandel, LT 

Billy Holt, LT Stephen Rosenlund, and LT John Konst, and LN1 Rachel Allen share 

their stories of the relief effort. 

Combating Piracy of the Horn of Africa

In January 2009, Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 was established with a specific mandate to deter, disrupt, and suppress piracy in the volatile Horn of Africa 

region. LT Janelle Kuroda provides a glimpse of life as the CTF 151 staff judge 

advocate, where she provided counter-piracy guidance to seven coalition navies in 

the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin. 

Law and Order in Iraq

In Iraq, judge advocates provide legal advice and support on issues related to 

detainee operations, international law, law of armed conflict, and military justice.

LT Jonathan Blazek shares his experience mentoring twenty-five Iraqi lawyers and 

their staff at Joint Security Station Shield, the home of the Law and Order Task 

Force in Iraq. 

Peace and Security in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, Active and Reserve Navy and Marine Corps judge advocates 

and legalmen work with NATO forces who are working to provide a safe and 

secure environment throughout the whole of Afghanistan and to help reconstruct 

the Afghan security and defense sectors. In this issue you will read about the contributions by our legal personnel assigned throughout Afghanistan to the counterinsurgency fight. In addition, CDR Kimberlie Young shares her work as the deputy 

gender advisor, responsible for the implementation of United Nations Security 

Council Resolution 1325. 

I hope you enjoy reading about our JAG Corps Community and its work around 

the world. Thanks to all who have volunteered for these vital assignments - assignments that made a difference around the world. It is a tremendous privilege to lead 

such a talented and dedicated community. 

JAGMagazine

Judge Advocate General

Vice Admiral James W. Houck

Deputy Judge Advocate General,

Commander, Naval Legal Service Command

Rear Admiral Nanette M. DeRenzi

Deputy Judge Advocate General,

Reserve affairs & Operations

Deputy Commander, 

Naval Legal service command

Rear Admiral Steven M. Talson

Command Master Chief,

Office of The judge advocate general,

Naval Legal Service Command

Master Chief Christopher J. Browning

Reserve Command Master Chief,

Office of The judge advocate general,

Naval Legal Service Command

Master Chief Jeffrey N. Luthi

Public Affairs 

Ms. Jen Zeldis

Ms. Natalie Morehouse

Editorial Board

LCDR Janelle Beal 

LCDR Marc Brewen

LCDR Sally Hughes 

LCDR Dave Lee 

LCDR Anne Marks

LCDR Sergio Sarkany

LT Chris Colby

 LT Lisa Senay

LT Dave Shull

Region Liaisons 

Naval Justice School

Capt Todd Eslinger, USMC

Naval Legal Service Office North Central

LTJG David Dziengowski 

Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington

LT Meredith Steingold

Naval Legal Service Office Europe, Africa & Southwest Asia

LCDR Vaughn Spencer 

Region Legal Service Office Europe, Africa & Southwest Asia

LT Steven Gonazales 

Naval Legal Service Office Pacific

CDR Colleen Glaser-Allen

Region Legal Service Office Pacific

CDR Glenn Hancock

Region Legal Service Office Hawaii

LN1 James Hills

Naval Legal Service Office Central

LT Jason Ayeroff

Region Legal Service Office Midwest

CDR Rock DeTolve

Naval Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic

LT Matt Rector & LTJG Adrienne Sadosky

Region Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic

LT Kevin Walker

Naval Legal Service Office Northwest

LT Matthew Schultz

Naval Legal Service Office Southeast

LTJG Matthew Roush

Region Legal Service Office Southeast

LN2 Claudia Loza

Naval Legal Service Office Southwest

LT Andrea Leahy

Region Legal Service Office Southwest

LT Jennifer Myers

Judge Advocate General

Not Your Average Law Firm

JAMES W. HOUCK

VADM, JAGC, U.S. Navy
4 JAG Magazine - 2010 II 

Joint Security Station (JSS) Shield is the home of the 

Law and Order Task Force (LAOTF), my current command in Iraq. It is a stone’s throw away from Sadr 

City, one of the most dangerous districts of Baghdad. All of 

JSS Shield's roads are gravel and most are lined by twelvefoot high concrete T-walls. JSS Shield does not have a USO 

and mail only comes once a week. But I would not trade 

my temporary home at the LAOTF for any other in Iraq.

Like all service members in Iraq, the majority of my time is 

spent at work. The typical work week is six-and-a-half days a 

week with one full day off a month. Working hours are generally from 0730 to 2030. As office demands ebb and flow, 

so do the working hours. I have spent many days pushing 

transfer requests and acquiring detention orders into the early 

hours of the morning. While this might sound intense, the 

work I do is so integral to the mission that it provides motivation. Having a great assignment certainly helps and I feel 

that mine is one of the most interesting among judge advocate 

assignments in Iraq. I have two primary roles at JSS Shield: 

advisor to the Defense Bar Initiative and Joint Investigative 

Committee (JIC) team coordinator. Both jobs can be frustrating at times, but both are also tremendously rewarding. 

As advisor to the Defense Bar Initiative, I help manage 

and mentor twenty-five Iraqi lawyers and their staff who 

comprise the Baghdad Legal Defense Clinic. This clinic was 

established in order to help Iraq’s legal system process the 

thousands of detainees currently awaiting trial. Due to a lack 

of judicial capacity and a damaged legal infrastructure, the 

government of Iraq is challenged to process these detainees. 

The mission of the Defense Bar Initiative can be 

difficult as legal and cultural differences abound and 

there is a lack of technological resources. For example, 

a relatively new law prohibits the use of a coerced 

confession in court. In the past, these confessions could 

be used under certain circumstances. When explaining 

this change to one of the defense attorneys at the clinic, 

he replied, “But how else are you going to get someone 

to confess to killing four people?” He had not heard of 

the new law, as there is no Iraqi equivalent of Westlaw or 

LexisNexis online. Even if there were similar electronic 

search engines, few attorneys or judges have computers 

that would enable them to utilize such resources. In a 

country still struggling to provide power to its entire people, 

high speed Internet takes a back seat to other issues.

Many of the cultural differences are ones I have grown 

to enjoy and may even take back with me to the states. 

For instance, every meeting begins with a cup of hot chai 

and small talk. At first, having just completed training 

at Fort Jackson where all activities were conducted at 

“combat speed,” I felt that such down time could be 

better directed. I came to understand the importance 

of such casual conversations in the 

Iraqi culture and I look forward 

to my daily cup of sugary tea. 

In my other role as JIC team 

coordinator, I help support Special 

Forces in their prosecution of cases 

against alleged terrorists. JIC teams 

are responsible for bringing cases to 

trial and obtaining warrants for targets. 

A JIC team consists of one judge 

advocate, one master-at-arms chief 

petty officer (MAC), an interpreter, 

an Iraqi investigative judge, an Iraqi 

prosecutor, and Iraqi investigators. 

The judge advocate works with the 

MAC, interpreters, and investigators to 

put packets before the judge to obtain 

arrest warrants, detention orders, and, 

ultimately, orders from an investigative 

judge referring the case to trial.

Working with the JIC team has given 

me the opportunity to see the entire Iraqi 

By LT Jonathan Blazek

Law and Order Task Force Iraq

Life in theRed Zone

LT Jonathan Blazek is assigned to the Law and Order Task Force in Iraq.
jag.navy.mil 5

legal process from the inside. The Iraqi 

civil law system is very different from 

the one to which we are accustomed. 

Their system is non-adversarial, with 

an investigative judge playing a more 

active role in the process than our 

judges. In fact, the prosecutor and 

defense attorney are generally silent 

during the entire investigative hearing 

as the judge questions the defendant. 

However, some things are the same in 

both Iraq and the U.S.; I now know that 

it is just as unpleasant getting yelled at 

by a judge in Arabic as it is in English. 

The JIC Teams and the Legal 

Defense Clinic are responsible for 

two of the three primary missions of 

LAOTF. The third is performed by 

the Judicial Throughput Team. The 

Judicial Throughput Team officer is the 

LAOTF liaison to the Deputy General 

of the Rusafa Detention Center. The 

team officer works closely with that 

center’s records office to ensure the 

efficient processing of detainees 

through the detention facility. 

The Defense Clinic, Judicial 

Throughput, and the JIC teams share 

a common mission: to help build the 

capacity for transparent, impartial, and 

independent criminal investigation 

and trials in Iraq. Some days we 

make great strides, while others feel 

as if we are only inching towards our 

goal. But every inch brings us closer 

to a stronger, more stable Iraq. 

The base amenities offer one thing 

that is almost unheard of for a junior 

lieutenant in Iraq - a wet Containerized 

Housing Unit (CHU). Our CHUs are 

the best in Iraq. Whereas on most 

bases junior officers often share a room 

and use a community bathroom/shower, 

I have my own room, shower, and 

latrine. There is also a 24-hour gym.

If you decide to do an individual 

augmentee, I strongly recommend you 

consider joining LAOTF. Nowhere 

else will you find a job that relies as 

heavily on daily interaction with Iraqi 

lawyers, judges, and government 

officials. I am sure that you will find 

this job as rewarding as I have. 

LT Jonathan Blazek is a judge advocate 

assigned to Law and Order Task Force Iraq.

Deputy Judge Advocate General

NANETTE M. DeRENZI

RADM, JAGC, U.S. Navy

We in the JAG Corps are focused 

on providing superb solutions and service to our clients wherever and whenever required. I consistently receive 

extremely positive feedback on the 

intellect, creativity, and dedication you 

bring to bear on your duties. You are 

flexible and adaptable, and you manifest the determination to overcome 

every challenge to get the job done. A 

primary responsibility VADM Houck 

and I share, is providing you training and opportunities for professional 

growth so that you may continue to 

serve our clients so very well. 

Along those lines, we’ve initiated the Legalman Paralegal Education 

Program (LPEP) to provide our Legalmen the training and education they 

need to do the jobs we need them to do. In addition, the Naval Justice 

School developed a comprehensive 52-week Legalman proficiency training plan to maintain a baseline for professional development. This plan 

will provide training material to every LN fleet-wide on a weekly basis. It’s 

vital to LPEP’s success that we recognize the capabilities of our Legalmen 

and challenge them with paralegal work. 

Our clients continue to benefit from our officer corps’ post-graduate education. This specialized education allows our judge advocates to concentrate in areas of law vital to the Navy. We’ve expanded our post-graduate 

school agreements with several institutions, to include Harvard, Colombia, 

and the University of Pennsylvania. 

As you will read in this issue, VADM Houck and I recently approved the 

charter for the Civilian Workforce Advisory Group (CWAG), comprised of 

8-10 civilians from across our JAG Corps. The CWAG will meet quarterly 

to discuss issues of importance to our civilians and raise them with JAGC 

leadership. Look for more information on this in the coming months. 

The JAG Corps also capitalized on several Navy initiatives designed to 

help you better integrate the needs of your work and your life. First, the 

telework policy has been expanded to all of OJAG and NLSC, allowing our 

people the flexibility to work from home. In addition, the Chief of Naval 

Personnel approved the Navy Total Force Domain Virtual Command Pilot 

Program, to include two OJAG billets - an O-6 billet located within NLSC 

and an O-5 billet in the Administrative Law Division (Code 13). Finally, 

we recently implemented a flex hour policy that allows commands to set 

core hours and then stagger support at other times to allow you to meet 

demands at home and at work. 

I look forward to seeing you in the Fleet and hearing your feedback on 

these programs. Until then, thank you so very much for all that you do to 

support the Navy, our Sailors and their families. I couldn’t be more proud 

of you. 
6 JAG Magazine - Spring 2010 

Navy judge advocates 

assist in Haiti

Operat ion

Unified

Response

On Jan. 12, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake occurred with an 

epicenter 14 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It 

caused catastrophic damage and devastation to one of the poorest 

nations in the western hemisphere. The tragedy led to an international 

humanitarian relief response, called Operation Unified Response in the 

United States. Within hours, the U.S. Navy became a pivotal part of our 

nation’s response, providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The U.S. response was coordinated through the State Department and involved 

the U.S. military, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international 

relief agencies. Within days of the earthquake, Navy ships, including the 

carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan

(LHD 5), and the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) were off the coast of 

Haiti. Several Navy JAG Corps members participated in the Operation Unified 

Response relief effort. These are a few of their stories.

LT Benjamin Sandel

USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) 

The morning we arrived off the coast of Haiti, the first thing I noticed was how 

heavy and muggy the air was – my first physical evidence that we were, indeed, 

in the tropics. Walking out through the open doors of the ship's hangar bay, I 

could see only a distant, hazy, smoke-filled picture of Port-au-Prince. Throughout 

our stay in Haiti, this was the most common scene from the ship, haze and 

smoke. Occasionally it would clear enough to see the city in the distance.

I wouldn’t venture to say there was “excitement” in the air. After all, 

we were diving head-first into extreme human tragedy. Perhaps it was 

more of an anxious energy. Why anxious? USS Carl Vinson and her crew 

had spent the last four years in the shipyards while the ship was refueled 

and refitted. Now, after four long years, USS Carl Vinson's Sailors were 

not training, drilling, practicing, or working on a perpetually stationary 

ship, but doing, and by order of the Commander in Chief, no less!

A general call went out for volunteers. Hundreds signed up. The strike 

group admiral took a helicopter into the city. Ship’s department heads also 

went in to assess the situation. Immediately thereafter, helicopters laden 

with supplies, mostly crates of water, started leaving the deck of the ship.

Operation Unified Response continued on page 8
jag.navy.mil 7

LCDR Jason Levy (far right), staff judge advocate for Carrier Strike Group ONE, interviews

Sailors in Isle de la Gonave, Haiti during a foreign claims investigation.
8 JAG Magazine - Spring 2010 

Operation Unified Response continued from page 6

Over the next few days, USS Carl Vinson’s mission 

became clearer as information came in from the city. 

Machinists on board crafted large water jug-filling stations. Thousands and thousands of empty water jugs were 

flown in. Everyone pitched in wherever they could, filling water jugs, working late hours on aircraft and on 

the flight deck, volunteering to load or unload aircraft 

on shore, and so many other endless, unheralded, and 

often mundane tasks involved in such an operation.

The work quickly fell into a pattern. All through the 

night, Navy planes from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, 

Cuba would fly supplies to the Port-au-Prince airport. Every 

morning, our contingent of helicopters would leave the ship, 

headed for the airport staging area loaded with water, supplies, and volunteer working parties. When the helicopters arrived at the airport, they would drop off working parties, reconfigure their loads, and fly to a designated landing 

zone. Once they dropped off those supplies, they would go 

back to the airport, load up 

again with supplies brought 

in by the planes, and head 

out to another landing zone. 

They repeated this process 

through most of the day. As 

evening approached, the 

planes from Cuba continued 

to fly in, while the choppers would head back to 

the ship. Once all aircraft 

were secure on board, the 

ship would leave the congested bay and head for less 

crowded open water. In the 

morning, steaming back 

into the bay, the process 

would start all over again.

My description of 

our time in Haiti is painted with a broad brush and very 

generalized. There were some people and departments 

on board that distinguished themselves greatly, such as 

the medical department and the supply department; but 

for the most part, Sailors on the USS Carl Vinson did 

the work of unsung heroes. Day after day, they worked 

extra hours, were tasked with extra duties, and even took 

on jobs that were outside of their areas of expertise. 

USS Carl Vinson left Haiti in the beginning of February, leaving behind two amphibious readiness ships, 

each with its contingent of a few thousand Marines, landing craft, and extended flight decks. We also left behind 

the hospital ship USNS Comfort, with hundreds of beds 

and full medical staff, and numerous other U.S. Navy 

and Coast Guard vessels, not to mention those from other 

countries. By the time we pulled out of Haitian waters, 

USS Carl Vinson had delivered 161.5 tons of food, 18 

tons of medical supplies, taken 60 patients into our medical ward, flown 2,200 sorties, delivered 87,200 gallons 

of water, and flown 435 medical evacuation missions.

LT Billy Holt

USS Bataan (LHD 5)

Upon immediate arrival off the coast of Haiti, Navy 

and Marine Corps helicopters began the seemingly endless task of delivering injured Haitians from improvised landing zones ashore to USS Bataan for medical treatment. At that point in our operations the commanders had not yet instituted the policy that no minor 

patients could be brought aboard without a parent or 

guardian. As a result, we were left with several children in our custody and little to no information available to assist us in returning them to their families.

Due to the human trafficking concerns that prevail in 

Haiti, the medical department requested my assistance. It 

wanted to ensure that the transfer of child custody follow 

proper legal procedure. It did not take long for me to realize that the innocent sounding question of: “what is the 

legal procedure for repatriating 

these kids” actually meant: “will 

you take care of this for us?”

Our first child to be repatriated was a nine-year-old girl 

named Estephany. Estephany suffered injuries to her 

hip during the earthquake. As 

we prepared to bring her back 

to Haiti, we quickly realized 

reuniting her with her family 

would be difficult, if not impossible. She could not remember anything about her parents aside from their names. 

She knew she lived in Carrefour, a city of 400,000, but could 

not provide more specifics as to her family’s location. While Estephany informed that she saw her parents 

after the earthquake, we had no way to confirm whether 

they were still alive and in Carrefour two weeks later. 

The guidance provided by the Joint Task Force in charge 

of U.S. operations in Haiti was to transfer custody of 

Estephany to the Government of Haiti. After considerable 

legwork tracking down the appropriate points of contact, we 

came up with a plan to transfer custody to the Police Commissioner for the Brigade for Protection of Minors (the 

Haitian equivalent of Child Protective Services). Unfortunately, the Government of Haiti was responsible for tens 

of thousands of recently orphaned and misplaced children and had just begun the enormous task of finding parents and reuniting separated families. After transferring 

custody of Estephany, I anxiously monitored her situation with the Government of Haiti. I was extremely disapJudge Advocate LT Billy Holt (left) helped nine-year-old Robinson (center) find his 

family again after Robinson was treated onboard USS Bataan. Also pictured are 

Maj Tom Jasper, Robinson's father, and CDR Christine Johnson.
jag.navy.mil 9

Operation Unified Response continued on page 21

pointed that its attempts to locate Estephany’s family were 

unsuccessful. I felt as though we had let this child down.

When the second child was ready to be discharged, I was determined to find a different solution. Our second unaccompanied child was a nineyear-old boy named Robinson. Robinson suffered injuries to his shoulder and hand during the earthquake. 

I knew that I would need the assistance of many to succeed in my mission of reuniting Robinson with his family. 

With the help of Marine Corps Maj Thomas Jasper (my 

green counterpart aboard USS Bataan – the staff judge 

advocate for 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit), I interviewed 

Robinson extensively to gain as much information as I 

could about his home and his family. Combining the facts 

I gathered during the interview with photographs of Robinson, I assembled a flyer to distribute around Robinson’s 

hometown. SSgt Pierre, a Marine Corps Creole translator who lived in Carrefour as a 

child, helped me locate Robinson’s family. We took photos of 

the family and then brought them 

back to the ship to show to Robinson to confirm we had the right 

individuals. We were very confident that we did because his sisters 

and father looked just like him. 

The next day we brought Robinson, armed with a huge bag 

full of gifts donated by the Sailors and Marines aboard USS

Bataan, to the landing zone in Carrefour and reunited him 

with his father. It was deeply moving to see the relief 

and excitement on Robinson’s father’s face when he saw 

his son. He expressed tremendous gratitude for the medical treatment his son received aboard USS Bataan. 

In an incredible twist of fate, when SSgt Pierre went 

to retrieve Robinson’s family for the reunion, he was 

approached by a man who insisted the U.S. had taken 

his sister on a helicopter as well. He showed SSgt 

Pierre a picture of his sister. SSgt Pierre took a photograph of the man and the picture he was holding, and 

recorded his contact information. When I saw the picture I could not believe it – it was Estephany! 

After the joyful reunion between Robinson and 

his family, I rushed back to the ship and immediately contacted the Government of Haiti. I sent them 

the photos and contact information for Estephany’s 

brother and urged them to quickly confirm with Estephany that this was her brother. Upon Estephany’s confirmation that we had, in fact, found her brother, we 

were able to reunite her with her family at long last.

I still cannot believe how well things worked 

out. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be 

part of this mission and to see how many people 

our Sailors and Marines are helping everyday.

LT Stephen Rosenlund 

USS Nassau (LHA-4)

I worked a variety of issues, including claims, disposition of medical patients, rules of engagement, international 

agreements, and immigration. Much of the work was preventative – researching the issues, briefing the commanders 

and Sailors and Marines going ashore, and making sure we 

were prepared for any challenges that might come our way. 

 In order to settle some claims that arose from damage 

caused by one of our aircraft, I went ashore. My Marine 

Corps counterpart and I flew via VH-22 Opsrey to Anse D’ 

Hainault, a small town on the western edge of the southern 

claw of Haiti. We landed in a cow pasture and walked the 

2km or so to the village, where we met with the mayor who 

took us to see the affected residents. After investigating 

the damages, we met individually with each claimant and 

reached an appropriate settlement to compensate for their 

losses. We were able to demonstrate to the 

whole community that America rights its 

wrongs and respects the people of Haiti. 

Haiti is a very beautiful country. The 

people are full of life, despite their difficult circumstances, and were very friendly 

to us. The sound of Haiti I’ll remember is that of women singing spontaneously, whether they were walking down 

the street or just sitting in their homes.

Everyone wanted to pitch in and 

help the people of Haiti in a tangible 

way, and I was no different. We cared for several patients 

with a variety of injuries during our time in Haiti; but I 

will never forget the one-week-old infant who arrived 

in our medical ward in a cardboard box marked “Baby 

inside. Do not throw away.” We cared for her, and ultimately, the child’s mother was found. She was flown 

to the ship, and they were reunited. Having the patients 

onboard brought the suffering in Haiti close to home for 

us, quite literally, but it was rewarding to be able to help. 

LT John Konst

USNS Comfort (T-AH 20)

This mission altered my perspective on many things. 

I have a greater respect for what military operations can 

accomplish in a short period of time. I have a greater appreciation for the capabilities of the military medical system. 

Where but in the military can you assemble a group of 

900 plus individuals, most of whom are complete strangers to one another, and three days later create a fully functional floating hospital able to provide state-of-the-art 

medical care off the coast of any location in the world? 

I helped assemble a five-person legal team to ensure 

everyone was mission-ready and operating within proper 

parameters. The legal team contained superstars who were 

willing and able to take on duties outside their normal 

legalman responsibilities including power of attorney/

LT Stephen Rosenlund traveled to Anse D’Hainault to 

conduct an investigation and settle of claims arising 

from damage by a U.S. aircraft.
10 JAG Magazine - 2010 II 

The moment I saw the evening news reporting 

the earthquake, I told my husband to 

prepare himself because I was probably going to Haiti. 

It didn’t matter that USS Bataan (LHD 5) had returned 

from a seven-month deployment only 35 days before 

the earthquake hit. It also didn’t matter that we were 

scheduled to enter the 

shipyards for a major 

overhaul. The only thing 

that mattered at that 

moment was the crisis in 

one of the world’s poorest 

countries, the full impact 

of which wouldn’t be 

known for several days.

The Navy is built to 

provide relief in exactly 

these circumstances. With 

the capacity to handle up to 

600 medical evacuees and 

the ability to reach shore 

quickly via landing craft 

By LN1 Rachel Allen 

USS Bataan (LHD 5)

Mission Ashore: 

Legalman Provides Aid in Haiti

air cushion (LCAC) or helicopter, our ship regularly trains 

for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations 

such as this. So as I expected, exactly 48 hours after the 

quake hit, USS Bataan and her crew set sail to provide aid. 

A few days later, I was on watch on the bridge as 

the fire control officer when the first mass casualty was 

called away over the 1MC. Confusion ensued when we 

were told that our first four patients were inbound, which 

became four helicopters full of patients. Within minutes, 

our medical triage unit was 

pushed to capacity. Patients 

were arriving constantly 

with injuries ranging 

from fractures and head 

injuries to amputations and 

severe dehydration. It was 

during that mass casualty 

when the crew started to 

realize and appreciate fully 

why we were in Haiti.

The following morning, 

I stirred briefly as reveille 

was called at 0600 before 

drifting back to sleep. At 

0603, I woke again with a Children from a local orphanage run to greet USS Bataan Sailors as they deliver toys.

LN1 Rachel Allen takes time out with 

some local children at an orphanage in 

Grand Cove, Haiti. 
jag.navy.mil 11

(SAMs). This was our chance to finally get “boots on 

the ground.” Our missions were primarily conducted in 

the town of Grand Goave, just south of Port-au-Prince. 

When we first started our SAMs, the town was in dire 

straits. It was difficult to even march into town due to 

the catastrophic damage. There was rubble everywhere, 

partially destroyed buildings, and people living in the 

streets for fear of their homes collapsing. After four short 

weeks, the crew of USS Bataan started making an impact. 

We removed 150 tons of rubble, built 65 shelters for 130 

families, and passed out more than 500,000 meals. 

The most rewarding part of the SAMs was the 

direct interaction with the people of Haiti. In the early 

days, most of the Haitians stood by and watched as we 

performed the work. Soon, they started gaining the 

courage and will to begin helping themselves. Each 

day as we marched through the town, we saw people 

cleaning the areas around their homes. While we were 

constructing shelters, 

the men and some of the 

children came to help 

us. Soon, they were 

building them on their 

own. Watching them 

gain their independence 

again was one of the most 

encouraging signs that 

things were getting better.

The last day I went 

into town, we delivered 

toys and clothes to the 

orphanages. This was 

the most emotional 

day of the deployment 

for me. During our 

time in town, the only 

“toys” we had seen 

were makeshift ones the children had made out of trash. 

When we dumped two seabags full of stuffed animals 

onto a bed in the orphanage, the children just stood 

politely with their hands behind their backs. I could 

see the excitement in their eyes, but they waited for 

permission to take a toy. Once permission was granted, 

the orphanage was filled with sounds of laughter and 

joy, unlike anything I had heard since I arrived. 

Ultimately, the thing I will take away from this 

experience is hope. I was able to see firsthand the 

devastation and destruction that these people lived 

with daily. But I also was struck by their resiliency 

and strength, unlike anything I have ever personally 

witnessed before. Even in the worst of times, the Haitian 

people embodied the true character of humanity. 

jolt. The entire ship began to vibrate violently for about 

15 seconds. I quickly jumped out of my rack, certain we 

had just run aground. I kept waiting for alarms to sound, 

but nothing came. Twenty minutes later, the commanding officer announced that preliminary reports indicated 

that the vibration was a magnitude 6.0 aftershock. Troops 

ashore reported feeling the aftershock, as did Sailors on the 

USS Carl Vinson, which was 36 miles away. The captain 

admitted that, even in his long career, he had never experienced anything quite like it. Feeling the impact of the 

aftershock on the ship is one of the most unnerving experiences I’ve had since entering the Navy. We continued to 

feel smaller aftershocks frequently over the next week.

The first Saturday after we arrived on station, we held 

our traditional “Saturday Night Alive” karaoke festivities 

on the messdecks. This had become a highlight for 

much of the crew during deployment and, with the high 

operational tempo and long working hours everyone had 

endured since leaving 

for Haiti, it was again 

a much-needed respite. 

Normally, medical 

evacuees are confined to 

the medical ward. But 

knowing they needed 

their spirits uplifted just 

as much as the crew, 

CAPT Samuel Howard, 

the commanding 

officer, authorized the 

ambulatory patients 

to join us. Most just 

watched, but a few 

shared a song or words of 

hope and encouragement. 

We closed the show 

with CAPT Howard, 

a few local nationals, and much of the crew dancing 

to the “Electric Slide.” Watching the smiles light 

up their faces was the highlight of the evening.

After interacting with the local nationals that first 

Saturday night, one of my shipmates, a native of Haiti, 

asked me what more we could do to help. I was aware of 

the usual limits on fundraising, but I hoped there was an 

exception to the rule. I conferred with LT Billy Holt, the 

embarked judge advocate for Commander, Amphibious 

Squadron SIX, and he informed me that Operation Unified 

Response was granted an exception and fundraisers were 

authorized. With a group of other first class petty officers 

in my department, I organized the USS Bataan Operation 

Unified Response Fundraiser. In five days, we collected 

over $5,700 from the crew in support of the relief effort. 

Raising that amount of money in such a short time was 

remarkable, but I was still aching to do more. Finally, 

we were authorized to conduct Sailors Ashore Missions 

LN1 Rachel Allen is a legalman attached to the USS Bataan. She joined 

the Navy in 2002 and was a finalist for the JAG Corps 2009 Legalman of 

the Year award. 

LN1 Rachel Allen and other USS Bataan Sailors remove rubble from the Lifeline Mission in 

Grand Goave, Haiti.
12 JAG Magazine - 2010 II 

By LT Janelle Kuroda

Legal Assistance (Code 16) 

Four bells ring out over the 1MC. “Reveille, reveille, reveille. All hands heaveout and trice up. Reveille.” Another day begins in the Gulf of Aden. I

try to stretch my arms, but they hit the rack above me and I’m reminded that I’m at sea. 

The gentle rocking of the ship begs me to linger in my rack a little longer. However, I

know we’re now at the most dangerous part of the day – the pirates normally strike in

the early morning. I wash up and head to the Combat Information Center. Moments

later, the Tactical Action Officer (TAO) makes an announcement over the 1MC:

Combating Piracy 

off the Horn of Africa
jag.navy.mil 13

counsel on the implementation of counter-piracy guidance 

to seven coalition navies. In order to coordinate the 

safety of merchant vessels, face-to-face meetings are held 

between coalition vessels and vessels from independent 

nations to ensure the most effective use of patrol assets. 

In addition to CTF 151, warships from the European 

Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and 

a variety of other independent nations such as Japan, 

China, Russia, and India combat piracy in the 1.1 million 

square miles of water in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali 

Basin. This collaboration at sea has been successful, as 

less than .001 percent of transiting ships become victims 

of piracy. While the number of piracy attempts has 

increased over the past year, the number of successful 

attacks has decreased by 40 percent over the same time.

The final four bells of the day ring out over the 1MC. 

“Taps, taps, lights out. All hands turn in to your racks 

and maintain silence about the deck. Taps.” Today was 

a successful day in the fight against piracy, but at sea the 

work never ceases and we’re back on patrol. I’m proud to 

be a part of an exciting mission, sailing the seas onboard 

the USS Anzio, dedicated to honoring the freedom won 

on the Anzio beachhead by preserving the freedom of 

merchant vessels and their crews to safely sail the seas. 

In view of the threat to international security posed by 

piracy off the African coast, VADM Harry B. Harris, Jr., 

Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet and Commander, Striking 

and Support Forces NATO, was asked for his perspective. 

“Piracy,” he said, “is a threat to global maritime security. It is an international problem which demands an international solution built on partnership and collaboration. In 

January 2009, the Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, 

in his capacity as the commander of the Combined Maritime Forces, established CTF 151 with a specific mandate to deter, disrupt, and suppress 

piracy in the volatile Horn of Africa 

region. CTF 151’s 

counter-piracy 

operations have 

had a significant 

impact.” 

“USS Anzio, this is the TAO with a situational 

update: we’ve just received a distress call from a 

merchant vessel 80 nautical miles away, reporting 

two suspicious skiffs shadowing her. Anzio is 

coming to full power and closing the position. 

Now set: Counter-Piracy Condition Bravo.”

The engines rev up and the ship surges forward. My 

adrenaline rushes. I grab my cover and head up to the bridge. 

On the bridge, I am briefed by the officer of the deck. It 

appears that pirates are about to attack a merchant vessel. 

The master is following instructions to deter the suspected 

pirates, but he is worried about the safety of his crew, who 

could be held hostage for months if his vessel is successfully captured. I discuss the legal implications with RDML 

Scott Sanders, the task force commander, and CAPT Frank 

Olmo, USS Anzio’s commanding officer. Another Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 warship, the Republic of 

Korea Ship (ROKS) Dae Jo Yeong, is closer to the merchant vessel than we are and can arrive on scene more 

quickly. CTF 151 is a multinational task force responsible for counter-piracy operations in and around the 

Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and Red Sea. 

RDML Sanders directs the ROKS Dae Jo Yeong to 

close in on the suspected pirates and I advise him on the 

rules of engagement. After a successful boarding of the 

pirate vessel by the ROKS Dae Jo Yeong, the suspected 

pirates are captured and their weapons are destroyed.

Fueled by instability in Somalia, piracy flourishes where 

the local economy offers little else. In response to a request 

for assistance from the Transitional Federal Government 

in Somalia, the United Nations (UN) issued several UN 

Security Council Resolutions that allow warships to 

suppress and deter piracy and armed robbery on the high 

seas as well as in Somali territorial waters. Once captured, 

suspected pirates 

can be prosecuted 

in the country 

of the victim 

merchant vessel, 

the capturing 

warship’s country, 

or in countries 

such as Kenya 

and the Seychelles 

who have agreed 

to prosecute 

suspected pirates 

in their courts. 

As the CTF 

151 staff judge 

advocate, I 

reviewed rules 

of engagement 

and provided 

LT Janelle Kuroda 

served as the staff 

judge advocate for 

Combined Task Force 

151 onboard the USS 

Anzio from August to 

October 2009. 

USS Anzio’s "visit, board, search, and seizure" team during an inspection of a skiff that was smuggling four tons of 

hashish. LT Janelle Kuroda provided the team with rules of engagement.
14 JAG Magazine - 2010 II 

Active and Reserve Navy and Marine Corps 

judge advocates and legalmen are assigned 

throughout Afghanistan, with opportunities to deploy expected 

to increase over the next six to twelve months. The versatility 

and initiative of these Sailors and Marines have allowed them 

to make significant contributions to the counter-insurgency 

fight, often in roles very different from traditional Navy work. 

COL Rich Gross, the staff judge advocate, for the International 

Security Assistance Force (ISAF), is a firm believer in the value 

of having lawyers and paralegals from each of the services 

on his team. “It’s critical to have a joint legal team here in 

this complex combat environment -- judge advocates from 

the different services bring different perspectives, skill sets, 

and experiences to the fight, and it makes the joint legal team 

much more effective than one dominated by a single service.” 

In his December 2009 speech at West Point, President 

Obama announced a troop increase that, over the next year 

to eighteen months, will provide “the resources that we need 

to seize the initiative, while building the Afghan capacity 

that can allow for a responsible transition of our forces out 

of Afghanistan.” Judge advocates and legalmen are actively 

and integrally engaged in every facet of this mission.

Tip of the spear: Navy lawyers on the 

cutting edge of NATO operations

Deputy Legal Advisor to ISAF Joint Command LCDR 

Mike Adams has plenty of experience in Afghanistan, having 

deployed here on five previous occasions with Naval Special 

Warfare units. However, his assignment to ISAF Joint 

Command (IJC) has added a new dimension to his operational 

law expertise. Led by LTG David “Rod” Rodriguez, IJC 

oversees the day-to-day operations of coalition forces in 

Afghanistan. As Deputy Legal Advisor, LCDR Adams helps 

lead a diverse group of eight coalition lawyers advising LTG 

Rodriguez, 17 ISAF/NATO general and flag officers, and the 

IJC staff. LCDR Adams focuses largely on operational law 

and the rule of law. He has contributed to the development 

of much of the guidance promulgated to ISAF and Operation 

Enduring Freedom forces since September 2009 on rules 

of engagement, tactical directives, targeting guidance, and 

rule of law initiatives. Serving on a NATO staff provides 

unique opportunities to work with legal advisors from other 

nations, including training the incoming IJC headquarters 

staff during a two-week exercise in Stavanger, Norway. 

LCDR Sylvaine Wong works with lawyers from 

Great Britain and the Netherlands to advise the British 

general commanding ISAF Regional Command South, 

headquartered in Kandahar. As an operational law attorney, 

she tackles the diverse issues that arise in a multinational 

environment, including those arising during the planning 

and execution of Operation Moshtarak, the largest offensive 

in Afghanistan to date. As the overall operational focus 

shifts from kinetic operations to population-centric 

counterinsurgency operations, LCDR Wong and her 

colleagues have had to tackle new legal questions arising 

in the areas of biometrics, counternarcotics, reintegration, 

humanitarian relief, and strategic communications. 

Serving in a NATO mission is providing these operational 

lawyers with skills unique among U.S. judge advocates. 

Navy Judge Advocates at the Forefront 

of Rule of Law Initiatives

As U.S. legal advisors to the Afghan Ministry of Interior 

Chief of Legal Affairs, CDR Scott Thompson, LCDR 

Dave Gonzalez, and their team of three Afghan attorneys 

provide Afghan National Police (ANP) legal advisors the 

knowledge and skill to begin training Afghan police in the 

law. Turning non-lawyers into capable legal advisors for 

the ANP and Afghan Ministry of Interior is a momentous 

challenge, but the hard work of the many Navy judge 

advocates that have served in Combined Security Transition 

Command Afghanistan (CSTC-A) is bearing fruit. As one 

Afghan police colonel commented, “the law is the soul of 

the police,” and capable legal advisors are critical to building 

a police force that Afghan citizens can trust and respect. 

When LCDR Gonzalez arrived at NATO Training 

Mission(NTM-A)/CSTC-A last May, the ANP had recently 

added seven legal offices throughout the country. All 

seven offices required training and equipment to become 

fully operational. Building on the excellent foundation set 

down by their Navy predecessors, CDR Caren McCurdy 

and CDR Tracy Clark, LCDR Gonzalez and CDR 

Making a Difference 

Navy judge advocates and legalmen excel in the 

counter-insurgency fight

By: CDR Scott Thompson

 Military Personnel (Code 61)

Contributors: CAPT Greg Belanger, LCDR Mike Adams, LCDR 

Mike Lawrence, LCDR Sylvaine Wong, Maj. Elizabeth Harvey
jag.navy.mil 15

spearheaded the expansion of a police 

unit that provides security to judges 

in key courts. The judges are better 

able to render decisions without fear 

of threats to themselves and their 

families. Navy judge advocates have 

been a driving force in bringing this 

important element of the U.S. Rule of 

Law Strategy for Afghanistan to life. 

Opportunities for judge advocates 

to contribute to the rule of law in 

Afghanistan are growing. The 

Navy was recently asked to lead the 

development of the Afghan National 

Army (ANA) Legal School. CDR 

Trevor Rush will soon report to 

NTM-A/CSTC-A as the Chief of ANA 

Legal Training, joined shortly thereafter 

by LT Bill Geraty and colleagues 

from the Army and Air Force JAG 

Corps. LT Ryan Forbes, LT Mark 

Rasmussen, LT Jasmine Scott, and LT 

Rob Singer will arrive in Afghanistan 

this summer as the first Navy judge 

advocates assigned to Combined Joint 

Task Force 82 (CJTF-82) to work with 

Afghan judges, prosecutors, and other 

justice officials in Regional Command 

East. There is no more exciting or 

interesting job for a young judge 

advocate right now than helping to build 

rule of law in the heart of Afghanistan.

Judge advocates are also in high 

demand at Task Force 435 (TF-435), 

the new task force responsible for U.S. 

detention operations in Afghanistan. 

Thompson launched an aggressive 

development program that will extend 

the reach of the ANP legal corps by 

adding 51 new offices this year. 

COL Rick Rousseau, staff judge 

advocate for NTM-A/CSTC-A, 

observed that, “as a combined joint 

office, as well as a NATO legal office, 

the Navy judge advocates bring skills 

and a perspective on the rule of law 

that is often different from an Army 

or Air Force judge advocate. The 

adaptability and flexibility of the Navy 

judge advocates to become a part of 

the legal team has been seamless.” 

In addition, working closely with 

the U.S. Marshals Service and the 

U.S. Embassy, LCDR Gonzalez has 

 in Afghanistan

Making a Difference continued on page 16

LT John Butler, visiting from Kandahar, prepares for a convoy with CDR Scott Thompson and LCDR Dave Gonzalez in Kabul, Afghanistan.
16 JAG Magazine - 2010 II 

Making a Difference continued from page 15

LCDR Dave Gonzalez, deputy chief of police legal development, and LTC David Flannigan meet with Afghan police legal advisors in their office at Kabul City Police Command. 

As a result of LCDR Gonzalez and his team of Afghan attorney-trainers' efforts, the Afghan National Police legal advisors in Kabul are now able to train local police in the law 

without assistance from the international community.

In addition to the care and custody of detainees, TF-435 

oversees detainee review processes, programs for the peaceful 

reintegration of detainees into society, and coordination with 

other agencies and partners for the promotion of the rule 

of law in Afghanistan.

CAPT Pat McCarthy, staff judge 

advocate for TF-435, headquartered in Kabul, provides 

legal advice to the TF-435 commander on the full spectrum 

of legal issues at the operational and strategic level. 

 CAPT Greg Belanger is the director of legal operations 

in Bagram and reports to the TF-435 commander on detainee 

review board processes. CAPT Belanger and his sixtythree person legal team execute the new detainee review 

boards under new guidance that provides for a fully informed 

administrative hearing in every detention case. Under the 

new rules, detainees have confrontation rights, the right 

to reasonably available evidence, and representation at 

the hearings, unprecedented under the law of war. The 

detainee review boards are on pace to complete more than 

2,000 hearings this year. At the same time, TF-435 is 

partnered with Afghan judges, attorneys general and security 

directorate investigators to transition national security 

detentions to Afghanistan under Afghan law. This is a 

fascinating and exciting opportunity for litigation attorneys 

and legalmen that want to participate in high profile terrorism 

and law of war cases involving forensic evidence and live 

testimony in a fast paced environment. Serving in TF-435 

provides judge advocates an opportunity to participate in 

a strategic mission that is building rule of law capacity in 

Afghanistan within an organization that is having a direct 

and substantial impact every day. In order to be fully staffed, 

TF-435 needs more volunteers of the highest caliber. 

Flexibility and initiative key to mission accomplishment

LCDR Michael Lawrence is paving new ground as 

the first legal and policy advisor to the Armed Contractor 

Oversight Directorate at U.S. Forces Afghanistan. When 

he arrived in Afghanistan, LCDR Lawrence had the 

advantage, and challenge, of reporting to a position that 

never existed prior to his arrival. He has literally written 

the book on legal issues associated with armed contractor 

oversight in Afghanistan. These contractors are increasingly 

under scrutiny by the U.S. Congress as well as the Afghan 

Government. LCDR Lawrence is a key contributor in 

developing new procedures to gain better oversight over 

about 24,000 armed contractors operating throughout 

Afghanistan. Within 24 hours of arriving in country, LCDR 

Lawrence met with the Committee on Wartime Contracting 

and days later participated in two days of discussions with 

the U.S. Government Accountability Office. He engages 

regularly with officials from the U.S. Department of State, 

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), 

and the Afghan Government. His important contributions 
jag.navy.mil 17

LCDR Rob Monahan serves as the chief of operational 

law at NTM-A/CSTC-A. Another example of a Navy 

judge advocate breaking new ground, LCDR Monahan has 

helped expand the role of CSTC-A’s operational lawyer 

beyond just detainee operations. He provides direct support 

to the command’s operations and intelligence directorates 

on matters such as international law, the law of armed 

conflict, rules of engagement, intelligence/information law, 

and anti-corruption initiatives. He is a key member of a 

combined interagency working group focused on increasing 

the effectiveness of Afghan national security prosecutions. 

LCDR Monahan, reflecting on his experience, believes 

that Navy attorneys are well-suited to serving on joint 

staffs. “Navy judge advocates are expected to be versatile 

and adaptable. They are able to quickly assimilate into 

the battle rhythm and meet the demands of the mission.” 

The high regard for the Navy and Marine Corps legal 

team is expressed by COL Gross, the senior legal advisor 

in Afghanistan. “Navy and Marine judge advocates 

are fully integrated throughout our legal offices, and 

as I’ve told the Navy JAG, I’ll take as many as he is 

willing to send -- they’re invaluable to the fight.”

have helped ensure the ability of U.S. and ISAF forces 

to provide security for supply convoys and bases, even 

as the Government of Afghanistan seeks to reduce, and 

eventually eliminate, private security companies.

Other legal professionals from the sea services 

are providing similarly important service throughout 

Afghanistan. Marine Corps Maj Elizabeth Harvey is 

the staff judge advocate for U.S. Forces Afghanistan – 

South. She advises not only the Deputy Commander but 

also subordinate commands that lack a legal staff. Maj 

Harvey explains that to be an effective legal counsel 

in a joint environment, “I have had to use both my 

background in Navy and Marine Corps military justice and 

investigations as well as what I learned at the Army Judge 

Advocate General Legal Center and School in this job.“

Navy legalmen are having impact in Afghanistan 

too. LN1 Rowena Tolentino is the sole legalman for the 

22nd Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB), 

but she has also lent her expertise to the 649th Joint 

Sustainment Command and helped provide legal 

assistance to the Army garrison on Kandahar Air Field. 

LN1 Tolentino said the difference between Navy and 

Army paralegals was really highlighted when her Army 

colleagues commented that Navy legalmen have more 

responsibility and independence entrusted to them in 

overseeing the nonjudicial punishment process.

LCDR Kevin Yusman, a mobilized reservist, was assigned 

to the DoD Criminal Investigation Task Force (CITF) for 

a period of 12 months. Shortly after reporting to CITF, 

LCDR Yusman was deployed forward to the detachment in 

Afghanistan. CITF is responsible for conducting worldwide 

criminal investigations to substantiate or refute terrorist 

acts committed against the United States, its people, or 

its interests. In Afghanistan, CITF focuses on the highlevel terrorists, insurgents, and corrupt officials operating 

within the country’s border. CITF investigations have 

involved Taliban, Al-Qaeda financiers, other terrorist 

organizations, narcotic traffickers, and corrupt Afghan 

government officials. As the Staff Judge Advocate, LCDR 

Yusman is involved in all levels of the investigations 

including inception, targeting, and the legal review of the 

investigation packages. CITF is also heavily involved 

in the detainee operations process. This aspect allowed 

LCDR Yusman to witness the transformation of the detainee 

review board process at internment facilities. In February, 

in addition to his duties as staff judge advocate, LCDR 

Yusman assumed the duties as the officer-in-charge of the 

newly created Detainee Criminal Investigations Detachment 

(DCID) for TF- 435. Composed of Army, Navy, Air Force, 

and civilian law enforcement professionals, the DCID is 

diverse. Located at the new detention facility in Parwan 

the DCID is responsible for conducting investigations 

of all detainees and the preparation of investigation 

reports for the board hearings on each detainee. 

LCDR Dave Gonzalez and NTM-A/CSTC-A interpreter Haroon Zeya visit the National 

Police Academy of Afghanistan. 
18 JAG Magazine - Spring 2010 

After years of conflict in Afghanistan, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and 

U.S. Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A) military authorities are 

realizing that the security of Afghanistan is linked to the security of its women. And they are doing something about it. 

In February 2010, I was appointed as the deputy gender 

advisor for the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), Headquarters (HQ), one of the two NATO Strategic Commanders. The joint force trainer at SACT HQ, 

LTG Karl Heinz Viereck of the German Army, decided 

that a legal advisor should be involved in NATO’s implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 

(UNSCR) 1325 on “Women, Peace and Security” as the resolution calls for better protection of, and increased awareness of, the rights of women and children under international law. So, in addition to my normal duties as legal 

advisor, I have spent three months immersed in the implementation of UNSCR 1325, particularly in Afghanistan. 

UNSCR 1325 was adopted by the Security Council on 

Oct. 31, 2000. In essence, it stresses the need to ramp up 

the involvement of women in peace and security issues. 

The two themes are security and participation; increase 

the number and participation of women at decision-making levels in all institutions involved in preventing and 

resolving conflicts, expand the number and role of women 

in field operations, and train on the protection, rights and 

needs of women and children under international law.

Some examples include: increasing the number of women 

in executive positions in government and military positions, 

increasing the number of female troops and police officers 

in Afghanistan, using ISAF/ U.S. female military to engage 

the women of Afghanistan, and training our male troops on 

ways to educate Afghanistan men on legal rights of women. 

The bottom line is that improvement in integrating gender 

issues equals improvement in operational effectiveness. 

Gender advisors focus on all gender-related issues. 

Under the NATO policy, gender refers to the social differences and social relations between women and men. 

It goes beyond merely the sex of the individual. A person’s gender is learned through socialization and is heavily influenced by the culture of the society. The gender of a 

person may result in different roles, responsibilities, opportunities, needs and constraints for women, men, boys and 

girls. The term “gender mainstreaming” describes the process of integrating gender-related issues into all actions 

so that men and women benefit equally and inequality is 

not perpetuated. Although gender mainstreaming does 

not focus solely on women, women are usually the targets and beneficiaries of mainstreaming practices due to 

their disadvantaged position in many communities.

As the 10th anniversary of UNSCR 1325 approaches, a 

flurry of gender-related policies and activities has emerged. 

Both NATO Strategic Commanders, SACT and Supreme 

Allied Commander Europe, signed Bi-Strategic Command 

Directive 40-1 in September 2009. The SACT HQ gender 

advisor, LTC Nadja Merdaci of the French Army, and I 

created a UNSCR 1325 action plan for Allied Command 

Transformation, which has the lead for transforming NATO’s 

military structures, forces, capabilities and doctrines to 

improve military effectiveness. The ISAF issued a tactical 

directive on the establishment of Female Engagement 

Teams – a powerful tool in our counterinsurgency strategy. 

ISAF HQ, the ISAF Joint Command (JC), the ISAF 

regional commands (RC), and the provincial reconstruction 

teams (PRTs) have, or will soon have, gender advisors, 

gender field advisors and gender focal points in place. 

My training began in January 2010 at the European Union 

(EU) and NATO Meeting of Gender Experts in Brussels. The 

Vice President of the EU Margot Wallstrom, the NATO Secretary General Andres Fogh Rasmussen, the Spanish Vice President of the Government Maria Teresa Fernandez De La Vega, 

and the former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, 

stressed the importance of including women in the peace and 

security equation. One theme stood out: the issues raised in 

UNSCR 1325 are not cultural issues, nor are they women’s 

issues – they are human rights issues with which everyone 

should be concerned. In separate meetings, LTC Merdaci and 

I met with EU representatives and groups at NATO HQ working on gender issues. In February, we went to the Civil-Military Co-operation Centre of Excellence in Enschede, the Netherlands, where we learned about the use of female troops on 

the ground, and the role of gender advisors at the tactical level. 

In April 2010, LTC Merdaci and I went to Afghanistan on 

a mission to determine how to best implement the new policies within ISAF, in particular how to best train our troops 

on gender-related issues prior to and during deployment.

First stop, the Meymaneh PRT in Faryab Province, ISAF 

RC North – home of the Norwegian PRT. We were accompanied by the ISAF HQ gender advisor and the ISAF JC 

gender advisor. We met with the PRT gender focal point, 

the PRT Commander, COL Knut Fredheim of the Norwegian Army, and female members of the EU Police Mission. The EU Police Mission uses law enforcement and justice experts to improve the criminal justice system. The 

team at Meymaneh explained their success training females 

By CDR Kimberlie Young

NATO Headquarters, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation

Implementing the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in Afghanistan

Women, Peace and Security
jag.navy.mil 19

Female members of the Afghan National Police learn self defense training. These women stand side-by-side their male counterparts on the force.

members of the Afghan National Police (ANP). The PRT 

commander reiterated the need for a “gender tool box” 

to engage the other half of the Afghan population.

Onto Mazar-e-Sharif, we met with staff from ISAF RCNorth and the Swedish gender focal points for the PRT. ISAF 

RC North staff stressed the need for nations to train troops on 

gender issues as pre-deployment training is the responsibility 

of the nations. The gender focal point said the goal is to have 

gender focal points in all units within the PRT from platoons to 

squads. One thing she mentioned has stuck with me though: 

to Afghans, female soldiers are like a third sex because they 

are not men and they are not like Afghan women. Female soldiers don’t wear helmets when they meet with Afghan women 

and they don’t wear veils. This indicates to me the importance of integrating gender perspectives in our operations. 

In Kabul, we met with members of the Afghan Women’s 

Network to discuss their work to reduce violence against 

women and incorporate gender protection into the law. The 

fact that I cannot mention the names or include the pictures 

of these ladies at work out of concern for their safety is an 

indicator of the current climate in Afghanistan. Women who 

work on these issues and go against Talibanic norms are 

often targeted and killed. At the Rule of Law Conference 

at ISAF HQ, we discussed the “Elimination of Violence 

Against Women” law that was signed by President Karzai in 

August 2009 and the efforts to enforce that law in a country 

of high illiteracy and an 80% rural population. CAPT Kevin 

Brew discussed his work as the senior counsel at ANP 

Legal Affairs. We met with the ISAF HQ staff members to 

highlight the successes of the U.S. Marine Corps Female 

Engagement Teams in Helmand Province and discuss how 

to implement ISAF’s tactical directive on establishment of 

Female Engagement Teams throughout ISAF, including 

what legal advisors can do to assist their counterparts with 

gender “rules of engagement” and other legal issues. 

Finally, we met with Professor Sayeda Mojgan Mostafavi, 

the technical and policy deputy at the Ministry of Women’s 

Affairs (MoWA). Our goal here was to establish contacts 

with Afghan women in the provinces to facilitate the 

training of troops on engaging the female population. This 

was the first time that MoWA has been asked to help 

train international forces - a big step for these women!

Now that I am back in Norfolk at SACT HQ, the 

work continues. There are so many issues, legal and 

otherwise. One thing is certain though – the legal advisor 

is a valuable member of the “gender” team and should 

make efforts to assist the gender advisors and those in 

operations with integrating gender issues. As one gender 

proponent astutely observed: UNSCR 1325 issues are 

human rights issues with which everyone has a stake. 

For more information, visit 

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_56984.htm or 

to learn more about how to implement UNSCR 1325 in 

your organization, contact kimberlie.young@act.nato.int.
20 JAG Magazine - 2010 II 

During my short 

time in the 

U.S. Navy, I have come to know that 

tradition is essential to our organization. 

When I think of organizations that 

value tradition as much as the Navy, 

I think of Spelman College, my alma 

mater. This historically black college, 

which was founded by anti-slavery 

activists in 1881 to educate African 

American women, evolved into a 

prestigious institution that churns 

out the largest number of black, 

female professionals in the nation. 

I met CAPT Cynthia Macri, the 

Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval 

Operations (CNO) for Diversity, at the 

Impacting Diversity with

National Bar Association Conference 

in San Diego, Calif., where we both 

spoke on a panel titled, “Women in 

the Military.” She approached me 

afterwards and asked that I organize 

an event for the CNO, ADM Gary 

Roughead, at Spelman College where 

he would meet with the President, 

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum. 

For three and a half months I 

worked with Dr. Tatum’s staff to 

organize a breakfast at Spelman 

College, which was the kick-off 

event to the CNO’s tour of Spelman 

and Morehouse Colleges. 

From its homogeneous outward 

appearance, “diverse” is probably 

the last word that would come to 

one’s mind to describe Spelman. To 

the contrary, within the gates of this 

institution are some of the most unique 

perspectives I have encountered in my 

life. From the background, opinions, 

and intellect of the students to the 

desires, goals, and even the dialect, one 

would find a vast amount of diversity. 

As “freshwomen” we entered the 

gates with varying contributions to 

the institution. Yet, during our fouryear matriculation, we were shaped 

by rich traditions. Wearing skirts 

every day and reciting the history of 

the college instilled purpose in our 

journey, which all made sense in 

the end when we graduated wearing 

white dresses and black shoes (the 

uniform of the first graduating class). 

We were armed with the knowledge 

of our history and empowered by 

the expectations from our ancestors 

By LT Tashinda Glover

Region Legal Service Office Southwest

Tr a di ti on

Spelman College midshipmen Ashley Howard, Chief of Naval Operations ADM Gary Roughead, Judge Advocate LT Tashinda Glover, Spelman College President Dr. Beverly 

Daniel Tatum, and Spelman College midshipmen Kyrrin Wharton at a breakfast at Spelman College organized by LT Glover.
jag.navy.mil 21

who came before us. It was my introduction to 

tradition at Spelman College that made my transition 

into the traditions of the Navy an easy one.

I believe it is this common value of tradition that leads 

the Navy to seek the perspective of Spelman College in 

its mission to increase diversity amongst the officer ranks. 

Spelman has endlessly combated negative stereotypes 

with respect to increased diversity in the workforce by 

continuously producing qualified, diverse candidates 

who provide a unique perspective. Since Dr. Tatum 

is a renowned race relations expert and author, it only 

made sense that the CNO would seek an opportunity 

to meet with her and her staff to discuss the role of 

black women in the Navy and how Spelman College 

can help to increase diversity in our organization. 

The breakfast was very interesting. The CNO 

discussed the value of diversity in the Navy and how 

a partnership with historically black institutions such 

as Spelman and Morehouse Colleges is a great start. 

ADM Roughead and Dr. Tatum were joined at breakfast 

by Dr. Johnnella Butler (the Provost), Dr. Desiree 

Pedescleaux (the Dean of Academic Affairs), Mr. Harold 

Bell (the Director of Career Development), CAPT 

Macri, CAPT Stephen Kirby (Commanding Officer of 

the NROTC Unit at Spelman, Morehouse, and Georgia 

Tech), two Spelman College midshipmen, and me.

In the 21st century, the Navy, Spelman College, and 

Morehouse College face the same challenges of rapidly 

changing U.S. demographics, demands for talent to 

drive a knowledge-based society, and the impact of 

a global economy. Each has a strong interest in, and 

commitment to, maintaining our nation’s security and 

economic interests where technology has transformed 

geographically distant threats to impending realities. 

During the breakfast event, ADM Roughead and Dr. Tatum 

exchanged ideas and discussed opportunities to address 

these challenges and increase diversity in the Navy. 

I had the unique opportunity during the event to speak 

with the Spelman College leadership about the Navy 

Staff Corps and my experience that led me to the JAG 

Corps. They were amazed to hear about the various 

opportunities for candidates with professional degrees. 

Currently, I am working with CAPT Macri and Spelman 

College on the “Spelman Women Empowered Through 

Professional Training” event, which will take place in fall 

2010 and will feature a “JAG Corps Day” hosted by a 

leader from our judge advocate community. The Navy’s 

partnership will provide opportunities for the Spelman and 

Morehouse College students and faculty to learn about 

the various career paths and opportunities in the Navy.

LT Tashinda Glover is a member of the Navy JAG Corps and 

attended Spelman College from 2000 to 2004. She is currently 

assigned to Region Legal Service Office Southwest.

Operation Unified Response continued from page 9

notary services, legal research and case preparation 

for military justice. LN1 Raysa Turner from Navy 

Munitions Command Jacksonville volunteered to 

serve as a member of combat cargo and was later 

identified as leading petty officer for food service 

attendants onboard. LN1 Robyn Carr from Naval 

Medical Center Portsmouth volunteered during the 

early surge to work in casualty receiving and assisted 

several times with shore-based discharge. She 

also donned “Toothie,” the USNS Comfort mascot 

costume, and entertained children in the wards. My 

third superstar was LN2 Sundae Lewis from Naval 

Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic. In addition to 

volunteering in casualty receiving during the surge, 

she volunteered in the scullery and food preparation 

with the food service attendants. At every opportunity, 

LN2 Lewis went ashore to assist with patient 

discharge. She helped collect and compile all medical 

information for the central patient-tracking system. 

LT E. Ashleigh Schuller was the other judge 

advocate onboard and was a great teammate who 

provided fantastic insight and perspective for each 

of the unusual legal issues we faced. She also 

volunteered from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth 

for this mission. The legal issues were incredibly 

interesting and I am thankful to brainstorm with an 

insightful teammate. Whether tasked with immigration, 

ethics, fiscal law, memorandums of understanding, 

or military justice, LT Schuller always provided 

astute advice on implementation. LT Schuller also 

volunteered to assist with discharges ashore and 

visited the pediatric intensive care unit and pediatric 

wards regularly to hold some of the newborns and 

bring a smile to the children’s faces. From what I 

observed, her compassion is her strongest asset.

I seized on every opportunity to help or observe 

the medical providers in action. I too assisted with 

discharges ashore and witnessed the joy of reuniting a 

patient with family and friends. Onboard, I observed 

many amazing individuals performing only what I 

can describe as miracles. A majority of the surgical 

cases were orthopedic ranging from maxillofacial 

to femur fractures. I split my remaining free-time 

observing patient care in the intensive care units and 

casualty receiving. Time is an adversary and seconds 

and minutes often separate success and failure. 

The most rewarding experience was when I was 

able to help patients and family members receive 

permission for medical evacuation to the contiguous 

U.S. for specialized treatment, after connecting those 

seeking immigration assistance with U.S. Citizens and 

Immigrations Services and American Embassy agents. 
22 JAG Magazine - 2010 II

JAG Corps 2020

Legalman Education Initiative 

By Jen Zeldis

Public Affairs Officer

The legalman rate is the first enlisted rating to call for a 

government-funded, full-time education program for every Navy 

legalman to ensure they have the 

skills and competencies necessary 

to operate in today’s dynamic environment. 

Beginning in September 2010, the 

Navy will begin to send legalmen to 

Roger Williams University, in accordance with the Legalman Education 

Initiative (LEI), to earn an Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies 

or its equivalent. The LEI is 

designed to develop paralegal competencies in enlisted 

legalmen to provide a standardized education across the 

community, which will allow 

enhanced legal support to the 

Navy. 

“Legalmen are required to 

operate with a broad base of 

legal knowledge to provide 

legal solutions across an array 

of issues facing military commanders, senior leaders and 

service members,” said VADM 

James Houck, Judge Advocate 

General of the Navy. “For our 

legalmen to meet the demands of 

increased responsibility and changing mission areas, we must provide 

them with the necessary skills and 

competencies which can only be 

acquired through paralegal education.”

The JAG Corps will send 

legalmen through either a resident 

program at Roger Williams University (RWU) or a distance learning program to complete courses 

from their home duty station as part 

of their official duties. The goal is 

have all legalmen acquire an Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies or 

its equivalent within the next four to 

five years. To minimize the impact 

on current mission readiness, the 

LEI will be implemented in a phased 

approach and the JAG Corps will 

limit the number of legalmen concurrently enrolled in either program.

“With this initiative, we empower 

legalmen to perform many functions and tasks currently performed 

by judge advocates, such as drafting trial motions, interviewing witnesses and preparing legal correspondence, increasing the availability of attorneys to meet similar 

fleet demands in emerging mission 

areas,” said LNCM Chris Browning, the senior enlisted advisor to the 

judge advocate general. “With their 

new paralegal skills, we also anticipate legalmen will handle more fleet 

legal issues which will free up commanding officers, executive officers, 

and legal officers who spend time on 

these matters.”

The LEI was developed under 

JAG Corps 2020, the JAG Corps 

strategic plan for the future. 

“We look forward to the first graduation and to seeing the work of our 

legalmen in the Fleet evolve in scope 

and complexity, consistent with their 

paralegal training,” said RADM Nan 

DeRenzi, Deputy Judge Advocate 

General of the Navy.

Navy to send legalmen to college

LN1 Patrice Williams, LN2 Brandon Wilson, LN2 

Amanda LeGault, and LN2 Brandon Mann in the Roger 

Williams University Law Library. 

< The statue of Roger Williams and the clock tower of 

the University Library on the Roger Williams University 

campus.

<
jag.navy.mil 23

JAG Corps 2020

Task Force Life/Work Balance

By CDR Jean Kilker, 

Task Force Life/Work Balance 

After a year of tangible success, Task Force Life/Work has a new focus – strengthening ties and improving communication with Navy JAG Corps families. Why? Because, 

according to Pulse of the JAG Corps Survey results, the 

impact of military life on our families is the number one 

reason individuals consider leaving the JAG Corps. Bottom 

line, retention of talent is a reflection of not only professional 

fulfillment, but to a heightened degree, individuals’ ability to 

merge professional growth with personal responsibilities and 

the needs of their families. 

There are a host of new programs and initiatives sponsored 

by the Department of Defense and other entities designed 

to lessen the impact of military life on families. For the 

first time, there are educational benefits and employment 

initiatives designed specifically for military spouses. Navy 

school liaison officers were hired at major installations to 

liaise with commanding officers, school officials and parents 

ensuring a smooth transition for military children between 

school systems. There is free on-line tutoring, free SAT Prep 

materials, free summer camps and scholarships available to 

our JAG Corps family community. 

As a task force, it is our job to ensure programs and 

initiatives are effectively and clearly communicated. Our 

goal is to establish a clear line of communication to families 

to augment information passed through service members. 

We’re trying to avoid scenarios akin to finding the wrinkled 

flyer in your kids’ backpack about the teacher conference 

scheduled the week before. 

How will we achieve this goal? First, you need to be 

aware of resources and programs. We’ve established an NKO 

web page devoted exclusively to resources and information 

designed for military spouses and families. Anyone with a 

valid military ID can access NKO, and find the Task Force 

Life/Work JAG Corps Family Resources page listed under 

JAG Corps 2020. There, we’ve listed “hot links” to a 

multitude of programs, benefits and scholarships available to 

military spouses and family members. Our hope is to move 

this site onto the public JAG Corps page in the future to ease 

accessibility for family members. 

We also established a Facebook page, Navy JAG Corps 

Family Resource Discussion Page, accessible from the link 

on NKO or directly from Facebook. Here, JAG Corps family 

members can share information, discuss issues and find 

pertinent information regarding employment, scholarships 

and childcare resources. The Hoelz family, LCDR Joe Hoelz 

(Task Force Life/Work member) and his wife Nicole, offered 

to monitor the Facebook page answering questions and adding 

pertinent information. It’s important to note various life/work 

efforts, whether it’s the Career Intermission Pilot Program, 

expanded childcare resources or new initiatives targeting 

children and spouses, are leadership tools. They may not 

apply to you now, or ever, but they may be exactly what one 

of your Sailors needs to overcome a barrier to continued 

service. As leaders, each one of us, enlisted and officer a like, 

is charged with the responsibility of being informed about the 

resources available to our people. 

To that end, the Naval Justice School committed a block 

of training in legalmen and judge advocate training pipelines 

focusing on life/work programs and resources. The Justice 

School’s recognition of these programs as vital management 

tools underscores their importance in the development of our 

enlisted and officer leaders.

Task Force Life/Work encourages you to add to your 

leadership “toolbox” by logging on to NKO and learning 

about the programs designed to assist your Sailors. Go to 

JAG Corps 2020 and use the drop-down menu to find the 

Life/Work webpages and contact us with your ideas and 

feedback! 
24 JAG Magazine - 2010 II 

Criminal Law - Code 20

Most everyone knows Code 20 as the Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG) division 

that sends out the military justice newsmailers. If you’re in 

a military justice billet, you may also think of us as the office 

that provides trial and defense counsel assistance. What 

you may be surprised to learn, however, is that those things 

are a relatively small – though fun – part of what we do.

In a nutshell, Code 20 is responsible for overseeing all 

aspects of military justice policy within the Department of 

the Navy. We draft military justice policy advice, action 

memos, military justice instructions, and correspondence for 

the JAG. Code 20 officers also represent the Navy in meetings 

of the Joint Services Committee on Military Justice and serve 

as a JAG representative to the Naval Clemency and Parole 

Board. Although we are located at the Washington Navy 

Yard, our work often requires our presence at the Pentagon. 

There are three junior officers in Code 20 who serve as 

action officers in specific areas of concentration. For example, 

a Code 20 action officer may oversee the processing of FOIA 

requests relating to military justice, monitor the processing of 

Article 69 appeals or administer the Code 20 NKO website, 

By LT Jaimica M. Giarraputo

Criminal Law (Code 20)

New Series: What's in an OJAG Code?

which requires keeping it well-stocked with appellate case law 

updates, training gouge, sample pleadings and charges, etc. 

On a more periodic basis, Code 20 assists with obtaining 

approval for grants of immunity, warrants of attachment, 

and orders recalling members to active duty for trial. This 

involves coordination with offices outside of OJAG, including 

offices within the Department of Justice, the Secretary of 

the Navy, and the Department of Defense. Since Code 20 

facilitates the processing of applications for presidential 

pardons, we also interact with the Office of the Pardon 

Attorney; and, of course, we interface with our Marine 

Corps, Army and Air Force counterparts, whether working 

together on the Joint Services Committee or on a military 

justice issue of common concern. A current issue of concern 

is regulation on designer drugs to include “Spice”.

At Code 20, there is no typical day. You my find yourself 

spending an entire day focused on one urgent issue with 

a short deadline, or you may skip across the wave-tops 

and touch a number of issues in a single day. One thing 

is certain you will be working in a great office surrounded 

by great people who care a lot about the Navy’s military 

justice practice and, especially, about its practitioners. 

LT Jaimica M. Giarraputo is a judge advocate assigned to Code 20 located 

on the Washington Navy Yard.
jag.navy.mil 25

Fleet News

Naval Legal Service Office (NLSO) North Central welcomed sixty ninth graders from Thurgood Marshall 

Academy onboard the Washington Navy Yard in April. 

Billed as “Law Day,” NLSO North Central judge advocates, legalmen, and civilian personnel introduced these 

students to the Navy and its legal system. Codes 45, 46, 

51, and RLSO Naval District Washington were among the 

other commands that joined this important outreach mission. 

Named after the first African-American Supreme 

Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall Academy is Washington D.C.’s first law-themed public charter high school. 

It sits within an earshot of the Navy Yard, just across 

the Anacostia River. Reaching out to the school seemed 

only natural to CAPT Rob Sanders, Commanding Officer of NLSO North Central. “Thurgood Marshall Academy combines a standards-based curriculum with education about law, democracy, and human rights in its 

program. Everyday our JAG Corps professionals support the Navy in these same areas; this makes Thurgood 

Marshall Academy a natural place for Navy lawyers, 

enlisted and civilian paralegals to reach out, offer our 

help and exercise our collective community responsibility for our children’s development,” said CAPT Sanders. And reach out they did. 

After a welcome by CAPT 

Sanders, a team of judge advocates, legalmen, and civilian 

personnel escorted groups of 

students to briefings on legal 

assistance, military justice, 

and the wounded-warrior disability process. Students then 

observed a mock appellate oral 

argument in the newly remodeled Navy and Marine Corps 

Court of Criminal Appeals 

(NMCCA) courtroom. This 

argument, performed by LT 

Brian Burgtorf and Maj. Sean 

Patton of Codes 45 and 46, 

respectively, was heard by an 

NMCCA panel composed of 

CAPT Christian Reismeier, 

CDR John Maksym, and CDR 

Joseph Stolasz. The facts originated from the students’ 

curriculum-based mock trial program.

Seniors at the school annually participate in a mock 

trial competition held at the Superior Court for the District of Columbia. In the weeks leading up to Law Day, 

JAGs from NLSO North Central tutored these competitors 

along side local area law students. LT Mishonda Baldwin, 

the Action Officer on the tutoring sessions and Law Day 

event, said, “It was rewarding to have another opportunity 

to interact with students. It is refreshing to see and hear 

from the next generation of leaders. It keeps me inspired 

that our world will be left in capable hands.” 

After an extended Q and A, the students finished their 

day with a Navy-themed scavenger hunt at the Navy 

Museum and a tour onboard the Display Ship Barry (DD933). “I really liked the ship,” said Elcid Johnson, a student from Thurgood Marshall, “It was fun because I’ve 

never been there before.” Those students who asked the 

most questions were given special grab bags filled with 

naval memorabilia. Due to the overwhelmingly positive 

feedback from the students and their teachers, NLSO 

North Central intends to host another event with the 

school in the future.

By LTJG David Dziengowski

NLSO North Central

Expanding Horizons 

JAG Hosts Thurgood Marshall Academy at the Washington Navy Yard

NLSO North Central Commanding Officer CAPT Rob Sanders answers questions from students from Thurgood Marshall Academy 

during a tour of the Washington Navy Yard. NLSO North Central hosted a “Law Day” for 50 Thurgood Marshall Academy ninth 

graders interested in the legal system.
26 JAG Magazine - 2010 II 

Fleet News

Supreme Court Bar Admission

I

n the past, service members had to go through the disability evaluation process, up through the point of 

deciding whether to accept their informal review results, 

without being detailed military counsel. Congress 

changed this by placing a provision in the 2008 National 

Defense Authorization Act requiring that all wounded 

and ill service members have access to free military 

counsel prior to deciding whether to accept the results of 

an informal review. This new congressionally mandated 

requirement created a big challenge for the Navy. Suddenly, more attorneys were needed to get legal advice to 

wounded and ill service members sooner. So, the call 

went out to the Navy JAG Corps reserve community and 

in response LCDR Jesse Damon and eight other Navy 

JAG Corps reservists volunteered. 

Since 2009, LCDR Damon has been stationed at the 

National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., where 

he has been reaching out to wounded and ill Sailors and 

Wounded Warrior Update: Reservist

By LN1 Harrold Henck,

OJAG Reserve Public Affairs

On April 28, Navy and Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals (NMCCA) clerks, LT Daniel Napier, LT 

Ritesh Srivastava, LT Michael Torrisi, LT Jentso Hwang, 

LT Ryan Santicola, and LT Michael Hanzel, were admitted 

to the Supreme Court Bar. 

“The judges and clerks of the United States Navy-Marine 

Corps Court of Criminal Appeals shared a memorable 

day that will stand out as one of significance in their 

professional careers as military officers and attorneys,” 

said Chief Judge of the U.S. Navy, CAPT Daniel O’Toole. 

 Attorneys seeking to file documents or argue before 

the Supreme Court must first be admitted to practice 

before the Court. To qualify for admission to the Bar of 

the Supreme Court, an applicant must have been admitted 

to practice law in the highest court of a state for a period 

of at least three years, must not have been the subject of 

any adverse disciplinary action, and must appear to the 

Court to be of good moral and professional character. 

Along with the application and certificate of good standing 

with the state bar, each applicant files with the Clerk of 

the Supreme Court the statement of two sponsors, stating 

that the applicant possesses all the qualifications required 

for admission, and affirming that the applicant is of 

good moral and professional character. The clerks were 

By Natalie Morehouse

Deputy Public Affairs Officer

sponsored by CAPT O’Toole and NMCCA Senior Judge 

CDR John Maksym. 

The day began with a breakfast in the East Room of the 

Supreme Court, where the NMCCA clerks met the Clerk 

of the Supreme Court and former U.S. Army Assistant 

Judge Advocate General, MG (Ret.) William Suter. We 

then entered the courtroom for the admissions ceremony. 

Chief Justice Roberts asked if there were any motions,.

CAPT O’Toole stood before the Supreme Court, requested 

that we be admitted to the Supreme Court Bar, and attested 

to the character and qualifications of the applicants. The 

clerks were then sworn in and admitted to the Supreme 

Court Bar by Chief Justice John Roberts. 

The Supreme Court then heard oral argument in the 

case of Doe v. Reed, a historic event as it marked the final 

oral argument of Justice John Paul Stevens’ nearly 35-year 

career as a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Following the argument, Justice Sonia Sotomayor 

and Chief Justice John Roberts met with the NMCCA 

clerks. Justice Sotomayor shared some of her feelings 

and memories about being sworn in as a Supreme Court 

Justice and took several photographs with the group. 

“It was certainly a great honor and privilege to meet the 

two Justices and be admitted to the Supreme Court Bar. 

Arguing before the Supreme Court at some point in my 

career has been a dream of mine,” said LT Napier.

Marines and ensuring that these service members have 

access to legal advice and assistance during all stages of 

the physical disability evaluation process. 

As their attorney, LCDR Damon advises these service 

members on the disability evaluation process and makes 

certain that they understand their rights and responsibilities. He also helps them appeal the findings and evaluations with which they don’t agree and he assists them 

with filing grievances in situations where they feel they 

have been wronged. Most importantly, LCDR Damon 

helps his clients gather the medical documentation and 

evidence that they will need to prevail in the event that 

they do decide to take their case to a formal hearing. 

Many of LCDR Damon’s clients have been wounded 

in combat, fighting in one of the campaigns in the Middle 

East. For LCDR Damon, serving wounded and ill service members has been a real privilege and very real 

reminder of the incredible sacrifice that they make on a 

daily basis. 
jag.navy.mil 27

Fleet News

RLSO Mid-Atlantic Officers get hands-on 

Experience with Submarine Trainer

I

n January, judge advocates and 

limited duty officers from Region 

Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic 

(RLSO) in Norfolk, Va., had the 

opportunity to tour the training 

facilities at the Submarine Learning 

Facility (SLF) on board Naval Station 

Norfolk. This tour was part of a 

RLSO Mid-Atlantic officer military 

professional development program 

that helps officers better serve the 

varied commands in Navy Region 

Mid-Atlantic and gain a greater 

understanding of the Navy as a whole.

During the two-hour tour, RLSO 

Mid-Atlantic officers met with the 

executive officer of the SLF, LCDR 

David Smith, who gave them a 

comprehensive brief on what it’s 

like to serve aboard fast-attack, 

ballistic missile and guided missile 

submarines.

By LT Kevin M. Walker 

RLSO Mid-Atlantic

The officers then visited three different trainers at the facility: the Virtual Environment Submarine Shiphandling Trainer (VESUB), the Virginia Class Ship Control Team 

Trainer (VSCOT), and the Firefighting/Damage Control Trainer (FFDC).

The officers first tried out the 

VESUB, a bridge simulator which 

uses a virtual-reality display that the 

user wears like a pair of goggles. Its 

goal is to train officers of the deck 

(OODs) in the appropriate skills and 

procedures necessary to navigate a 

surfaced submarine under various 

weather, sea and traffic conditions. 

It also allows users to interact with 

a simulated submarine crew through 

voice recognition software. The simulator can virtually place young OODs, 

or judge advocates, in the most challenging conditions in the busiest ports 

in the world without risking an actual 

collision in a billion dollar vessel.

LT Jason Pfeil and LT Erin Haefner of RLSO Mid-Atlantic pilot a Virginia Class Ship Control Team Trainer during their tour of the Submarine Learning Facility in Norfolk, Va. 

Next, the officers drove the VSCOT 

simulator. It helps submariners prepare for undersea missions by simulating diving, surfacing, and maneuvering a submarine. RLSO officers 

were given a taste of driving a 7800 

ton vessel at over 20 knots with no 

view of the water ahead. 

The FFDC, the last stop on the tour, 

helps provide the skills necessary for 

crews to react quickly and effectively 

in serious shipboard emergencies, 

and gave the RLSO officers an appreciation for the significant emphasis 

the submarine community puts on 

damage control training. 

The RLSO Mid-Atlantic’s officer 

military professional development 

program has provided new officers 

with the opportunity to tour various 

surface and sub-surface platforms, 

visit a flight simulator, and speak with 

type commanders and operational 

staff judge advocates. 
28 JAG Magazine - 2010 II 

Fleet News

Naval District Washington Reservist 

take over SAUSA Program 

Recently RLSO Naval District Washington (RLSO NDW) 

reservists assumed responsibility 

for the Special Assistant United 

States Attorney (SAUSA) program from RLSO NDW. The court 

is held onboard Naval Air Station 

Patuxent River, Md. A federal 

Magistrate Judge travels in from 

U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, 

Maryland to hold court. Currently, the Magistrate Judge is 

the Honorable William Connelly, 

a former U.S. Air Force judge 

advocate. Two Navy JAG Corps 

reservists from RLSO NDW have 

been designated as SAUSAs. These reservists take time 

off from their demanding civilian jobs to travel down to 

Patuxent River and perform SAUSA duties. A wide variety of cases are seen, including shoplifting, DUI, traffic violations, domestic violence, prescription drug fraud, 

assault, and theft. An average caseload on a court day is 

approximately 30 cases.

Like most military SAUSA programs, a typical court 

day evolves as follows; judge advocates meet with 

unrepresented defendants or the attorney for a defendant 

to work out a plea deal. Possible scenarios include 

performing community service in exchange for a later 

agreement to drop the charges, an agreement to plea to a 

lesser offense, the defendant agrees to rectify whatever 

has caused their license to be suspended and once proof 

is submitted the charge is dropped, or paying a fine and 

performing community service in cases of small-item 

shoplifting. When the JAG Corps attorneys identify a 

case of larger significance which can potentially carry 

life-impacting consequences, the defendant is directed 

to the Federal Public Defender. The Magistrate Judge 

routinely grants representation requests by the Public 

Defender through submission of a financial affidavit 

from the defendant. The Public Defender is also present 

at every court date and their services are typically 

required. After negotiations have concluded, the judge 

advocates meet with the Magistrate Judge or his clerk 

to have bench warrants issued for anyone who failed to 

appear at court.

By LCDR Paul Ehrman

Reserve RLSO Naval District Washington

Shifting the SAUSA program to RLSO NDW reservists has been a great success. It has helped RLSO NDW 

by allowing the base staff judge advocate to concentrate 

on other pressing matters while also having the peace of 

mind that the important SAUSA duties are being capably handled by experienced attorneys. Legalmen from 

the staff judge advocate office still contribute in a great 

way, organizing files and getting court paperwork ready 

so the judge advocate reservists can come down on the 

morning of court and quickly hit the ground running. 

For the JAG Corps reservists in RLSO NDW, it gives 

the attorneys a chance to get into court and engage in 

different substantive work than they may see in their 

civilian job, which in turn allows them to keep their litigation and criminal law skill sets sharpened. 

Identifying areas and programs where reservists can 

come in and contribute in a major way exemplifies the 

Active-duty/Reserves One-Force concept. There are 

many SAUSA opportunities available in the Navy JAG 

Corps. If you are interested in performing SAUSA 

duties, ask your chain of command how you can get 

involved. 

To learn more contact Navy Reserve 

RLSO NDW at 202-685-5858.

SAUSA program team: Andrew Carter, federal public defender; LCDR Mark Herrington, JAG Corps reservist; Judge 

William Connelly, federal magistrate; LNC Eric Gagne; and LN1 Marilyn Sampson.
jag.navy.mil 29

Fleet News

Twenty-nine outstanding Sailors seeking U.S. citizenship eagerly participated in the first naturalization outreach program at Region Legal Service Office Southwest 

(RLSO SW), Naval Base San Diego, in November 2009. 

Though RLSO SW facilitated nine naturalization ceremonies throughout the region in 2009 for some 410 Sailors and Marines, this was the first of a series of outreach 

programs in partnership with the U.S. Citizenship and 

Immigration Services (USCIS). This joint effort created 

a “one-stop shopping” forum where applicants could get 

most aspects of the application process addressed under 

one roof.

The Sailors represented twenty-three local ships and 

commands in the San Diego area and had previously been 

assisted with the submission of their U.S. citizenship 

applications by their respective Command Citizenship 

Representatives. Naval Medical Center San Diego and 

USS Green Bay (LPD-20) tied for recognition as the commands with the most participation at the outreach event, 

with three service members present from each command.

Service members who attended the naturalization outreach and passed their U.S. citizenship interview were eligible to attend the Sixth Annual Veterans Day Military 

Naturalization Ceremony aboard USS Midway Museum, 

moored in San Diego Bay, in November 2009. Displaying the creative flexibility of the outreach program’s commitment to serving our military members, USCIS District 

24 Director, Paul Pierre, agreed to administer the citizenBy Ms. Vicki Alba and ABF3 Emely Lopez

Region Legal Service Office Southwest

ship oath to USS Green Bay (LPD-20) Sailors, SN Juan 

Hernandez and siblings, SH3 Jan-Paolo Rosal and CS3 

Kriselle Rosal. Given the great success of this outreach 

effort, RLSO SW will host four additional naturalization 

outreaches this year: March, April, June, and September 

in support of military naturalization ceremonies scheduled 

for May, July, September, and November. Service members in the San Diego area whose U.S. citizenship applications have been submitted to USCIS are encouraged to 

participate in a naturalization outreach to speed their naturalization process.

Region Legal Service Office Southwest 

Hosts First Naturalization Outreach

Siblings, SH3 Jan-Paolo Rosal and CS3 Kriselle Rosal at their naturalization 

ceremony. 

VADM James W. Houck spoke to Jacksonville’s Bar Association during a Law Day luncheon on May 6. 

The Law Day was designated by Congress in 1961, and is 

meant to reflect on the role of law in the foundation of the 

country and strengthen its heritage of liberty, justice and 

equality under law.

VADM Houck was invited to discuss the event’s 

theme – “Law in the 21st Century: Enduring Traditions, 

Emerging Challenges” – and how it applies to the JAG 

Corps mission. He relayed several stories of what judge 

advocates are doing across the globe and how they are 

assisting with emerging challenges from Haiti to Iraq and 

Afghanistan.

“It’s a real honor to be invited by the Jacksonville Bar 

Association,” said VADM Houck. “It’s great the way 

Jacksonville reaches out to the Navy community. I got my 

start here as a lawyer and I am glad to be back.” 

The Jacksonville Bar Association is a collection of 

about 2,200 law professionals. According to their Web site, 

the association serves as the forum for their profession. 

They are willing to take action and try innovative ways to 

better serve their membership and the public in facing lawrelated community issues. 

“We are extremely honored to have VADM Houck 

as this year’s guest speaker. He’s an ideal example of a 

lawyer who has committed his professional life to public 

service,” said Navy JAG Corps reservist, CAPT Daniel 

Bean, president of Jacksonville’s Bar Association. 

Navy Judge Advocate General Speaks at Law Day Luncheon

By MC1 Class Leah Stiles

Navy Public Affairs Support Element East Detachment Southeast
30 JAG Magazine - 2010 II 

Fleet News

Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) 

Southwest and Navy Legal Service 

Office (NLSO) Southwest recently lent 

their support and opened their doors 

to San Diego high school students by 

hosting a mock trial clinic in preparation for the Constitutional Rights 

Foundation’s High School Mock Trial 

competition. The clinic was held in 

January at Naval Base San Diego. The 

students are members of Otay Ranch 

High School’s Academy of Criminology and Justice. The Academy is made 

up of San Diego-area high school students interested in the justice system

Through the mock trial competition, individual high schools assemble 

one or more teams of students playing the roles of attorneys, plaintiffs and 

defendants. The students, with support 

from their teacher-coaches and attorney-advisors, prepare and present their 

cases in real courtroom settings before 

judges and lawyers who score the competition.

The high school students spent the 

day with RLSO and NLSO attorneys, 

preparing and studying a case designed 

by the Constitutional Rights FoundaBy LTJG Monique Dessaso

Region Legal Service Office Southwest tion for its annual mock trial competition held in California. The students 

had the opportunity to portray the participants from the case and recreate the 

trial. 

The event was an opportunity for 

the high school students to learn the 

fundamentals and procedures of working in an actual courtroom. The students assumed the roles of the prosecutors, defendants, and witnesses in 

a criminal court case involving the 

murder of an entertainment critic. 

Each student received a reading packet 

they were responsible for reviewing 

in order to become familiar with the 

case. CDR(Ret.) Robert Klant, acted 

as judge during the clinic, offering the 

students tips and pointers on their legal 

advocacy skills. The students also 

worked with RLSO and NLSO attorneys who critiqued the students during 

the clinic which was held in the Western Judiciary’s new state-of-the-art 

“smart courtroom”.

The students also received a demonstration of the technology available 

in the new courtroom. LT Thomas 

Byrnes, demonstrated the use of the 

document viewer which can be used 

to present materials to the court. The 

document viewer also allows evidence 

such as weapons, documents from 

expert witnesses, and x-rays to be presented live on a projection screen, or 

on individual monitors that are placed 

throughout the courtroom. LT Byrnes 

also demonstrated the use of teleconferencing software which allows live 

testimony by telephone as an alternative to personal appearance in court. 

The students also received a demonstration of live TV monitors in the 

court room available for witnesses, the 

jury and the trial judge to view exhibits, or slide shows. These technological advances provide numerous advantages including the ability to change 

with the times and to respond to the 

needs of our sailors. 

The visit was facilitated by LN1 

Jessica Bruce of the office of the staff 

judge advocate of the Naval Medical 

Center San Diego. Her goal was to 

introduce the students to current judge 

advocates and help supply them with 

the tools and skills that would help them 

during the state mock trial competition 

in February. She worked with Academy 

of Criminology and Justice instructor, 

Vicente Martinez, to make the visit a 

success. 

The Southwest lends support to High School Mock Trial Competition

Members of Otay Ranch High School’s Academy of Criminology and Justice at the mock trial clinic hosted by Region Legal Service Office and Navy Legal Service Office Southwest. 
jag.navy.mil 31

Civilians

Tuition Reimbursement for Civilian Employees

By Amy Stevens

Fiscal and Resource Management (Code 64)

For more information about civilian 

training opportunities, contact Amy 

Stevens at 202-685-5286 or at amy.

stevens@navy.mil

The JAG Corps community has made significant strides in implementing the civilian tuition reimbursement 

program. Signed into effect by VADM Bruce MacDonald 

late last summer and further highlighted by VADM James 

Houck and RADM Nanette DeRenzi in JAG Guidance

for 2010, this program provides an opportunity for our 

organization to assist civilian employees financially in their 

pursuit of higher education. Civilians and commands have 

responded positively to this new conduit of support and are 

looking forward to growing this program in future years. 

In the program’s first year, over $14,000 of reimbursement 

funding has been committed to various employees who are 

pursuing higher education. Applications for fiscal year 2010 

reimbursements were considered in early spring and final 

decisions and notifications were made in mid-April. As part of 

the application process, employees were required to identify 

how the skills and knowledge taught in a specific course would 

better enable them to accomplish their job duties, and further 

the completion of JAG Corps missions. Enterprise-wide, 

twelve employees submitted applications for reimbursement 

of thirty-four courses. After careful consideration, the Naval 

Justice School (NJS) Board of Advisors (BOA) approved 

funding for nine of the twelve employees in subject matter 

areas ranging from computer skills to government ethics and 

legal communication. 

The NJS BOA laid the financial groundwork for this 

program when it considered funding requests for fiscal year 

2010. Forced to act quickly to secure funds, they earmarked 

a sum of money for the civilian tuition reimbursement 

program’s first year without knowing what the actual 

demand signal would be. Applications for future years will 

be reviewed earlier in the year to provide a more accurate 

assessment of the program’s funding requirements for NJS 

BOA consideration at their annual meeting in late July. 

As we look forward to continuing this program into the 

next fiscal year, please encourage civilians to take advantage 

of this new career-development opportunity within the JAG 

Corps. Anyone who wishes to apply for fiscal year 2011 

tuition reimbursement should look for announcements 

through the chain of command this summer. Work with your 

local civilian education and training coordinator to prepare 

and submit an application. 

Program FAQs:

Q. How is this program different than classes for which my 

command already pays? 

A. Commands are responsible to fund, and have specific 

money to fund, training/education directly related to an 

employee’s job duties. Job-related courses could include 

training to use a new database or refreshers/updates in a particular area of law. For example, a legal assistance paralegal 

who wishes to attend a bankruptcy course should expect the 

command to fund the course due to the direct tie to job duties. 

Tuition reimbursement funding is meant to promote 

education that may benefit the “overall employee” while also 

furthering the command’s mission. For example, a command 

services paralegal who wishes to attend the same bankruptcy 

course mentioned above, should not expect the command to 

pay because the scope of the course falls outside his/her job 

duties. This paralegal would be a better candidate for the 

tuition reimbursement program because the bankruptcy course 

satisfies the personnel goal of the employee and develops 

skills/knowledge that would benefit a paralegal in support of 

the command/mission. 

Q. For what courses can I be reimbursed?

A. The program is intended to financially assist a civilian in 

obtaining his/her personal educational goals where/if those 

goals overlap with the command’s mission and objectives. 

Consequently, tuition reimbursement requests are considered 

individually for merit (acknowledging the employee’s 

specific plans and job duties), and thus approved coursework 

may vary slightly between employees.. 

For example, a legal technician who is pursuing a 

Bachelor’s of Science (B.S.) in Accounting may find general 

education courses that satisfy a personal goal, and further 

develops skills/knowledge that would benefit a legal tech in 

support of the command/mission. Those courses could be 

in subject areas of writing, computer skills, communications, 

government and law, etc. A budget technician pursuing a 

B.S. in Political Science, however, may find different general 

education courses that bear a more direct impact upon his/her 

ability to benefit the command/mission in the role of “budget 

technician”. Most employees will find “legal-related” 

coursework is the most apt for program reimbursement as the 

JAG Corps community is a “legal” command by its nature 

and generally, all positions support that function. 

Q4. How do I apply for tuition reimbursement?

A4. An employee's applications for tuition reimbursement for 

courses completed between Oct. 1, 2010 and Sept. 30, 2011 

will be solicited in June 2010. Look for an announcement 

from your chain of command and work with your command’s 

Civilian Education Training Coordinator to submit all 

appropriate materials. 
32 JAG Magazine - 2010 II 

Alumni

Spotlight On

CAPT (Ret.) Enser W. Cole

“What have you done for the good of the world today?” CAPT (Ret.) Enser W. Cole, Jr., asked 

that question of others and of himself every day on active 

duty. During his 26 years in the U.S. Navy, CAPT Cole’s 

passion for international and environmental law embodied the Navy’s motto “Global Force For Good.” After 

a professionally and personally rewarding life, CAPT 

Cole – a native of Salisbury, N.C., – passed away in February. 

In 1936, CAPT Cole entered the University of North 

Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned his Bachelor 

of Arts Degree in 1939 and his Juris Doctorate in 1942. 

Through the Navy, he received his LLM from George 

Washington University in 1952.

He began his naval career at the start of World War II 

as a line officer and ended it as a judge advocate. Given 

that he loved the sea and idolized his brother, a Navy 

pilot, there was no question which service he would join. 

After attending training at Columbia University Naval 

School in New York, he was off to the Pacific Theatre. 

He saw combat in the Solomon Islands and Guadalcanal, and trained for the potential invasion of Japan. His 

ship was landing Marines for combat when it was hit and 

sunk. He then became the skipper of Gunboat #68, in 

which he patrolled the Islands in the Pacific. 

Following WWII, CAPT Cole considered leaving the 

Navy in order to practice law, but his strong passion for 

public service led him to reconsider. Soon after the war, 

the Navy created the Law Specialist program to allow 

line officers to perform legal services and in 1947 CAPT 

Cole became a legal officer. His first assignment as a 

legal officer was in Yokosuka, Japan from 1947-1949, 

where he served on GEN Douglas MacArthur’s staff. 

In a career of high profile assignments, perhaps most 

rewarding was CAPT Cole’s time on the Joint Chief of 

Staff, where he was instrumental in the preparation and 

enactment of titles 10-Armed Forces and 32-National 

Guard of the United States Code. This was one of the 

largest and most complicated projects ever undertaken 

in the field of legislation and was accomplished with an 

extraordinary degree of professional excellence. The 

Department of Defense has reaped incalculable benefits 

from this legislative project, which replaced more than a 

thousand heterogeneous laws with one integrated enactment and eliminated contradictions, ambiguities, and 

dead law. For his contribution, CAPT Cole received a 

letter of thanks from the Secretary of Defense Charles Erwin 

Wilson. 

Additionally, CAPT Cole served as Special Assistant to 

the Secretary of the Navy from 1966 until his retirement in 

1968. During that time, he was part of a Geneva delegation 

led by former Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg. The 

Geneva delegation successfully negotiated one of the first 

treaties with Russia on the peaceful uses of outer space. 

Following his career as a naval officer, CAPT Cole was 

not ready to embrace traditional retirement. Instead, he continued to do good work for an additional 32 years. From 

1968-1988, he worked for Union Oil of California (Unocal), 

where he eventually became Corporate Vice President of 

Government Relations and the head of the Unocal Office in 

Washington, D.C. Following his retirement from Unocal, 

President Ronald Reagan appointed CAPT Cole as CEO of 

the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Liability Fund. For ten years after 

the EXXON Valdez oil spill, CAPT Cole supervised the collection of millions of dollars of oil company assets for the 

Fund and oversaw the subsequent Fund payout for the cleanup costs associated with the spill. 

In 2000, at the age of 81, CAPT Cole was finally ready 

for retirement. During the 56 years of CAPT Cole’s career, 

change abounded. The Navy saw the integration of women 

and minorities, the creation of the UCMJ, and the establishment of the JAG Corps. In addition, CAPT Cole experienced combat in WWII, Communism in China, and the 

Reconstruction of Japan. 

CAPT Enser Cole and his family arriving back in the U.S. in 1947 after completing his 

first assignment as a legal officer in Japan. 
jag.navy.mil 33

Book Review

By James Bradley

Book review provided by LCDR Howard Walton, USNR, Region Legal Service Office Southeast 

Flyboys

Read any great books lately? Submit your book review to 

natalie.morehouse@navy.mil.

Following up on his tremendous success with Flags of Our Fathers, 

James Bradley, son of Iwo Jima flag 

raiser and former Navy hospital corpsman, John Bradley, released Flyboys,

a fascinating non-fiction story about 

the fate of eight U.S. Navy and Marine 

Corps aviators who were taken prisoner by the Japanese during air strikes 

against the island of Chi Chi Jima in the 

Northwestern Pacific during the latter 

part of the World War II. Like its predecessor, Flyboys topped the New York 

Times bestseller list. It is an extremely 

well conceived book which stands out 

largely because of the way in which its 

author skillfully manages the emotional 

impact of its principal subject matter –

the treatment of the eight U.S. Navy and 

Marine Corps aviation personnel after 

their capture. 

Flyboys is really two books in one. 

First, a tribute to the courage of those 

who flew in combat in the Pacific during 

the World War II. Second, it is a cautionary tale of how government propaganda 

glorifying death and violence can drive 

members of even one of the most spiritual, cultured, and sophisticated peoples 

in the world to commit horrible and barbaric acts in the name of patriotism. 

The book commences, by in large, 

with a historical overview of the development of both the U.S. and Japan into 

real “players” on the world stage in the 

19th and early 20th century. For example, a chapter called “The Third Dimension” is also devoted to the rise of the 

airplane as a weapon of war. These 

early chapters may lose readers who are 

expecting a rip-roaring tale about the 

romance of aerial combat. 

However, these chapters are an 

important part of the book because they 

provide essential context, enabling the 

reader to better comprehend or analyze 

what happens later in the book. Had Mr. 

Bradley instead begun his book with 

the chapter titled “The Rape of China,” 

which discusses Japan’s brutal conquest 

of that nation in the 1930’s, some readers may have dismissed this book out of 

hand as just another grim accounting of 

atrocities in a war full of atrocious acts. 

However, armed with the historical context provided by Mr. Bradley, the reader 

is equipped to understand that the acts 

of savagery he describes were actually 

committed by a people who were most 

decidedly not savages. Thus Mr. Bradley keeps the reader engaged and interested. In addition, this chapter serves to 

brace the reader for the book’s grizzly 

conclusion which, if laid on the reader 

“out of the blue,” would likely prove 

too graphic and lose some of its significance.

Mr. Bradley introduces the reader to 

the “flyboys,” the book's heroes and provides a strong sense of who they were 

by recounting interviews with their 

family and friends. His choice to portray these veterans of World War II as 

real-life people who did extraordinary 

things, rather than as superhuman icons 

of physical strength and moral purity 

as they were often cast in films of the 

1940’s and 1950’s, might be Mr. Bradley’s greatest legacy as an author. That 

the “flyboys” were not superhuman 

before they served their country makes 

their courage in the face of incredible danger, quite ironically, seem truly 

superhuman.

The books finds its climax in late 

1944 and early 1945, during which time 

multiple aircraft carriers and the Navy 

and Marine Corps aviation personnel 

who flew from their decks, engaged in 

a campaign to neutralize Japanese communication stations 

on the heavily fortified island of Chi 

Chi Jima. The Japanese garrison there 

presented a threat to 

the B-29, which were 

required to fly near or over the island to 

reach their targets in the Japanese home 

islands. The Japanese communications 

stations on Chi Chi Jima relayed the 

movements and estimated arrival times 

of the B-29s to Japanese fighter commands and anti-aircraft gunners at their 

destinations. Eliminating the threat on 

Chi Chi Jima was a mission which fell to 

the “flyboys” to accomplish. Finally we 

learn of how the eight “flyboys” came to 

be on Chi Chi Jima and what happened 

after the Japanese captured them. Without giving away the details of the book, 

suffice to say that these aviators and air 

crew became the victims of unspeakable 

atrocities at the hands of their captors. 

The author intersperses their story with 

an accounting of how the U.S. attitude 

on the bombing of civilians changed 

during the war, from any bombing of 

civilians being considered a war crime 

at the war’s start, to “fire-bombing” of 

major population centers being a justifiable strategy by early 1945. While this 

introduction of a sort of “comparative 

victimization analysis” to the story may 

offend some, it is actually appropriate in 

the context of this book, as it helps prevent the reader from reacting as angrily 

to the treatment of the book’s heroes at 

the hands of the Japanese as he or she 

otherwise might.

In the end, Flyboys is very well done 

as a work of literature because the historical context Mr. Bradley provides 

enable the reader to look critically and 

analytically at events which might otherwise anger, rather than educate, the 

reader. While this is not an emotionally 

easy read, even for those who have not 

served in combat in World War II or had 

family or friends who were prisoners of 

war, I highly recommend it.
34 JAG Magazine - 2010 II

Milestones

After over 35 years of civil service 

and 19 years as the commanding officer’s secretary at Naval Legal Service 

Office Northwest (NLSO NW), Mrs. 

Victoria Moseley retired in October 

2009. 

For almost two decades Mrs. 

Moseley has been the continuity and 

the face of the NLSO NW. When the 

alums of the activity think back on 

their tour there, they fondly think of 

“Vicky.” 

When asked her philosophy as a 

commanding officer’s secretary she 

says, “The commanding officer’s secretary has to adapt to the boss, stay 

behind the scenes, make them look 

good and get things done. Often they 

don’t know all the things that I do 

until I’m not there. One of my first 

commanding officers told me that I 

was the “command” secretary and my 

role was to help the entire command. 

I took that on and have always considered myself the “command” secretary, 

and I have tried to take care of everyone.” And she has. 

Before entering civil service, Mrs. 

Moseley joined the Naval Reserves as 

a Yeoman in 1978 and was honorably 

discharged as a Yeoman First Class 

after serving 16 years in the active 

reserves. 

In a recent ceremony, Naval Justice Schools Commanding Officer 

CAPT Michael Boock presented Mr. 

Jim McFarland and Mr. Amit Shah

with the Federal Government Service 

Award. Mr. McFarland has been a 

federal employee for 35 years and has 

19 years at the Naval Justice School. 

Mr. Shah has been a federal employee 

for 15 years with 11 of those years 

working at the Naval Justice School.

LCDR Joan Malik, legal officer for 

Commander, Navy Region Northwest 

(CNRNW) was presented with the 

2009 Richard W. Eddy Certificate 

of Commendation for excellence in 

Environmental Litigation Support by 

Thomas Ledvina, Associate General 

Counsel and Director, Navy Litigation 

Office and CNRNW RADM James 

Symonds. The “Eddy Certificate” has 

been awarded annually since 2000 in 

honor of Richard W. Eddy, who was 

the Assistant Director of the Navy 

Litigation Office from 1987 to 1999.

In a recent ceremony CAPT 

Michael Boock awarded LN1 Erin 

Kolb the Naval Justice School Sailor 

of the Quarter award. LN1 Kolb has 

been at the Naval Justice School for 

just over a year and was also award 

the Naval Legal Service Command 

2009 Sailor of the Year.

LN1(AW) Edward Constantino, 

the command legalman at Helicopter 

Sea Combat Squadron Two Five, 

recently earned his Enlisted Aviation 

Warfare Specialist (EAWS) pin. 

The EAES designation signifies 

that a Sailor has achieved a level of 

professional skills, knowledge and 

experience in the direct support of 

naval air warfare.

CDR Scott Thompson received 

a Bronze Star Medal, NATO medal, 

and Afghanistan Campaign Medal in 

a recent ceremony at Camp Eggers, 

Kabul. CDR Thompson has just 

completed a year-long IA in Kabul 

as the Sr. Counsel to the Ministry of 

Interior for Afghan National Police 

at NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan Combined Security Transition 

Command-Afghanistan. 

After more than 23 years, Naval 

Legal Service Office Pacific said 

goodbye to Mr. Fred Eberlein in a 

recent ceremony. LT Dom Antenucci presented Mr. Eberlein with his 

retirement commendation. The JAG 

Corps employs talented civilians and 

military legal and support professionals. 

Around the Corps! 

Submit your input to natalie.morehouse@navy.mil

LT Brian Korn was selected as 

the 2009 Military Justice Officer of 

the Year for his work as an appellate 

defense attorney with the Appellate 

Defense Division (Code 45). Two of 

his cases were granted writ of certiorari 

by the Supreme Court. 

LCDR Marc Brewen was selected 

as the 2009 Action Officer of the Year 

for the Office of the Judge Advocate 

General. As information litigation 

branch head for the General Litigation 

Attorney in the General Litigation 

Division (Code 14), LCDR Brewen 

achieved victories in some of the 

Navy’s most important and sensitive 

litigation cases. LCDR Brewen also 

effectively represented the Navy’s 

interests in a class action lawsuit 

against the Department of the Defense 

addressing the issue of the disability 

rating given by the military to veterans 

discharged with PTSD. 

LN1(SW/AW) Jose Macumba was 

selected as the Naval Legal Service 

Command Sailor of the Quarter for the 

period of January - March 2010. LN1 

Macumba is attached to Region Legal 

Service Office Southwest, San Diego, 

Calif. As the staff legalman at the 

Training Support Center, he supervised 

an office staffed by 15 military 

and civilian personnel responsible 

for providing legal services and 

administrative support to more than 

60,000 students. 

LT James Michau, was selected 

as the 2009 Naval Legal Service 

Command Junior Officer of the Year. 

As acting Officer in Charge at NLSO 

Southwest Naval Legal Service 

Office Southwest, Branch Office Port 

Hueneme, LT Michau led the officer, 

enlisted, and civilian staff of his 

branch office, ensuring provision of 

outstanding legal services to the entire 

west coast Seabee and E-2 Hawkeye 

communities.
jag.navy.mil 35

Photos From The Fleet 

LT Matt Ivey and LT Jonathan Hullihan of Region Legal 

Service Office Southeast participated in the 33rd annual 

“Gate River Run” in Jacksonville, Fla.

The USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) boasts an impressive legal team including (from left to right) LTJG Michael Whitican, LTJG Daniel Sullivan, LT Brian Haagensen, 

NC1 Sara Waggoner, LN1(SW/AW) Tanika McFadden, LN2(SW) Tiffany Stacy, CDR Art Blum, and LNC(SW/AW) Christopher Brash. USS Harry S. Truman is currently 

homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

LCDR Julia Crisfield, Naval Legal Service Office North Central; LCDR Jon Stephens, OJAG Criminal Law (Code 20); 

and LT Jaspreet Saini, Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington, provided military justice training to 

attorneys and an investigator with the Military Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This training was in 

conjunction with the Defense Institute of International legal studies training program for these officers. 
Photos From The Fleet

Office of the Judge Advocate General

Public Affairs Office

1322 Patterson Ave., SE, Suite 3000

Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5066

LT Elizabeth O’Connor and LN1 Crystal Price pose on the flight deck of the USS Bonhomme 

Richard (LHD-6). They are part of Amphibious Squadron SEVEN embarked on the ship.