JAG Volume I 2009 

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

New Chief Legalmen

Ready to Answer the Call
INSIDE JAG MAGAZINE

5 RADM Norton Joerg’s Farewell Message

6 

7 Command Master Chief’s Message to New Chiefs

8 The New Legalman Chief Petty Officers 

10 Supreme Court Rules for the Navy

12 Thrill of the EURSWA Detachment in Bahrain 

13 Legalman Lends Helping Hand in Honduras 

14 The Senior Legalman Course 

14 Legalman Becomes Doctorate Candidate 

15 Making NKO Work for You 

16 User’s Guide to E-Mail: Make a Better Message 

17 The New Face of the Corps’ Courtrooms

7 Features 

12

13

8

The JAG Corps’ Approach to Meet Emerging 

Requirements
On the Front Cover

Regular Columns

Shipmate Spotlight .........................................................................18 

Fleet News .......................................................................................19

JAG Corps 2020 ..............................................................................27 

Book Review: The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors ...............28

Civilian Education .........................................................................30

JAG Corps Alumni ........................................................................31

Milestones ........................................................................................32

Photos from the Fleet .....................................................................34

LNC(SW/AW) Ronald Ratliff at the San Diego Chief 

pinning ceremony. Find out who the new chiefs are on 

page 8!

JAG

REGION LIAISONS

NAVAL JUSTICE SCHOOL 

Capt Adam Workman

NAVAL LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE North CENTRAL

REGION LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE ndw

LT Paul Jenkins

NAVAL LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE

REGION LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE EURSWA

LT Vaughn Spencer

NAVAL LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE

REGION LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE pacific yokosuka

CDR Tom Dorwin

REGION LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE hawaii

LT Jason Levy

Naval Legal Service Office Central

LCDR Andy House

REGION LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE MIDWEST

CDR David Dow

NAVAL LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE MID-ATLANTIC

LTJG Guy Reschenthaler

REGION LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE MID-ATLANTIC

LTJG Chris Fletcher

NAVAL LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE northwest

LT Alan Fowler

REGION LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE NORTHWEST

LT Darcy Utter

NAVAL LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE SOUTHEAST

LT Deborah Loomis

REGION LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE SOUTHEAST

LN1 Ryan Konop

NAVAL LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE southwest

LTJG Andrea Leahy

REGION LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE southwest

LTJG Jasmine Scott

Judge Advocate General

Vice Admiral Bruce MacDonald

Deputy Judge Advocate General,

Commander, Naval Legal Service Command

Rear Admiral James W. Houck

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 Stephen S. DiStefano

Reserve Command Master Chief, 

Office of The judge advocate general,

Naval Legal Service Command

Master Chief Tim Ayoub

Editorial Board

LCDR Anne Marks

LT Chris Ray

LT Christopher Colby

Public Affairs Officer

Ms. Jen Zeldis

Deputy Public Affairs Officer

Ms. Natalie Morehouse

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

BRUCE MacDONALD

Vice Admiral, JAGC, U.S. Navy

The Judge Advocate General

Deputy Judge Advocate General for Reserve Affairs and Operations

I assumed duties as the Deputy Judge Advocate General for Reserve Affairs and Operations, 

on Dec. 1, 2008. There will be new challenges 

to meet in the coming years, as there have been 

in the past, but at this time, I ask that everyone 

join me in extending thanks to RADM Norton 

Joerg for the tremendous time and energy he 

devoted to improving our force over the past four years. 

It is equally appropriate to note that the success of the past 

years could not have happened without the judge advocates and 

legalmen who are serving with distinction in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as those closer to home whose service provides 

essential support to the Navy. In every instance, your hard work 

and superb professionalism have earned the respect and admiration of the Navy and the American people. 

I turn now to our Chief Petty Officer ranks and our ability to 

continue to recruit, train, integrate, and deploy all our LNs. It 

STEVEN M. TALSON

Rear Admiral, JAGC, USN

is abundantly clear to me that our RC LN “Chiefs” are key to 

our continued success as a community. It is with this record of 

service and success in mind that I congratulate those new RC 

LN Chiefs donning the khaki and taking up the indispensable 

mantle of deckplate leadership. I look forward to their stepping 

up to and advancing the superlative standard set by those serving before them and, now, with them in their new, all-important 

roles. Our success depends on it, and I have every confidence 

that the RC LN Chief’s Mess will continue to do us proud!

There is much more to be done, but at this time, let me simply 

say that I feel privileged to lead our reserve component in the 

coming years, and am honored to serve with you as we meet the 

challenges that lie ahead. 

First, and most importantly, congratulations to our new Legalman Chief Petty 

Officers! You have demonstrated your 

dedication to the mission of our Navy 

and our JAG Corps. As you proudly wear 

your new khaki uniforms, I know you 

will take seriously the added responsibility and accountability placed upon you. 

You have proven yourselves, and I know 

you will take your new position in our JAG Corps community as 

“The Chief” to skillfully lead and mentor our Sailors and junior 

officers. 

This edition of the JAG Magazine is dedicated to our chief 

petty officers and is focused on leadership. We have highlighted 

a number of our motivated legalmen who have excelled both in 

their duty assignments and during their off duty time. Recently, 

LN1 Christine Richardson was accepted into the only Doctorate in Law & Policy Program in the country. LN1 Richardson 

embodies what the legalman community stands for -- going 

above and beyond what has been asked of her and continuing to 

develop her professional skills. LNC Kristin Skupnik also shares 

her experience helping orphans in Honduras. Her heartwarming 

story shows the value of our IA missions. 

In another development for our legalmen, for the first time the 

Naval Justice School’s Senior Legalman Course was opened to 

first class petty officers. LNCM Christopher Browning explains 

the highlights from this year’s course and how the change in 

attendance affected the class.

One important change in this edition was to expand the scope 

of the NSPS regular column to address items of interest for 

our civilian professionals. In this edition, Amy Stevens’ article 

focuses on the topic of civilian training. 

As we begin 2009, we will focus on two priorities for the 

JAG Corps this year. Active-Reserve Integration and Alignment is all about ensuring that our Active Component (AC) and 

Reserve Component (RC) remain tightly bound with each other 

and that we use our resources to their fullest potential. Recently, 

we completed our fourth RC Total Force Integration offsite as 

we continue to formulate a plan for the JAG Corps. This plan 

will be rolled out in summer 2009. 

Another priority is civilian training and education. Over the 

past two years, we have focused on educational opportunities 

for both our officer and legalman communities. Now it is time to 

focus on training and education opportunities for our JAG Corps 

civilian employees. You will hear more about the plans in this 

area throughout the year. 

At the end of 2008, we said farewell to RADM Norton Joerg, 

who retired after 32 years of service in the Navy. His dedication 

to duty and innovative leadership will positively impact the JAG 

Corps community for years to come. We welcome RDML Steve 

Talson as the new Deputy Judge Advocate General for Reserve 

Affairs and Operations. I look forward to working with RDML 

Talson and continuing our transformation efforts.

Finally, as we start 2009, I want everyone to remember to 

be safe. Buckle your seat belts, wear all the proper safety gear 

if you get onto a motorcycle, and watch out for the safety of 

your shipmates. For those serving overseas and away from their 

families, thank you for your service and sacrifice. I am proud 

to serve alongside each member of our JAG Corps community 

as we face the many challenges of an uncertain future. Working 

together, we will successfully meet each one.
5

NORTON C. JOERG

Rear Admiral, JAGC, U.S. Navy

On Dec. 1, 2008, I completed more than 32 years of commissioned 

service and have the honor and privilege 

of turning over the leadership of our 

Reserve Law Program to RDML Steve 

Talson. At the outset, please join me in 

congratulating Steve on his promotion 

and on his new responsibilities. I know 

that we all wish him well and that the 

entire community will support him as he 

takes the helm to guide one of its most 

important components. I also know that 

he is superbly well-prepared for the 

task and that he will help the Program 

achieve many more great things.

I take great satisfaction in the wonderful service and dedication each member 

of our Reserve Component (RC) has 

brought to the JAG Corps, to the Navy, 

and to our nation over the last four years. 

I want to take a moment to make that 

personal, by addressing each and every 

one of our outstanding reserve judge 

advocates and legalmen directly. I know 

that the entire community will echo my 

thoughts. 

To every Navy reserve judge advocate 

and legalman: As I have said many 

times before, nothing I have ever done, 

and nothing that I am ever likely to do, 

can compare to the great honor and 

fulfillment I have experienced in leading 

and supporting every one of you. You 

have made me supremely proud and done 

yourselves great credit over and over 

again, on occasions and in support of 

missions too numerous to mention. You 

epitomize the ideals of “twice a citizen” 

and of the Total Force surpassingly well, 

and continually amaze our community 

with your seemingly limitless capacity 

to contribute, at great personal sacrifice, 

to the fleet and our JAG Corps. As 

VADM MacDonald put it so accurately 

not long ago, whether your contribution 

comes via mobilization, annual training, 

ADT, ADSW, or drills, you take huge 

amounts of time from families, from 

jobs, and from your lives, to serve the 

nation – and you do it while maintaining 

as best you can those separate things, 

balancing them and struggling to make 

it all work in ways that all do not always 

appreciate. 

For all of this, and to each of you, I 

say Bravo Zulu – Bravo Zulu for putting 

nation first, Bravo Zulu for giving 

unstintingly of yourselves, Bravo Zulu 

to your families for making it possible, 

Bravo Zulu to your employers for not 

standing in the way. Whenever we 

contemplated together that “challenge 

equals opportunity” – and there have 

been many opportunities and challenges, 

to be sure -- you embraced the idea, 

turned to, and wowed us all. Whether 

we faced an existential threat to our 

community some years ago, or whether 

we faced repeated calls to dig deep again 

and again to volunteer for mobilizations 

or extended active duty -- and when we 

provided that critical, month-to-month 

continuity to help our JAG Corps team 

meet the mission -- each of you made 

critical contributions, many times over. 

Never forget that you represent the 

very best our nation has to offer, and 

we accomplish our shared efforts and 

mission immeasurably more effectively 

for all the things that you add, large and 

small. You should be very proud of this. 

It has been a great privilege to stand 

at the head of such an accomplished, 

effective and dedicated community. 

Many, many thanks!

I must turn now to our larger community, to our Active Component (AC) 

counterparts and civilian members. Integration and alignment requires everyone’s contributions, and I have to thank 

every AC and civilian member for “getting it” – for working harder than ever 

to make the partnership more seamless 

than ever. Our RC’s accomplishments 

depend on your thoughtfulness in using 

the resources that the RC represents, 

and on constant communication. Working together, we produce much more 

than the sum of our parts. It is indeed all 

about relationships, as RADM McPherson said many times. “Getting it” calls 

for a Bravo Zulu, and many thanks 

again, to all! 

In supporting this record of accomplishment, alignment and integration, it 

has been a great pleasure to work with 

VADM Bruce MacDonald and RADM 

Jim Houck – leaders who understand 

what we in the RC bring to the fight. 

Bruce and Jim have ensured that the RC 

is integrated and at the center of the mission to a degree we have never enjoyed 

before, and we are all better for it. That 

recognition and mindfulness has spread 

throughout the culture of our community 

under their leadership – something truly 

transformational – and they will build a 

lasting legacy with RDML Talson as we 

work to shape our RC-AC lash-up for 

even greater alignment and effectiveness in the future.

It has been an exciting four years. It 

is time to turn over to fresh leadership 

for the new challenges and opportunities 

that we know are coming. It is a good 

thing, and I have enjoyed an extensive 

turnover with Admiral Talson. I know 

that the Reserve Law Program is in 

very good hands. The right leadership 

is in place – but, most importantly, our 

leadership will be bolstered by a superb 

AC-RC team that, nurtured and enabled, 

has no limits. 

For this, we can all be grateful, confident, and proud. I certainly am, much 

more than I can possibly say.

Keep it up! Grab every chance to 

accomplish the mission with all capabilities available to you, for we have great 

depth in our communities that we have 

yet to fully plumb. In everything, I wish 

you all the very, very best! 

A Farewell from RADM Norton Joerg
6

New missions and new faces: 

The JAG Corps’ approach to meet 

emerging requirements

The Navy JAG Corps’ total force is expanding based 

on growing legal requirements that range from rule of law 

assignments to legal assistance for Wounded, Ill, or Injured 

(WII) service members.

In a JAGINFO to the legal community, VADM Bruce 

MacDonald publicized the Chief of Naval Personnel’s (CNP) 

decision to increase the JAG Corps end strength by 53 officers and 32 enlisted members in POM-10. This means an 

increase in accessions, through recruiting and voluntary 

reserve recalls, beginning as early as October 2009. In addition, CNP requested JAG Corps and Center for Naval Analyses (CNA) input that could result in additional JAG officers 

and legalmen in FY 2011 and FY 2012.

VADM MacDonald explained how detailed metrics from 

the CNA study showed the amount of work done by the JAG 

Corps. 

“Essential to our case was our ability to provide metrics 

to document our increasing workload. We cannot emphasize 

enough how powerful the CNA metrics are to a Navy that 

requires data-driven analysis 

to make data-driven decisions. 

Your participation in the CNA 

study made the difference,” 

said VADM MacDonald. 

Over the past couple of 

years, the LN manning situation has presented challenges in 

the wake of a 30 percent force 

reduction. Recent graduates 

from Naval Justice School 

and higher reenlistment rates 

have increased LN community 

numbers and are helping the 

JAG Corps to meet the high 

demand for legal services. Additionally, Navy Personnel 

Command recently designated the LN community as a “high 

demand/low density” community in light of high individual 

augmentee (IA) requirements, according to LNCM Stephen 

DiStefano. This designation allows the JAG Corps community to have more flexibility in managing IA detailing. 

In order to provide the legal services needed by the Navy 

and the fleet , the JAG Corps tapped the skills of the reserve 

LN community. Reserve members are currently serving 

on IA assignments or active duty for operational support 

(ADOS) orders.

VADM MacDonald recently authorized LNCM DiStefano 

to activate permanently five reserve LNs ranging from E-5 

through E-9. Before authorizing the transition, a risk assessment was conducted regarding the impact on advancement 

within the community. It was determined that although the 

additions will have some effect on advancement opportunities, these opportunities will remain consistent with historical numbers. In addition, LN promotions continue to be 

above the Navy average as evidenced by the September E-5 

and E-6 advancements.

“The addition of these extremely talented and motivated 

reserve legalmen will help us carry out today’s missions 

and prepare to face tomorrow’s challenges,” said LNCM 

DiStefano. “This is one example of the benefits to be gained 

from the ongoing Active-Reserve Integration effort, which 

will more closely align the skill sets and focus areas of 

active-duty and reserve legalmen and judge advocates.” 

Recently, a new legal requirement for assistance to 

Wounded, Ill, or Injured (WII) service members has emerged. 

The manning plan is being developed now, according to Mr. 

George Reilly, Deputy Director of Legal Assistance (Code 

16).

The 2008 National Defense 

Authorization Act (NDAA) 

required the Department of 

Defense to establish uniform 

legal support standards and 

procedures for service members in the physical disability 

evaluation system (PDES). 

These new standards include 

counsel training, maximum 

caseload, and earlier involvement by counsel in the process. 

In October, Under Secretary 

of Defense for Personnel and 

Readiness, Dr. David Chu, signed a DoD policy memorandum entitling WII service members to [among other things] 

the assistance, advice, and advocacy of trained and certified 

legal counsel earlier in the PDES process than under prior 

regulations. 

“This is an improvement over prior regulations because 

it entitles Sailors and Marines to consult with counsel at an 

earlier stage in the PDES process. Now a service member 

is entitled to counsel at the informal physical evaluation board 

By Jen Zeldis

Public Affairs Officer

New Missions continued on page 7

“The only way we were able to 

accomplish this challenging task was 

through a total force effort – from 

the numerous JAG Corps active 

and reserve officers and legalmen 

who volunteered for IAs to those 

committed civilian, reserve, and activeduty members who remained behind 

handling the increased workload with 

professionalism and dedication.”
7

To the New Chief Petty Officers

I

t was an honor and privilege for 

me to attend this year’s Norfolk 

Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Selectee 

“Final Night” and subsequent pinning 

ceremony. It was especially gratifying to watch four of our new legalman 

CPOs complete the final stages of their 

transformation into the Chief’s Mess. I 

would like to thank all of the CPOs in 

Norfolk for inviting me to participate 

in the overnight festivities. I would 

also like to pass along my personal 

congratulations to LNC Michelle Stallings, LNC Nathaniel Brown, LNC 

Anne Kreiner and LNC Heidi Kamman 

(our Norfolk contingent) and the other 

20 legalman CPOs in our community 

who went through similar training 

throughout the fleet. I was proud. I 

was impressed. All of you deserve a 

hearty well done!

Because of my schedule the past 

couple of years, I had been unable to 

attend the final night festivities and I 

was very happy that I was able to view 

the superb program run by Navy Region 

Midlant. It was awesome to witness the 

culmination of years of hard work and 

dedication put in by our selectees and 

even more rewarding to see the finished 

product and the teamwork on display – 

a tribute to the training they received 

by the Mess over the past six weeks. 

The final night sure has changed quite 

a bit since I went through it many years 

ago while stationed at Tinker Air Force 

Base in Oklahoma. While I cherish my 

lengthy training, it was very refreshing 

to see that it was possible to conduct 

training without all the antics of yesteryear and still instill that special pride a 

Chief exhibits. 

The second day was especially 

rewarding for me as I had the honor of 

pinning the anchors on LNC Michelle 

Stallings, who broke into the ranks of 

the legalman community at Naval Legal 

Service Office North Central a few 

STEPHEN S. DISTEFANO

LNCM(SW/AW), U.S. Navy

New Missions continued from page 6

(PEB) when the service member can weigh whether his 

or her case should go through the formal PEB process,” 

said Mr. Reilly. 

This requirement may increase the number of 

cases handled by the Navy and Marine Corps 

legal community from 500-600 a year to 

more than 5,000-6,000. Previously, 

NLSO North Central was handling all 

of the cases, but Mr. Reilly explained 

that this increased case load can not 

be handled by one command.

As part of a total force effort, 

the JAG Corps Reserve Component 

will staff the billets needed to handle 

this additional PEB counseling and 

assistance requirement on an interim basis. 

Once leadership has more exact data on client 

load, client location, and other factors, the JAG 

Corps will seek funding to hire term civilian attorneys 

to staff these billets. 

“We are in the process now of developing a training 

program that will allow our reserve judge advocates to 

step into this unique practice area and to permit the Judge 

Advocate General to certify them as ready to counsel 

clients in the PDES, as required by the DOD policy 

memo,” said Mr. Reilly.

Through the variety of transformation initiatives, 

the JAG Corps is strategically prepared to 

support the Navy and the nation. 

“Over the past few years, without 

an increase in manpower, the JAG 

Corps has successfully executed 

both our traditional mission and new 

operational law missions, including 

substantial support for the GWOT,” 

said VADM MacDonald. “This 

has come at a price, specifically 

your hard work, long work hours and 

personal and professional sacrifice. 

The only way we were able to accomplish 

this challenging task was through a total force 

effort – from the numerous JAG Corps active and 

reserve officers and legalmen who volunteered for 

IAs to those committed civilian, reserve, and active duty 

members who remained behind handling the increased 

workload with professionalism and dedication.”

years back while I was their Command 

Master Chief. I was extremely proud to 

watch her growth over the past six years 

and seeing her evolve into a CPO was 

special. The CPO pinning ceremony 

was truly extraordinary, and while all 

of the new Chiefs were tired from the 

training the night before, their bright 

smiles overshadowed any fatigue they 

may have felt.

While everyday is a proud day to 

be a CPO, this special day will always 

be the CPOs greatest day. This day, as 

it is every year, provides the Navy an 

opportunity to recognize the new crop 

of worthy Chiefs and a day where we 

all re-introduce ourselves to the CPO 

Creed.
8

LNC(SW) Nathaniel Brown, LNC(SW/IUSS) 

Anne Kreiner, LNC(SCW/PJ) De Ann Askew, 

and LNC(SW) Michelle Stallings.

LNC(SCW/PJ) De Ann Askew

LNC(SW/AW)) Tancia Bagmon 

LNC(SW/AW) Craig Ball 

LNC Cindy Baumgardner

LNC(SW) Shahar Bikszer 

LNC(SW/AW) Christopher Brash 

LNC(SW) Nathaniel Brown III 

LNC Jeff Davis

LNC (SW/AW)Tricia Elder 

LNC(SW/AW) Katrina Hall 

LNC(SW/AW) Christopher Holt 

LNC(SCW) Heidi Kamman

LNC(SW/IUSS) Anne Kreiner

LNC Cassandra Jefferson

LNC Sonya Jefferson

LNC(SW) Tracey Mitchell 

LNC(SCW) Kelley Montgomery

LNC(SW/AW) Dawn Nicola 

LNC Christina Nixon

LNC(SW/AW) Demetrius Prier 

LNC(SW/AW) Ronald Ratliff 

LNC Susan Roberts

LNC(SW) Michelle Stallings

LNC(SW) Karetta Terry 

Congratulations to the 
9

During the course of this day you have been caused to humbly accept 

challenge and face adversity. This you have accomplished with rare good 

grace. Pointless as some of these challenges may have seemed, there were 

valid, time-honored reasons behind each pointed barb. It was necessary 

to meet these hurdles with blind faith in the fellowship of Chief Petty 

Officers. The goal was to instill in you that trust is inherent with the 

donning of the uniform of a Chief. It was our intent to impress upon you 

that challenge is good; a great and necessary reality which cannot mar 

you - which, in fact, strengthens you. In your future as a Chief Petty 

Officer you will be forced to endure adversity far beyond that imposed 

upon you today. You must face each challenge and adversity with the 

same dignity and good grace you demonstrated today. By experience, by 

performance, and by testing, you have been this day advanced to Chief 

Petty Officer. In the United States Navy - and only in the United States 

Navy - the rank of E7 carries with it unique responsibilities and privileges 

you are now bound to observe and expected to fulfill. 

Your entire way of life is now changed. More will be expected of you; 

more will be demanded of you. Not because you are an E7 but because 

you are now a Chief Petty Officer. You have not merely been promoted one 

paygrade, you have joined an exclusive fellowship and, as in all fellowships, 

you have a special responsibility to your comrades, even as they have a 

special responsibility to you. This is why we in the United States Navy 

may maintain with pride our feelings of accomplishment once we have 

attained the position of Chief Petty Officer. 

Your new responsibilities and privileges do not appear in print. They 

have no official standing; they cannot be referred to by name, number, 

nor file. They have existed for over 100 years, Chiefs before you have 

freely accepted responsibility beyond the call of printed assignment. Their 

actions and their performance demanded the respect of their seniors as 

well as their juniors. It is now required that you be the fountain of wisdom, 

the ambassador of good will, the authority in personal relations as well 

as in technical applications. “Ask the Chief” is a household phrase in and 

out of the Navy. You are now the Chief. 

The exalted position you have now achieved - and the word exalted is 

used advisedly - exists because of the attitude and performance of the 

Chiefs before you. It shall exist only as long as you and your fellow Chiefs 

maintain these standards. It was our intention that you never forget this 

day. It was our intention to test you, to try you, and to accept you. Your 

performance has assured us that you will wear “the hat” with the same 

pride as your comrades in arms before you. We take a deep and sincere 

pleasure in clasping your hand, and accepting you as a Chief Petty Officer 

in the United States Navy.

United States Navy Chief Petty Officers Creed

LNC(SW/AW) Ronald Ratliff

 New Chief Legalmen
Supreme Court Rules for the Navy

10

On Nov. 12 the Supreme Court ruled for the Navy on 

the challenge to Navy’s use of sonar for the 14 

anti-submarine warfare (ASW) combat certification training exercises off the coast of Southern California (SOCAL). 

In a strongly worded opinion, supported by a majority of the Justices, the Court recognized both the public 

interest and the Navy’s interest in effective realistic 

training to ensure the Navy is able to track and target 

enemy submarines. The Supreme Court vacated the two 

training restrictions in the preliminary injunction that 

Navy told the court unacceptably restricted our Sailors’ 

ability to conduct realistic combat training in SOCAL 

with mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS). The majority 

opinion concluded that “the balance of equities and consideration of the overall public interest in this case tip 

strongly in favor of the Navy.” 

“This case was vital to our Navy and nation’s security, 

and we are pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision 

in this matter. We can now continue to train our Sailors effectively, under realistic combat conditions, and 

certify our crews ‘combat ready’ while continuing to be 

good stewards of the marine environment,” said Donald 

C. Winter, Secretary of the Navy.

This decision enables the nation to achieve a balanced, 

responsible approach to meeting the Navy’s dual obligation for maintaining a trained and effective force and 

environmental stewardship. 

The original injunction, handed down in August 2007 

by a U.S. District Court in Los Angeles and later amended, 

was affirmed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 

February. The Supreme Court granted the Government’s 

Petition for Certiorari in June and heard the oral argument Oct. 8.

The decision vacated two training restrictions -- the 

2,200-yard shutdown zone and the mandatory power 

reduction when significant surface ducting conditions are 

encountered. The trial court’s 2,200-yard shutdown zone 

was 11 times greater than the 200-yard shutdown distance 

developed in consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and employed by the Navy, and 

it increased unnecessarily the surface area within which 
Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead and Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter leave the U.S. Supreme court. 

11

a marine mammal’s presence would 

force a sonar shutdown by a factor of 

121. The 2,200-yard shutdown zone 

effectively imposed a 4.9-square mile 

shutdown zone around each U.S. Navy 

ship equipped with MFAS. The Court 

noted that the courts below had not 

given sufficient weight to the views 

of several top Navy officers, who 

explained the serious impact of these 

two measures on effective training.

The Navy implements extensive 

measures designed to protect marine 

mammals during ASW training. As 

the Court observed, the Navy has 

conducted exercises similar to those 

at issue in this litigation in SOCAL 

for 40 years, without a single marine 

mammal stranding linked to MFAS 

usage. 

This injunction and this decision 

concern 14 major training exercises 

off Southern California. The last of 

these exercises was completed in 

December. For the final SOCAL exercises, the Navy continued to train 

while applying a number of mitigation measures set forth in a National 

Defense Exemption (NDE), and additional requirements imposed by the 

President’s Council on Environmental 

Quality (CEQ), and other mitigation 

measures ordered by the District Court 

that were not challenged by the Navy. 

The NDE measures were established 

in cooperation with NMFS and the 

CEQ, and since they were instituted 

in January 2007, no marine mammal 

strandings have been associated with 

the United States Navy’s use of sonar 

anywhere in the world. 

“We are pleased with the Supreme 

Court’s decision on this case of vital 

importance to our national security. 

We will continue to train realistically 

and certify the Sailors and Marines of 

our Navy strike groups in a manner 

that protects our nation’s security and 

the precious maritime environment,” 

said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. 

Gary Roughead.

The Navy completed an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under 

the National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) for all training activities on the 

Southern California Range Complex 

in January 2009. The Navy’s decision on this EIS provides full environmental compliance for all training 

activities on the SOCAL range complex, including training with MFAS. 

The Supreme Court’s decision did not 

affect the completion of the EIS and 

efforts to obtain required letters of 

authorization and biological opinions 

which will set the mitigation measures 

to be observed in the future. 

Beyond environmental compliance 

and marine mammal protection measures, the Navy has also invested more 

than $100 million in the past five years 

to increase scientific knowledge about 

the location, abundance, habitat, physiological characteristics and acoustic 

sensitivity of marine mammals.
12

By LT Sara de Groot

RLSO MIDLANT

The Thrill of the 

EURSWA Detachment

Perhaps you have heard about Bahrain if you have been an 

individual augmentee (IA), but I would bet you had no 

idea of its location or even its existence before you joined 

the Navy. It is a small island kingdom just off the Saudi Arabian coast. In fact, there is a causeway joining Saudi Arabia and 

Bahrain. Currently there are no dependents of service members 

in Bahrain [although some dependents are expected in the near 

future]. While some people PCS to Bahrain, there are almost as 

many people doing six month IA tours for their commands.

Naval Legal Service Office Europe and Southwest Asia 

(NLSO EURSWA) was the first to launch the defense-only 

command pilot project with one attorney in Sigonella, two in 

Naples, and one in Bahrain. The area of responsibility (AOR) 

for Bahrain covers the entire Southwest Asia region and includes 

Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Horn of Africa, Saudi 

Arabia, Qatar, Afghanistan and all the 

ships that come into the AOR. There is 

only defense counsel here, but there are 

other JAGs. The Region Legal Service 

Office (RLSO) and U.S. Naval Forces 

Central Command (NAVCENT) each 

have three JAGs. The NLSO is actually 

one of the smallest commands, if not the 

smallest command, at Naval Support 

Activity Bahrain with sometimes just 

one person working in the office. It is one of the more unique 

billets the JAG Corps offers a junior officer. 

 Working in such a small office in this environment has its 

challenges. There is no one down the hallway to consult with 

on questions. The work week is Sunday through Thursday, vice 

Monday through Friday, so inevitably you come in six or seven 

days a week to take care of people throughout the AOR. The 

summers are almost unbearably hot and humid, although now 

you can wear shorts as long as they come to your knees. The 

best of Bahrain closes for one month each year during the holy 

month of Ramadan. 

On the positive side, this job offers a feeling of complete 

autonomy. If you come from the headquarters of a NLSO or 

RLSO, you will automatically be struck by how independent 

you are. At the same time you have a fantastic Commanding 

Officer and Senior Defense Counsel at headquarters in Naples. 

They seem to know everything, are always ready to help and are 

just a phone call away if you need them. 

You will learn to trust your decision making skills, and you 

will have your own legalman to further train as a paralegal. 

You are the sole defense attorney for Navy and Marine Corps 

personnel, but you also speak with Army, Air Force and Coast 

Guard personnel. As there are no dependents for people to go 

home to, it is easier to meet people from all communities with 

little effort, and to make friends with some of the most unlikely 

people. Unlike other Navy bases where junior officers would 

rarely meet or speak to a senior officer except in a formal meeting, Bahrain offers many opportunities to meet all ranks. On 

Thursday nights in Bahrain, everyone heads to the Officers’ 

Club for a respite from the work week. Before you know it, you 

have shared chicken tenders, a cool beverage, and your opinion 

of some inane topic with someone who joined the Navy when 

you were in first grade. Lastly, if you have done an IA in this 

AOR, the hot summer will be no problem. If you have yet to do 

an IA, this will prepare you for it.

You will definitely not lack for interesting experiences. In 

Bahrain, carriers are too big to make port calls so when a carrier needs to do an administrative board 

in your AOR, you get to COD onboard. 

COD stands for Carrier Onboard Delivery. It is a small plane that can carry 

maybe 20 people. You are outfitted with 

a helmet, goggles, and the heavy life 

preservers that the pilots wear, and you 

need to wear ear plugs. I definitely was 

popping motion sickness pills each time 

before I went on these flights! Luckily, I 

had great air crews who prepared us well. Needless to say, landing on any carrier is an unforgettable experience. 

The legal personnel onboard all the carriers I flew out to were 

great and before I knew it, I watched flight operations from the 

flight deck on one carrier and night flight operations on another. 

This may be old hat and not so exciting for those officers who 

served or are serving onboard carriers right now, but for me, it 

was scary, fun, and surreal all at once. I also had the opportunity 

to go to Iraq with LN1 Lowe for an Article 32 investigation. 

Where else in the JAG Corps can you go to Iraq to work for just 

a few days? 

This has been a challenging billet for me as a Naval officer 

and a lawyer. It is a great test of your fortitude and your skills 

to advocate for your client against the heavy weight of the government, especially when you are alone. If you are up for the 

challenge, this is the duty station to have. Your year will fly by 

quickly, and before you know it, you will leave Bahrain with 

new friends and new stories to tell. 

“This has been a 

challenging billet for me 

as a naval officer and a 

lawyer.”
13

By LNC Kristine Skupnik

RLSO MIDLANT

Legalman Lends Helping Hand in

Honduras

Established in August 1984, Joint 

Task Force-Bravo (JTF-Bravo) 

is located at Soto Cano Air Base, 

Honduras, and is comprised of approximately 550 U.S. military personnel and 

more than 650 U.S. and Honduran civilians. This is a Honduran Air Base and 

home of the Honduran Air Force Academy, located approximately 50 miles 

northwest of the capital city of Tegucigalpa. Honduras is divided into “states” 

and Soto Cano is in the State of Comayagua. 

As early as 1965, the U.S. and Honduran Armed Forces conducted combined 

training exercises. JTF-Bravo is the third 

in a series of headquarters for the command of U.S. forces and exercise activities in Honduras. The primary mission of 

JTF-Bravo is to support and conduct joint, 

combined, and interagency operations 

in the Joint Operations Area. There are 

about 11 Navy billets supporting the Joint 

Operations Center consisting of a supply 

specialist, legal non-commissioned officer in charge, chaplain’s assistant, and 

personnel support technician. The task 

force consists of primarily Army and Air 

Force personnel. There are many Honduran nationals that work on the base in 

administrative positions as well. 

It always amazed me to see the state 

in which the people live. Whenever went 

into town, there were cows, goats, and 

roosters scattered along the roadside and 

sometimes even walking in the middle of 

the road. The roads and fields are scattered with trash. Honduras is a third-world 

country and the families living in villages 

in the mountains live in simple concrete 

or cinder block dwellings with dirt floors. 

They wash their clothes by hand and cook 

on clay stoves. 

Another aspect of JTF-Bravo is the 

support of regional humanitarian and 

civic assistance, as well as organized volunteer opportunities for service members 

to engage in such as Chapel mission hikes 

sponsored by the Chaplain and Santa 

LN1 Kristine Skupnik takes a break with a child from the Santa Maria Terra Hogar Orphanage in Honduras. 

Maria Terra Orphanage visits. 

Many of the children at the Santa 

Maria Terra Orphanage have extremely 

limited living conditions. In some cases, 

their parents would drop them off at the 

beginning of the week and pick them up 

for the weekend. During their week at the 

orphanage the children are fed and attend 

classes. The orphanage does the best 

with what they have, which isn’t much. 

When we organized an orphanage visit, 

we would bring hamburgers, hot dogs, 

chips, sodas, hygienic supplies such as 

toothbrushes, shoes, toys, and clothing 

we donated. We tried to give the children 

a carefree day full of fun. The kids were 

always ecstatic to see us, they always had 

smiles on their faces and were very lovable. The kids tend to want to hold your 

hands and not let go. The girls used to 

love that I would bring them lipstick and 

nail polish. 

Every single moment at the orphanage 

was worth it. It was important to me to 

show those children that we care about 

them. If I could put a smile on at least 

one of their faces, it made me feel like I 

made a difference. Some might think that 

giving one of those kids a hug is nothing. 

But when we help out the children who 

have so little, we are seen for what we 

really are: U.S. service members trying to 

do all we can to help out those in need. 

My six-month stint in Honduras was 

an amazing experience. I have a new 

appreciation for the U.S. and the luxuries I have taken for granted in the past. 

Well-constructed roads, highways, readily-available drinking water, shopping 

malls, speedy internet, and being able to 

drive my own car are just a few of these 

luxuries. 

JTF-Bravo’s primary mission in Honduras may not have been initiated in the 

80’s to serve a humanitarian purposes, but 

today it is an essential component to mission success. 
14

Legalman Becomes 

Doctoral Candidate

By Natalie Morehouse 

Public Affairs Office

LN1 Christie Richardson was recently 

admitted into the Doctorate in Law and 

Policy degree program at Northeastern 

University in Boston, Mass. She began the 

program in July 2008 and will graduate May 

2010. 

LN1 Richardson’s desire is to become a

law and policy professor.

“Acceptance in the program was unexpected, as I was competing with CEOs, deans, 

legislators, college professors, attorneys, and 

other people in prominent positions from 

around the world,” said LN1 Richardson.

The Law and Policy Doctorate is an 

accelerated and intensive 24-month program 

and has the distinction of being the only 

Doctorate in Law and Policy program in 

the U.S. Each year there are approximately 

500 applicants. There were only 36 students 

accepted into LN1 Richardson’s class. 

The Doctorate in Law and Policy program 

requires a master’s degree, juris doctorate, or 

medical degree as a prerequisite. Students 

attend classes at the Boston campus once a 

month and online throughout the rest of the 

month. The course of study includes economics, research methods, statistics, law, policy, 

and theory. LN1 Richardson will defend her 

dissertation in March 2010. 

To legalmen interested in continuing their 

education, LN1 Richardson recommends 

taking it one course at a time. “Our jobs are 

demanding, but we must continue our education to stay on track with advancement. 

Acquiring an associate’s degree is not as difficult as it once was.”

LN1 Richardson is a native of WinstonSalem, N.C., and currently resides in Savannah, Ga. She joined the Navy in May 2003 as 

a reservist. In January 2005, she decided to 

go active and in 2007 she graduated from the 

Legalman Accession Course. 

LN1 Richardson has a Bachelor’s of Science in Paralegal Studies and a Master’s of 

Science in Legal Studies in Law and Policy 

specializing in homeland security. 

By LNCM Christopher Browning

Naval Justice School

The 2008 Senior Legalman 

Course was held at the 

Naval Justice School in 

Newport, R.I., Aug. 18 - 22. For 

the first time, the target audience 

of this course was a group of 20 

first class petty officers. Historically, the students of this course 

have been legalmen (LNs) in pay 

grade E-7 or above.

The LN1s who attended this 

course were hand selected by 

LNCM Stephen DiStefano after 

having been nominated by their 

command senior enlisted leaders. 

The intent of this pilot version of 

the course was to prepare these 

LN1s for promotion to Chief by 

training them on administrative 

and leadership matters that are 

normally provided once an LN 

has promoted to the rank of E-7. 

“It was really a top notch course 

and a week well spent,” said LN1 

Steven McAnally, Naval Legal 

Service Office Pacific.

During the course, students 

were provided briefs and training on the state of the LN community, manning, recruitment, 

the detailing process, writing 

evaluations, awards and recognition, the MCPON’s vision for 

the role of first class petty officers, the LN Reserve Component, 

and selection board preparations. Several days were spent 

with students divided into four 

working groups. These groups 

worked on community projects 

such as the LN Personal Qualification Standards, surge teams, 

education, and LN community 

growth. 

“I thought the class was very 

educational and it was nice to 

be able to actually interact with 

my fellow LNs face to face 

vice on the phone. Everyone 

brought fresh thoughts and 

ideas to the table, which opened 

my mind to see things in a new 

way. After hearing LNCM 

DiStefano and the other senior 

enlisted legalmen, my thought 

process changed. I am going to 

be them one day, taking care of 

my community and fighting for 

the advancement of our profession,” said LN1 Melissa Adams, 

Carrier Strike Group Eight.

This pilot course was a tremendous success. Attendee 

comments were highly positive, 

and many said, “Why haven’t 

we done this before now?” 

These LN1s are now better 

prepared for advancement to 

Chief and better prepared to 

lead their Sailors and commands. They now possess a new 

ownership in the growth of our 

thriving community of Navy 

paralegals.

The Senior Legalman Course
15

MAKING NKO WORK FOR YOU

Selecting Communities and Learning Centers

By Donna Sayers

Knowledge and Information Services (Code 65)

Right clicking on any link within NKO will allow you to 

open the link in a new window, or if you are using Internet 

Explorer 7, a new tab, alleviating some of the frustration experienced 

when trying to get back to where you were.

TIP

Navigating through NKO can be an overwhelming 

experience, especially when you are trying 

to locate a specific community. For those 

unfamiliar with NKO, using the “Organizations and 

Communities” drop down window to get to where you 

are going can sometimes be more trouble than it’s worth. 

However, NKO offers a number of tools that allow you 

to personalize NKO. Taking advantage of these tools 

will help ease some of the frustration felt when trying to 

navigate through NKO.

When you registered for access to NKO, you were 

required to select a community. Although you can 

change your community at any time by updating your 

profile, you can only select one community. This makes 

it frustrating when there are other communities that 

interest you, especially if you do not know how to locate 

them. To resolve this issue, there is a tool which will 

allow you to customize your NKO home page and create 

links for direct access to communities that interest you.

When on the NKO home page, if you scroll down, 

on the right-hand column, you will see a gear called 

“Public Communities and Learning Centers”. Within this 

gear, you will see the community you chose during the 

registration process. You will also see an “Add or remove 

community and learning center pages” link. Opening this 

link will allow you to search for additional communities 

and create a direct link to them on the home page.

Once the new page opens, type the name, or part of the 

name, of the community you are looking for and click on 

“Search.” 

When you locate the community you want, click on 

“Add Link.” You will then be returned to the NKO home 

page and receive a message indicating the link has been 

successfully added. After clicking on “OK”, you will be 

taken back to the search page. From here, you can add 

more communities. If there are no other communities you 

wish to add at this time, click on the “Back to shared 

page” link to return to the NKO home page.

If you scroll down the home page, you will see the link 

has been added to your “Communities and Learning Centers” gear, providing you direct access to the community 

without the need of searching for it. 
16

A User’s Guide to E-Mail 

The second installment of the e-mail series that provides some rules for communicating through e-mail

By Col Gary Brown, USAF

Senior Legal Advisor, Air Force Inspector General 

Next in the series: Part 3 Dealing with Dangerous 

Erroneous Messages and E-Mail Overload

There are two published lists of the “deadly sins” of 

e-mail. The website Tetsou (www.tetsou.co.uk) noted “7 

Deadly Sins of E-mail.” Going a step further, Shipley 

and Schwalbe, authors of Send, Why People E-mail So Badly 

and How To Do It Better, have identified eight “deadly sins.” 

Tempted as I was to produce my own catalog of nine “deadly 

sins,” I was stumped after only three on my “when not to use 

e-mail” list. Thus chagrined, I’ll proceed with a discussion of 

some aspects of the other two lists.

Shipley and Schwalbe’s list of e-mail sins is instructive as 

a primer on what content could come back to bite the sender. 

Their list includes e-mails that are insulting, sarcastic, or overly 

casual. Their short book offers interesting anecdotes to illustrate 

each category and makes for an amusing read.

Tetsou’s list focuses largely on the mechanics of e-mail use. 

Four items on the list are suitable for discussion here. They are 

inappropriate subject line; rambling, lengthy or poorly-worded 

content; the unnecessary reply; and failure to respond to e-mail.

In the past, the subject line was under-used or wrongly used. 

In my experience it seems most people have figured out how 

useful it is to have a good subject line on a message. So, this 

should serve as just a gentle reminder to continue filling in helpful information as the subject of a message. It distinguishes real 

messages from junk mail and helps the receiver prioritize and 

quickly retrieve messages.

The second item of concern is actually a combination of two 

“deadly sins” from the aforementioned article (rambling content 

and poor language use). Go figure, the content of e-mail is actually important. You can dress the pig up all you want, but if 

it can’t hold a conversation you’re still not getting anywhere. 

Which is a sentence qualifying as rambling and poorly-worded. 

And that one was a fragment. And so on. The following tips 

may be helpful. 

When sending e-mail, keep the content punchy. Some 

people recommend the antiquated telegram style as an example. 

Western Union sent its last telegram in 2006, marking the 

demise of the medium other than as a novelty item. The idea 

is to keep the communication brief, but not so brief it results 

in the kind of miscommunication that sometimes resulted from 

overly-condensed telegram language. A famous case in point 

was the lawyer who, at the successful conclusion of a difficult 

case, telegraphed his client: JUSTICE HAS TRIUMPHED. 

His client cabled back: APPEAL THE CASE AT ONCE. 

Another model to use is the classic inverted pyramid 

newspaper article. The subject line is the headline. After that, 

the information is presented in descending order of importance. 

Whatever you do, don’t bury your most important information 

in the bottom paragraph of an e-mail. I am personally notorious 

for losing interest in e-mails after the first couple of paragraphs; 

i.e., I sometimes fail to actually read the last paragraph or two 

if I think I’ve already gotten the gist. I don’t think I’m alone in 

this. Or maybe I am, but it’s still a good practice to put important 

information up front.

 The content of your e-mail, by the way, includes any junk you 

append to the end of the message. I can remember the first time 

I used e-mail in the early 1990s. I received some tasking and 

was replying. There were a couple of forwarded messages in the 

string. In my reply I manually changed them around to appear 

chronologically and placed my reply at the bottom, prompting 

an amused rejoinder from the e-mail savvy recipient, explaining 

to me the protocol was to have the messages appear in reverse 

chronological order. The order now seems perfectly natural and 

logical to me, as it does to you. What it can lead to, however, is 

complacency in forwarding and replying.

That “junk” at the bottom of your e-mail, whether or not you 

actually read it, is part of your message. If it’s unclear, lengthy, 

or unsavory, it’s your responsibility to fix it. Many times, it can 

be deleted or summarized in your own e-mail. Most of the time, 

it should be edited to remove extraneous symbols and chat – 

but take care to preserve the original meaning. In particular, if 

your message is going to a senior leader, you should provide an 

executive summary of the information for them. Don’t make a 

busy executive sort through page after page of forwarded and 

reforwarded garbage. Your job is to do it for them. It’s polite, 

and it’s efficient. Why should twelve addressees go through 

numerous e-mails to figure out what they really say, when one 

good e-mail sender can do it on everyone’s behalf? Leave the 

material attached at the bottom if the recipients of your e-mail 

might want to review it in its original form, but always provide 

the summary.

 Unfortunately, though, Mark Twain was right – it will take 

longer to write a short communication. The extra time you invest 

is worth it. It reflects well on you, and saves the time of every 

recipient. 

Part 2: Make a Better Message
The New Face of the Corps’ Courtrooms 

(From top to bottom) Region Legal Service Office Northwest Naval Station Everett, Region Legal Service 

Office Midwest, and the Washington Navy Yard Navy-Marine Corps Appellate Center, represent some of the 

newest courtrooms in the JAG Corps. 17
Leadership is one of those things that can make or break an organization. It’s a subtle quality, at times hard to 

define, but you know it when you see it in action. There are a few qualities that all of the leaders in the JAG Corps 

seem to possess: commitment to the legal community, initiative, integrity, perseverance, and professionalism. In 

the JAG Corps many fit the above leadership description. The following regular column introduces a few of the 

JAG Corps leaders from Naval Legal Service Command. 

JAG Leaders 

LT Robin Donnelly is a rising star at NLSO Midlant. As 

a lieutenant junior grade with just a little over a year of 

experience at the command, she was appointed as the Legal 

Assistance Department Head. In a time of transition and high 

operational tempo, LT Donnelly managed a department of 

more than 40 personnel across three offices. She designed 

and implemented a Family Law Seminar, now required 

before clients meet with an attorney for domestic relations 

appointments. LT Donnelly’s efforts reduced the number 

of “no-show” appointments by 50 percent, saving the 

attorneys and staff valuable time and improving customer 

service. LT Donnelly has expertly supervised one of the busiest 

legal assistance departments in the Navy ensuring that hundreds 

of deploying Sailors and their families received outstanding 

legal assistance. 

Shipmate Spotlight

18

Would you like to recognize an exceptional shipmate? Submit your command’s 

outstanding member and photos to natalie.morehouse@navy.mil

LN1 Jessica Diaz embodies the absolute best qualities of the Navy legalman community. At NLSO Midlant, LN1 Diaz was 

an enthusiastic leader in every aspect of her service, including 

legal support, physical training, and collateral duties. On her 

second individual augmentatee (IA) active duty tour, she was 

frocked by the Secretary of the Navy in Afghanistan. 

“I am so glad that I could be a part of something so big. I 

also received a coin, another to add to the collection. These IA 

assignments I have been on have taught me a lot and have opened 

my eyes. My career and life will be enriched because of it. I 

urge anyone to stand up, volunteer and make a difference,” said 

LN1 Diaz.

LN1 Jessica Diaz

LT Robin Donnelly 
19Fleet News

19

Steven Shepard, who grew up in Great Falls, Va., 

recently began his clerkship with the United States 

Supreme Court. Shepard clerks for Justice Anthony Kennedy, who chose him as one of four clerks.

“It’s a thrill to be working here,” said Shepard. 

He says that reading 

through the most important, contentious issues of 

law can be “a real intellectual puzzle at times.” 

“I enjoy solving that 

puzzle,” he said. He previously served as a clerk for 

Alex Kozinski, chief judge 

of the United States Court 

of Appeals for the Ninth 

Circuit.

Shepard graduated from 

University of Virginia with 

a double major in the government and foreign affairs 

Future JAG Helping the Supreme Court

Reprinted with 

Permission from the 

Great Falls Connection

VADM Bruce MacDonald 

briefed the American Bar 

Association (ABA) during the 

ABA’s 131st annual meeting. 

The annual meeting was held 

in New York City from Aug. 7 

- 13.

During the ABA annual meeting, ABA President Thomas 

Wells, Jr. announced the ABA 

Military Pro Bono Project that 

supports civilian lawyers representing active duty military personnel in 

state and local courts. The ABA Military 

Pro Bono Project is jointly sponsored 

by the ABA Section on Litigation and 

the ABA Standing Committee on Legal 

Assistance for Military Personnel.

Mr. Wells discussed the need to 

ensure military personnel and their 

families have access to the courts. 

“The ABA Military Pro Bono Project 

will deliver much-needed pro bono 

civil legal assistance for the men and 

ABA Annual Meeting and the Military Pro Bono Project

women serving our country. Extensive 

military engagements away from home 

have imposed legal burdens on our service personnel and their families,” said 

Mr. Wells. “These military personnel 

have the same concerns as their civilian 

counterparts – they need help resolving 

credit issues, they have child custody 

concerns, or they need help with guardianship and other matters.”

According to the ABA, “the ABA 

Military Pro Bono Project web site 

(www.militaryprobono.org) “has been 

developed and will facilitate 

matching service member 

cases and volunteer lawyers. This web site will 

allow military attorneys to 

refer financially eligible service members to the Project, which will then place 

the case with a volunteer 

pro bono attorney qualified 

to assist the client with the 

legal issue.” 

VADM MacDonald presented the current state and 

accomplishments of the JAG Corps 

to the ABA’s Military Law Committee (MLC). Each of the services 

presented the state of their Corps at 

the MLC meeting and discussed current issues and events affecting their 

Corps at the Standing Committee on 

Armed Forces Law meeting. 

The full Navy JAG Corps ABA 

report is located in the reading room 

on the Navy JAG web site at www.

jag.navy.mil.

The service representatives at the Military Law Committee at the ABA 

Annual Meeting in New York City. 

By Natalie Morehouse

Public Affairs Office

honors program. 

He was first stimulated by law 

during a constitutional law seminar 

in his last year at the University of 

Virginia. He will serve as a lawyer 

in the United States 

Navy’s JAG Corps 

following his clerkship on the Supreme 

Court. He received a 

commission from the 

Navy last fall. 

Shepard also spent 

two years in Bolivia 

as a Peace Corps volunteer. He attended 

Yale Law School and 

graduated in 2007. 
20 Fleet News

Reserve legalmen from across the country assembled at the Naval 

Justice School for their annual Military 

Law Training Symposium (MLTS) on 

Sept. 12. A variety of workshops and 

lectures focusing on legal training and 

professional development issues were 

offered. 

“The purpose was to bring reserve 

legalmen together to discuss the latest 

updates and policies affecting our 

practice,” according to JAG reserve 

Command Master Chief LNCM Tim 

Ayoub.

The event featured a diverse spectrum of guest speakers representing 

the entire JAG community. Keynote 

speakers included Judge Advocate 

General of the Navy, VADM Bruce 

MacDonald, and former Deputy Judge 

Advocate General for Reserve Affairs 

and Operations, RADM Norton Joerg. 

The symposium also offered attendees a chance to exchange ideas and 

connect with former shipmates and 

mentors. 

The following are some of the 

awards presented at the MLTS:

• LN1 Monica Brown received the 

Navy Commendation Medal;

• LN1 Joanna Patterson was awarded 

the Flag Letter of Commendation;

• LN1 Sally Webster was awarded 

the Flag Letter of Commendation;

• LNC Mark Adams was awarded 

the Navy Commendation Medal.

Reserve Legalman 

Training Symposium

By MC1 Harrold Henck

Naval Justice School Public Affairs

One thing that is constant in life 

is “CHANGE.” In the world 

of military justice, it’s important that 

we keep up with policy changes that 

affect good order and discipline. It 

would be even better if we were 

immediately notified when these 

BUPERS UPDATES: Chi-Change By LCDR Hiram Thompson, RLSO Mid-Atlantic 

changes occur. BUPERS has provided 

a vehicle in which certain updates can 

immediately be sent directly to your 

outlook inbox. In order to subscribe 

to BUPERS updates, type in the following link: http://buperscd.technology.navy.mil/bpnewMil.htm, click on 

“subscribe to updates,” and follow 

the instructions provided. You can 

choose to subscribe to selected 

updates such as directives, new/

revised forms, revised MILPERSMAN Articles, updated publications 

and manuals, and the naval register. 

Naval Legal Service Office Southwest Participates in the 20th 

Anniversary of the San Diego Vietnam Veterans Stand Down

CAPT James Ryan

NLSO SW

NLSO SW attorneys and legalmen participated in the client interview process. Some of the volunteers 

were: LN1 Stacey Langford, BM2 Sara Pena, LCDR Stacia Gawronski, LT Timothy Boyle, LT Jessica 

Pyle, and Ms. Kathlene Somerville. 

Twenty years ago San Diego County developed a program 

called Vietnam Veterans Stand 

Down that has now spread across 

the nation into a much broader 

Stand Down that serves veterans 

from all wars. The Stand Down 

works to resolve the problems 

faced by veterans who are homeless. For instance, in 1989, San 

Diego started the first Homeless 

Court Program (HCP) in the nation, 

a special Superior Court session 

held at local shelters for homeless 

defendants to resolve outstanding 

misdemeanor criminal cases. 

Naval Legal Service Office 

Southwest (NLSO SW) regularly volunteers to staff the Stand 

Down. This year NLSO SW attorneys, legalmen, and limited duty 

officers participated in the client 

interview process. NLSO SW attorneys also argued cases in front of the 

Superior Court Judge who, based 

upon the attorneys’ representations 

to the court, either dismissed fully 

the outstanding tickets and fines or 

dismissed most of the charges pending further participation in counseling. 

During the 2008 Stand Down, 

131 volunteers resolved 568 cases 

during the HCP session at Balboa 

Park. Tents served as temporary 

housing for the veterans, and many 

local agencies including Department 

of Veterans Affairs, Disabled American Veterans, State Employment 

and Housing Agency, Alcoholics 

Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, 

San Diego Volunteer Lawyers, and 

a myriad of other volunteer services 

provided medical, dental, counseling, clothing, and legal services to 

participating homeless veterans. 
LT Philip Hamon engineered the recovery of 

$78,000 on behalf of young Sailor in an insurance appeal to the State of Mississippi. The Sailor 

owned a home in Mississippi that was destroyed 

in Hurricane Katrina. His claim was denied under 

the State compensation scheme for Katrina victims 

because the home was rented at the time of the 

storm. The Sailor was deployed in Seventh Fleet 

during Katrina. 

Recognizing that the denial of this claim was an 

injustice and prejudicial to military members stateKatrina Victim has Victory in Mississippi

Fleet News

21

I

n April 2008, Region Legal 

Service Office Southwest (RLSO 

SW) began its second year of a 

community outreach program with 

a local elementary school. Lee 

Elementary has suffered recent 

budget cuts that have severely 

affected the school and the children. 

The budget cuts have led to the 

closing of their brand new library 

because they had to let the librarian 

go. Currently RLSO SW is waiting 

for approval from the Board of 

Education to see if they will allow 

RLSO volunteers to work in the 

library a few hours a week so that 

the kids can have use of it. 

Ever since RLSO SW started 

volunteering with the kids at Lee 

Elementary, a special bond has been 

developed between the children 

and the volunteers. The children 

look forward to each visit. The 

volunteers helped the students with 

reading, writing, and art work for 

special events like Mother’s Day. 

On the last day of school, RLSO 

SW was invited to join the teachers’ 

team in a dodge ball game against 

the fifth graders. The children had 

Region Legal Service Office Southwest 

Volunteers at Local Elementary School

LTJG Jasmine Scott

RLSO SW

a great time, especially the special 

needs children who also joined the 

game. 

The children enjoyed the time 

with the RLSO volunteers so much 

that they made very creative awards 

for each of the volunteers. 

A few of the Lee Elementary 

volunteers from RLSO SW were:

CDR Christopher Roper; LT 

Thomas Byrnes; LT Craig Warner; 

LNC Jacquelyn Woodall; LNC 

Brook Larkins; LN1 Christopher 

Lehmann; LN2 Raysa Turner; LN2 

Angelica Patty; and LN2 Heather 

Redding.

wide, LT Hamon wrote to the Governor of Mississippi and two State Senators and advocated on the 

Sailor’s behalf. 

In response to LT Hamon’s work, the Sailor 

in question said, “...because you listened to our 

story and took the initiative to write a letter on our 

behalf, our lives have changed forever.” 

In result of LT Hamon’s perseverance, the State 

of Mississippi allowed the Sailor to appeal the 

State’s denial and then paid the full amount of the 

claim. 

RLSO SW members LN2 Raysa Turner and LN1 Christopher Lehmann volunteer at Lee Elementary 

School in San Diego, Calif.
22 Fleet News

22

Five hours of diligent leg work by 

one military attorney provided 

critical evidence needed to convict 

a former Navy signalman charged 

with transmitting classified information to unauthorized sources.

LCDR Marc Brewen’s quick 

thinking and vital knowledge of the 

operational Navy provided essential 

support at the 11th hour in a federal 

criminal investigation that spanned 

four years and two continents.

On Sept. 12, the U.S. Attorney for 

the District of Connecticut awarded 

LCDR Brewen, a litigation attorney 

in the Office of the Judge Advocate 

General, the U.S. Attorney’s Award. 

Fellow Navy judge advocates CAPT 

Michael Quinn and CDR Shannon 

Kopplin, and several NCIS and FBI 

agents critical to the investigation of 

the case against Hassan Abujihaad 

were also honored. 

In the beginning of 2008, with trial 

imminent, the Acting U.S. Attorney 

for the District of Connecticut, Nora 

Dennehy, requested Navy support 

and CAPT Quinn, CDR Kopplin, 

and LCDR Brewen were assigned to 

assist.

“I was assigned to work through 

a lot of the classified information,” 

said LCDR Brewen. “AUSAs 

[Assistant U.S. Attorneys] Bill Nardini and Stephen Reynolds would 

tell me what or who they were looking for and I would work with other 

Codes and Navy personnel to find 

information or potential witnesses 

for the pending trial. CAPT Quinn 

and CDR Kopplin were instrumental in these endeavors.” 

The biggest challenge came via 

a phone call on a Friday night with 

a deadline of the following Monday 

morning. Mr. Nardini and Mr. 

Members of Navy JAG Awarded 

U.S. Attorney Award

Assistant United States Attorney Bill Nardini, Acting United States Attorney Nora R. Dennehy, and 

LCDR Marc Brewen at the U.S. Attorney’s Awards ceremony in New Haven, Conn. 

[commanding officer] of a ship that 

had served as the lead ship during the 

battle group’s transit practice. This 

was within three hours of the AUSA’s 

request for help. The former CO was 

still in the Navy and promoted to captain,” said LCDR Brewen. Through 

a series of phone calls, LCDR 

Brewen linked the AUSAs with this 

captain that night, giving them the 

weekend to work with the potential 

witness in preparation for the start 

of trial the following Monday. The 

former CO was able to confirm that 

the signalmen on his ship had knowledge of the formation prior to transit 

and had first hand knowledge of the 

transit plans. In fact, the former CO 

stated that because the formation was 

unique, it required constant communication between the ships. The ship 

on which Mr. Abujihaad served as a 

signalman was directly behind the 

former CO’s ship in the formation 

By Jen Zeldis

Public Affairs Office

Reynolds had evidence that Mr. Abujihaad improperly released classified 

ship’s movements, including a hand 

drawing of the battle group’s formation for a transit through a Middle 

Eastern straight.

The judge ruled the evidence, 

standing alone, as inadmissible. The 

AUSAs needed someone or something to corroborate that this was the 

battle group’s transit formation in the 

spring of 2001, that the formation 

was not standard operating procedure, and that the formation essentially was unique to this particular 

transit. 

Since the transit occurred seven 

years prior, the AUSAs had no idea 

who could help them with this problem. LCDR Brewen, with the help 

of LT Breier Scheetz, started cold 

calling the 2001 battle group ships’ 

commanding officers and executive 

officers who were still in the Navy. 

“Just by luck, we found the CO US Attorney Award continued bottom page 26
2323 Fleet News

Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Japan, located at Commander, Fleet 

Activities Yokosuka hosted a threeday fall symposium for JAG officers 

assigned throughout the Pacific Sept. 

9-11.

“For RLSO Japan, we have a lot 

of staff in Diego Garcia, Guam and 

Sasebo,” said LT Mike Torrisi, a JAG 

officer at RLSO Yokosuka. “Once a 

year we like to pull everyone together 

for training and also so that everyone 

RLSO Japan Holds 2008 Fall JAG Symposium

By MCSN Kari Bergman, 

Fleet Public Affairs Center, Japan

can get to know each other.” 

During the symposium, JAG officers 

covered various legal material and also 

underwent courtroom training. 

“We talked about sexual assault training, status of forces agreement issues, 

deserter procedures, along with a lot of 

other material,” said LT Torrisi. 

“We also had actual courtroom training where we had CDR David Karpel, 

who is a former prosecutor out of Denver, 

put us through trials practice exercises.”

LT Torrisi added that the three-day symposium was beneficial for JAG officers 

from around the Pacific because it is 

very important that they all know their 

material and how to get the job done 

right.

“I think that this training is great,” 

said LT Torrisi. “I actually think that 

the trial practice information like the 

cross-examination and direct-examination exercises were fantastic.”

RLSO Japan provides the full array 

of government legal services throughout the region, including court-martial 

prosecution and command legal advice 

and support. 

Naval Legal Service Office MidAtlantic (NLSO Midlant) hosted 

a Legal Studies Internship Program 

for students attending First Colonial 

High School who are interested in 

pursuing a career in law. The four 

week program started in July 2008.

The students were required to 

work 50 hours in a legal environment 

as part of their unpaid internship. 

During their time at NLSO Midlant, the students received instruction in the areas of wills and estate 

planning, court reporting, prosecution and defense case preparation, 

and court-martial procedures. The 

interns also observed a pretrial hearing, a general court-martial, and 

toured the Naval Criminal Investigative Service to learn about criminal 

forensics. 

This year’s participants, led by 

their First Colonial instructor Ron 

Hopkins, are in the Junior Reserve 

Officer Training Corps. They are 

Joshua Everard, Karisa Garabrandt, 

Elizabeth Gentry, Stacy Koestler, and 

Joshua Lawrence. Ms. Garabrandt 

aspires to become a Judge Advocate 

General’s Corps officer. Mr. LawNavy Hosts Legal Studies Internship 

Program for Local High School Students

By Debra Parker

NLSO MIDLANT

NLSO Midlant hosted local high school students. Pictured: CAPT David Wagner, Joshua Lawrence, 

Joshua Everard, LNCS Canady, Stacy Koestler, Karisa Garabrandt, Elizabeth Gentry, and Debra 

Parker. 

rence aspires to become an aviator, 

and Mr. Everard aspires to become a 

surface warfare officer. Ms. Gentry 

plans to study forensics and psychology, and Ms. Koestler aspires to be a 

nurse. When asked what they learned 

during their internship at the NLSO, 

Ms. Garabrandt stated that attorneys are “good at gathering facts,” 

and Mr. Lawrence learned that when 

Sailors gets into trouble their legal 

rights are protected. The students 

were particularly impressed that 

Navy JAGs go to Iraq. 

CAPT David Wagner, Commanding Officer of NLSO Midlant, was honored to welcome the 

legal studies internship students 

onboard and hopes to continue this 

program next summer. 
24 Fleet News

Thirteen JAG Corps officers and seven legalmen from NLSO Southeast and NLSO Central participated in a unique four day Defense Training Symposium, which provided advanced trial advocacy and 

legal training on the new Article 120 of the U.C.M.J. 

The training was presented by unit members 

of Navy Reserve Legal 

Service Office (NR LSO) 

208 Southeast, the reserve 

JAG Corps unit assigned to 

support the Trial Defense 

Command Southeast Pilot 

Project. The Pilot Project 

is a recent JAG initiative 

designed to increase and 

improve legal defense services to the fleet, and is 

operating under the active 

component commands of 

CAPT Kirk Waits, NLSO 

Southeast, and CDR Scott 

Thompson, NLSO Central. The officer and enlisted reserve members of NR 

LSO 208 Southeast, which is under the command of 

CAPT David Weaver, were specifically assigned to the 

unit based upon their expertise in criminal law and their 

extensive civilian litigation experience in prosecuting 

and defending criminal cases in military, federal, and 

state courts. 

The effective integration of the active and reserve 

components participating in the Trial Defense Command Pilot Project for the past year, as well as the 

Defense Training Symposium

By CDR Blair Perez

NR LSO SE 208

Members of NR LSO Southeast 208. LCDR Drew Massucco, LN2 Antoine 

Robinson, LNCS Sheila Davis, CAPT Dave Weaver, LCDR Dave Richman, CDR 

Jeremiah Sullivan, III, and CDR Blair Perez pose in front of the courthouse.

effective application of specialized reserve skills to specific 

active component needs, have resulted in a very successful 

year for the project. Reserve members handled more than 

12 administrative discharge boards and a Board of Inquiry in 

support of the Active Component, and successfully teamed 

up with active-duty co-counsel on two special courts-martial and one general court-martial for murder. The results 

of these proceedings have 

exceeded all expectations. 

The Symposium proved 

to be a model for seamless 

integration of JAG Corps 

Active and Reserve Components. Members of NR LSO 

208 Southeast prepared a 

sexual assault factual scenario that was distributed to 

the participants in advance 

of the symposium. Lawyer 

participants came to the 

symposium prepared to 

make opening and closing 

statements, argue motions, 

and examine witnesses. 

Legalmen participants 

served as witnesses and received breakout training in supporting defense counsel. Senior trial experts from the three 

commands served as judges throughout the symposium and 

provided participants with detailed personalized critiques of 

their performance. 

The enthusiastic and professional participation by everyone involved enhanced the camaraderie of the three commands and ensured a highly effective training evolution 

from which everyone benefited. A second Defense Training 

Symposium is planned for FY 2009.
25 Fleet News

Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) and the Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG) celebrated 

the 88th anniversary of women’s right to vote at a Women’s 

Equality celebration Aug. 18 at the Washington Navy Yard.

The program featured Naval Academy Command Master 

Chief (CNOCM) Evelyn Banks as the 

guest speaker. 

RADM Greg Shear, NAVFAC commander, kicked off the event with remarks 

on the changes the Navy and the country 

have gone through in his lifetime. RADM 

Shear noted that 15 years ago the first 

women joined the Seabees and today eight 

percent of Seabees are women, a number 

that NAVFAC wishes to increase in the 

future. “We’ve come a long way,” said 

RADM Shear.

CNOCM Banks shared inspirational 

thoughts and stories about her personal 

life and career in the Navy. 

Born in Memphis, Tenn., CNOCM 

Banks enlisted in the Navy on Jan. 28, 

1984 at the age of 29. During her 24 years 

of service, she earned an Associates of Arts in General Studies Management from the University of Phoenix and graduated 

from both the Air Force Senior Non-Commissioned Officer 

Academy and the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy.

CNOCM Banks gave thanks for all the excellent leadership 

and mentorship she received throughout her Navy career. 

“I’ve been given the opportunities I have in the military 

because of the sacrifices of the military women who have gone 

before me,” CNOCM Banks said. “However, I would not have 

Women’s Equality Day

been as successful without the excellent leadership and 

mentorship of military men. Wise men who expected the 

best from me and informed me that I had the opportunity to enhance equality for women by my good performance.” 

Growing up with five brothers and being the only girl, 

CNOCM Banks reflected on her first 

lessons about equality. CNOCM Banks 

discussed how her mother taught her 

and her brothers about the practicality 

and importance of equality. 

CNOCM Banks encouraged all in 

attendance, not just the women, to use 

their talents to the best of their abilities.

“You should never sell yourself 

short if you are working to achieve 

your goals. Each step you take in life 

is important, and combined together, 

they make a difference,” she said. She 

also implored the audience to never 

miss an opportunity to serve the Navy 

and the country.

As noted by both speakers at this 

event, women today serving in the military and as civilians in the Department of Defense are continuing the suffragists’ legacy. Military women have taken on nearly 

every role available to men in our Armed Forces.

Eighty-eight years ago, on Aug. 26, 1920, women 

attained the right to vote in the United States. Women’s 

Equality Day commemorates this pivotal date and recognizes the hard work and perseverance of those who 

helped secure women’s suffrage in the United States.

Officer, enlisted, and civilian members of Region Legal Service Office Northwest (RLSO NW) put down their 

pens and stepped away from their computers to pick up hammers and paintbrushes in an effort to help build low cost housing for the local community. On Aug. 15 and Sept. 20, RLSO 

NW’s legal personnel spent several hours working on a project called New Hope. New Hope is the Kitsap County Habitat for Humanity’s first multi-home project. The homes will 

form a horseshoe around a playground and community bean 

garden. Habitat for Humanity provides homes to low income 

community members by selling their homes without profit 

and by offering zero interest loans. The RLSO NW volunteer 

force found that they grew closer as a team while learning 

new building skills and helping those in need in Bremerton, 

Wash. 

Region Legal Service Office NW Volunteers at Local Habitat for Humanity

By LT Darcy Utter

RLSO NW

Team RLSO NW: LT Darcy Utter, LCDR James Hoffman, MM3 Stephen 

Gaston, MM2 Geoffrey Wood, CDR Shelby Hladon, LCDR Tamara 

O’Neil, John Hladon, LTJG Justin Pasay, Felicia Frank, and LN1 Edith 

Sandaker.

CNOCM Evelyn Banks speaking at the 

Women’s Equality celebration.

By Natalie Morehouse

Public Affairs Office
Region Legal Service Office Southwest (RLSO 

SW) manages the naturalization program 

throughout Navy Region Southwest. The naturalization 

ceremonies are conducted in partnership between RLSO 

SW, Navy Region Southwest, and Citizenship and 

Immigration Services (USCIS). In the past year, 832 

service members have been naturalized at these special 

military naturalization ceremonies in the Navy Region 

Southwest. 

 On Sept. 25 at Camp Pendleton, 102 service members 

officially became American citizens. As new citizens, 

these service members were able to register and vote in 

the Presidential election.

The 102 service members in their crisp dress uniforms 

took the Oath of Allegiance to their adopted country, 

taking the final step to American citizenship. Family, 

friends, and colleagues gathered on the Assault Craft 

Unit FIVE apron to join with U.S. military personnel 

and representatives of USCIS in this special military 

naturalization ceremony. 

The new American citizens serve in the Navy, Marine 

Corps, and the Army. These service members came to 

By LTJG Jasmine Scott

RLSO SW

Navy Southwest Region Naturalization Ceremony 

US Attorney Award continued from page 22

26

practices. The former CO was able 

to describe exactly how and why a 

signalman would possess detailed 

knowledge of the formation. The 

former CO was a great help to the 

AUSAs as they planned and modified their trial strategy.

LCDR Brewen also found 

another member of the battle 

group’s command staff that Friday 

night who had planned the transit’s formation. This officer, now 

an admiral in the Navy, was able 

to confirm this was a very unique 

transit and designed for security 

purposes.

CAPT Quinn, CDR Kopplin, 

and LCDR Brewen located witnesses, and coordinated the review 

and declassification of many documents provided to the AUSAs in the 

months leading up to trial.

LCDR Brewen knew that the JAG 

Corps had been a huge help because 

AUSA Bill Nardini called him 

within hours after the conviction was 

announced in federal court to express 

his thanks.

During the Sept. 12 awards ceremony, Ms. Dennehy recognized 

those who assisted her office in a 

select number of high profile criminal prosecutions and civil cases completed during the year. The ceremony 

honored approximately one hundred 

federal and state law enforcement officers, including the three Navy judge 

advocates. 

“It is with great pleasure that we 

in the United States Attorney’s office 

in the District of Connecticut once 

again recognize our partners in law 

enforcement for the outstanding work 

that they have done over the course 

of the past year. We are grateful for 

the contributions you make, honored 

to work alongside you, and pleased 

to be able to highlight your accomplishments as you help to ensure the 

safety and security of the citizens of 

this District,” said Ms. Dennehy.

CAPT Quinn and CDR Kopplin 

received certificates, although they 

were unable to attend the ceremony.

Fleet News

serve the U.S. military from all over the world. They hailed 

from the following 30 countries: Afghanistan; Anguilla; 

Antigua; Belize; Bolivia; Brazil; China; Costa Rica; Dominican 

Republic; El Salvador; Ghana; Guatemala; Haiti; Honduras; 

Indonesia; Israel; Jamaica; Kenya; Liberia; Mexico; Nicaragua; 

Nigeria; Peru; Philippines; Russia; Spain; Suriname; Trinidad; 

United Kingdom; and Venezuela.

The number of service members naturalized in the Navy 

Region Southwest is largely due to Navy Region Southwest’s 

model partnership with USCIS. This is a proactive naturalization 

program with more than 300 command citizenship representatives 

who assist service members applying for U.S. citizenship.

One Marine proudly shows his naturalization certificate after the ceremony. 
27

Special Assistant for Transformation (SAT) Staff

LCDR Anne Marks

(202) 685-5462 

anne.marks@navy.mil

CDR Michael Jaeger

(202) 685-7255 

michael.jeager@navy.mil

CAPT Dawn Tompkins

(202) 685-7701

dawn.tompkins@navy.mil

27

LCDR Kimberley McCann

(202) 685-5185

kimberley.mccann@navy.mil

Quality, timeliness, and efficiency make up the familiar triad of JAG Corps Legal Community performance 

goals, but do not assume they are equal. Although improving 

the timeliness and efficiency of our legal services is crucial 

to our community’s forward progress, neither should come 

at the expense of quality. Unfortunately, measuring change 

in quality is more challenging than measuring changes in 

minutes, hours, or costs. So, what are the best methods 

of measuring the quality of legal advice, trial advocacy, 

legal documents, and the other services our community 

provides? 

For starters, quality nearly always involves personal 

opinion. Critics, academics, experts, and ordinary people 

alike endeavor to rate the quality 

of everything from restaurant 

meals to software to figure skating. 

Letter grades, scores, or numbers 

of stars are commonly assigned 

to try to quantify opinions, but 

these tools ultimately remain only 

subjective. There are objective 

measures of quality such as the 

number of errors. However, 

quality will always remain a 

matter of individual or collective 

opinion.

Recognizing the subjective 

nature of quality, the JAG Corps Legal Community employs 

an array of survey tools for measuring quality:

• Military judges’ assessments of courtroom performance, 

• Command client surveys of command services, military justice, and legal assistance from the perspective 

of the commanders we serve; and, 

• Client satisfaction surveys for legal assistance and 

personal representation.

Military judges have the expertise and neutrality to 

assess trial counsel and defense counsel trial advocacy 

skills. Command and individual clients may not be qualified 

to assess legal opinions, but their perspective as clients is 

critical to evaluating how well we are performing. Brilliance 

in the courtroom or behind the scenes is irrelevant if it 

does not satisfy the needs of the client. Clients are 

in the best position to tell us whether we provided 

them adequate legal options and clearly explained the 

consequences of choosing one option over another.

Trends in survey results allow us to monitor the success of initiatives and pilot programs. For example, 

Military Justice Specialists and Experts in our NLSC 

commands are expected to improve the quality of litigation. Not only will their courtroom performances 

raise the overall level of quality, but their mentorship 

and training of new counsel should also reap rewards in 

the courtroom. Surveys should also help us gauge the 

effect of paralegal education 

for legalmen. Furthermore, 

surveys will help us detect 

if initiatives to improve 

our timeliness or efficiency 

actually diminish the quality of our services.

Our community has 

successfully used all of 

these surveys throughout 

our NLSC commands or 

in pilot programs. We will 

continue to deploy these 

surveys either periodically 

or following services provided to individual clients. 

Periodic reports will help commands identify areas 

for improvement and enable OJAG leadership to 

identify and share best practices that enhance our 

legal services. 

You, members of our community, can ensure 

the success of our surveys by encouraging your 

command and individual clients to provide honest 

and timely feedback on our services. We also 

welcome your suggestions for other, innovative 

ways of measuring the quality of our services to 

the fleet. The challenges associated with measuring 

quality should not deter us from measuring this, our 

highest priority performance goal.

Quality, the Most Elusive, 

but Most Important Metric

JAG Corps 2020

“Quality, timeliness, and efficiency 

make up the familiar triad of JAG 

Corps Legal Community performance 

goals, but do not assume they are 

equal. Although improving the 

timeliness and efficiency of our legal 

services is crucial to our community’s 

forward progress, neither should come 

at the expense of quality.” 
Book Review

28

By James Hornfischer

Book review provided by LTJG Spencer Nichols

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors

The Supreme Commander of Allied Forces kept his promise. On Oct. 20, 1944, General Douglas MacArthur triumphantly, and with cameras rolling, returned 

to the Philippines. His presence made the warm tropical 

waters through which the Army General made his widely 

publicized soggy march onto the island of Leyte simmer 

with unknowing anticipation. Behind him was the U.S. 

Seventh Fleet, resentfully cast by its members as “MacArthur’s Navy,” as well as Admiral Halsey’s Third Fleet 

guarding the northern flank. Together, these two massive 

collections of American seapower constituted an armament large enough to engage all the other navies of the 

world combined. 

The Imperial Japanese warfighters of WWII readily preferred death to defeat; and by 1944, defeat was 

on the red horizon in the Pacific. The only question was 

how many were yet to die. With American ground forces 

breaching the beach at Leyte like a long, thin dagger, eminent Japanese admirals and bellicose tacticians developed 

a last-ditch plan to slow MacArther’s return and, at the 

very least, die with honor. Thus was born the fateful plan 

that would prove the beginning of the end for the Pacific 

front in WWII. 

The Sho Plan, as it was named, was characteristically 

bold of the Japanese in WWII. Beautifully complex, 

the plan relied on a combination of stealth, trickery, and 

blinding violence. The key component involved tempting 

the Third Fleet away from Leyte by dangling the glory 

of sunken Japanese carriers within Admiral Halsey’s 

smelling distance. It worked. Despite warnings, Halsey 

took the bait, giving chase to the fleeing Japanese carriers 

thereby leaving an avenue of approach to Leyte essentially unguarded. It turned 

out the hunted Japanese 

carriers were not much 

more than giant steel 

shells as their airpower 

had been almost entirely 

decimated earlier in 

the war. The line was 

not completely broken, 

however. Left in place 

of the awesome American air-craft carriers, 

battleships, cruisers, and 

heavy destroyers of the 

Third Fleet was a rag-tag 

task force called Taffy 3, 

a collection of six escort carriers and seven “tin 

cans.” The “tin cans” are WWII-era destroyers 

and destroyer escorts that make their presentday offspring look like space-age ocean tanks. 

The walls were so thin that you could hear 

people talking through them. Escort carriers, 

too, were endearingly characterized as “combustible, vulnerable and expendable” after its designator, CVE. Designed as 

back-ups to the larger, well-armed, and better-equipped fleet 

carriers, the CVE also had thin armor covered by a wooden 

flight deck. 

Four days after MacArthur landed at Leyte, this scrappy, 

unlikely, and lonely group of little ships met head-on with Goliath. To the disbelief of American admirals, a frenetic lone pilot 

radioed in with a jarring report: while hunting for submarines, 

Ensign Bill Brooks spotted an overwhelming enemy force of 

23 cruising titans - four battleships, four heavy cruisers, two 

light cruisers and thirteen destroyers – speeding towards Taffy 

3. The enemy force was well within firing range – theirs, not 

ours. 

With the Third Fleet chasing empty Japanese carriers far 

up to the north and the Seventh Fleet holding the line down 

south, the members of Taffy 3 were outgunned and inappropriately armed. Their torpedoes were few and could only arm 

from a suicidal closeness to such large enemy vessels. The 

bombs available were of a light antipersonnel character - suitable for ground troops, not ships. The biggest guns available 

on Taffy 3 – five-inchers – wouldn’t even penetrate the armor 

of a Japanese cruiser or battleship and had a range of about 

seven miles. In horrific contrast, the smallest Japanese gun now 

pointing at them – fourteen-inchers – had a range of more than 

twenty-miles. The planes onboard the escort carriers carried 

depth-charges designed for 

submarines, not surface units. 

Dropping one on the deck of 

a Japanese battleship could at 

best impale an enemy Sailor 

with some nasty wooden 

splinters. Perhaps the direst 

circumstance was that Taffy 

3 lacked the speed to retreat, 

or even to force a chase. The 

enemy was already upon 

them. Decisive confrontation 

was inevitable. The captain 

of the USS SAMUEL B. 

ROBERTS summarized the 

situation for his crew, “This 
29

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will be a fight against overwhelming odds from which survival 

cannot be expected. We will do what damage we can.” 

It is against this suspenseful backdrop that The Last Stand of 

the Tin Can Sailors is set. While history is replete with stories 

of the Battle of Leyte Gulf and MacArthur’s successful recap-

ture of the Philippines, James Hornfischer focuses his inquiry 

on the harrowing, and ultimately successful, engagement at 

the Battle of Samar. What happened during this short, incred-

ible and decisive battle was described by historian and Admiral 

Samuel Eliot Morison (who himself wrote a 15 volume account 

of every aspect of U.S. naval operations in WWII) as such, “In 

no engagement in its entire history has the U.S. Navy shown 

more gallantry, guts and gumption than in those two morning 

hours between 0730 and 0930 off Samar.” 

While Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors recounts the fighting 

that occurred, it also tells the story of the equally epic men who 

fought the overwhelming onslaught and won. Based on interviews with survivors as well as swaths of unclassified records, 

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors delves deeply into the 

personalities of the men, as well as the ships, of Taffy 3. Horn-

fischer describes these Sailors with such detail and personal-

ity they quickly become characters in a historical drama that 

reads like a novel. The number of players and breadth of detail, 

both in enlisted and officer, Japanese and American, however, 

reminds the reader that The Last Stand is nonetheless a histori-

cal accounting. The sheer number of persons, ships, and plans, 

all of which share multiple complexities, make the beginning of 

the book a challenge to organize before the fighting begins. 

A novice reader of naval literature might find difficulty in 

understanding the more intricate explanations of vessels, ranks, 

and ratings; however, Hornfischer’s vivid and amusing descrip-

tions of life at sea – including the wretched yet heartwarming 

transformation from a pollywog to a shellback – are entertain-

ing for even the most “green” of naval historians. The battle 

scene, which begins at about page 100 in this 500 page book, is 

well worth the reader’s labored attention to the players. 

Readers of WWII literature are diverse in their motivations 

for recounting this storied history. Overall, The Last Stand of 

the Tin Can Sailors will stand to satisfy whatever the reader’s 

purpose may be. It simultaneously serves to honor those who 

served and died in the battle as well as those survivors who will 

not be around much longer to tell the tale. It also successfully 

engages the reader in an entertaining, accurate, and preserved 

account of naval history – a task not easily executed. Whatever 

satisfaction one can derive from reading about true-life hero-

ism and tragedy at sea in WWII, The Last Stand of the Tin Can 

Sailors will not likely disappoint. 
30 JAG Corps Civilians

By Amy Stevens

Fiscal and Resource Management

30

The JAG Corps legal community is committed to ensuring that its members receive the training and 

education to best meet our mission needs. In recent 

years, the development of formal education systems 

and training has been most evident in the military sector 

of the legal community. Based largely upon feedback 

received from Naval Legal Service Command visits, 

and with items such as the enlisted paralegal accession course firmly in place for the military community, 

the focus of education and developmental training is 

expanding to the civilian community. 

We are taking a three-prong approach to meet the education/training needs of the JAG Corps legal community 

civilians, to include increasing awareness of training, 

increasing availability of training, and assessing longterm organizational changes associated with training. 

Future JAG Magazine articles will discuss each of these 

steps in depth, but to begin, all personnel must understand how training is identified and the implications 

of having received training. 

Accordingly, this article 

will provide information as 

to why training decisions 

are made and prepare civilians to work within the constraints given to achieve a 

fully-performing workforce.

Civilian training is guided 

by some fundamental principles that serve to direct 

the training decision-making and prioritization process. 

In accordance with the Department of Navy’s Civilian Human Resources Manual, Subchapter 410, policy 

requires that the organization (1) builds workforce skills 

and competencies in the most efficient manner possible, 

(2) ensures the civilian workforce is able to meet current 

and projected performance requirements essential to military readiness, and (3) upholds merit system principles 

while training the workforce. Reviewing these requirements, however, it becomes obvious that first we must 

know what the training need is before we can efficiently 

obtain it, project how it may change, and apply merit 

This space has normally been reserved for updates on the National Security Personnel System 

(NSPS). Now that NSPS has been implemented and the first pay pools have been completed, we 

want to expand the scope of this column to address items of interest for the civilian community. 

Topic suggestions for this column can be sent to amy.stevens@navy.mil. 

Civilian Training

protection elements to it. 

Employees and supervisors are in the best position to determine the necessary training that best relates to the immediate, 

daily work being done. Employees and supervisors should ask 

themselves, “do I have the necessary skills to do my duties?”, 

“is my employee fully-equipped to perform his/her job?”, 

and “what are the skills relevant to my duties that I need to 

improve?” Employees and supervisors should ask and share 

answers to these questions openly with one another. While it 

remains the supervisor’s responsibility to confirm and support 

the need for the training, the employee’s input can be very 

valuable from a supervisory perspective. It is possible that 

the employee may identify a training concern that would not 

have appeared to the supervisor. When conducting this needs 

evaluation (whether employee or supervisor), ensure that the 

focus remains on the knowledge and skills needed to perform 

their job. 

We need to also follow merit promotion procedures when 

selecting employees for 

training that primarily prepares them for advancement 

and that is not directly related 

to improving performance 

in their current position. For 

example, merit promotion 

procedures apply to training 

that prepares an employee 

for a promotion and whose 

purpose, or effect, would be 

to allow that employee to 

substantially meet the educational or other training requirements set by the Office of 

Personnel Management for assignment to a different position 

with higher promotion potential. However, even this training 

must address a mission requirement of the organization.

Training should be viewed as a tool at our disposal that 

serves to better prepare our workforce to accomplish our mission. As the JAG Corps continues to direct resources toward 

improving civilian training awareness and opportunities, 

employees and supervisors alike should seriously evaluate 

their training needs in an effort to better serve the mission 

while being mindful of the requirements outlined in the Civilian Human Resources Manual.

“While it remains the 

supervisor’s responsibility to 

confirm and support the need 

for the training, the employee’s 

input can be very valuable from 

a supervisory perspective.” 
JAG Corps Alumni

31

Find out what they are doing now! Alumni of the JAG Corps 

describe their current positions and what they did in the JAG Corps.

Spotlight On

Navy Legalman Retiree Association

LNCM Steven Hill LNCM Donna Sayers

Recently retired LNCM Donna Sayers is currently 

working a term position with OJAG Knowledge 

and Information Services (Code 65) at the Washington 

Navy Yard. LNCM Sayers retired July 2008 in Athens, 

Ga., where she was the legalman Knowledge Program 

Manager at the Center for Service Support.

LNCM Sayers joined the Navy in November 1979 

in order to learn a marketable skill. Prior to joining 

the Navy, LNCM Sayers worked on the assembly line 

at General Motors. Before converting to the legalman 

rating, LNCM Sayers was a yeoman. An 

interest in the legal field and a desire 

to be a court reporter led LNCM 

Sayers to become a legalman in 

July 1981.

LNCM Sayers encourages all 

legalmen to “take full advantage of 

the educational and credentialing 

opportunities currently being offered 

by the Navy, as well as affiliation with 

the Navy Legalman Association and 

National Federation of Paralegal Association. If you 

want to be a paralegal when you get out, these are the 

types of things civilian law firms look at.”

Many Navy communities have developed retiree associations, and for good reason. These associations provide an opportunity for retirees to promote the principles and 

fellowship of the Navy communities they belonged to during 

their active or reserve service.

Currently, the development of a Navy Legalman Retiree 

Association is being discussed.

 “Our objectives are simple: a forum for retired legalmen 

to discuss issues that are important to the retired community, such as medical care, employment, and a wide variety 

of other current issues,” said LNCM Steven Hill, a retired 

legalman.

Another goal of the association would be to assist with 

issues that most active-duty legalmen are not well prepared 

for at the conclusion of their naval careers. The association 

could assist their active duty brethren in preparing for their 

LNCM Steven Hill is currently a Paralegal Specialist in 

the Civil Law Division at the Naval Hospital at Camp 

Pendleton, Calif. He retired from active service while at Navy 

Region Southwest, San Diego, Calif. in April 2004.

LNCM Hill joined the Navy in July 1976. He had grown up 

in northwestern Wisconsin and was not immediately interested 

in continuing his education. “I thought the Navy would give 

me a chance to travel,” said LNCM Hill.

From 1976 to 1987 LNCM worked as a Navy Postal Clerk. 

In June of 1987 LNCM Hill decided to become a legalman, 

because he felt the legal community offered interesting challenges and unique opportunities. 

While a legalman, LNCM Hill earned a bachelor’s 

degree in business from Columbia College and a paralegal certificate from St. Mary’s College.

Of the many highlights from his Navy career he 

remembers most fondly his time aboard USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72). LNCM Hill found that 

his assignment aboard USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

was “the most demanding and was the type of duty you 

could only properly appreciate when looking back on it.” 

To the current legal community, LNCM Hill offers this 

advice, “Enjoy it while you’re there. It all goes by way too fast. 

Work hard, and take care of your family and shipmates.” 

next career, the realities of becoming a “civilian” again. 

“I believe that a legalman alumni association is long 

overdue. There have been many great leaders in this community who have left the service but still offer a great deal 

to those who still serve. I would be honored to be part of 

this myself. With JAG Corps 2020, we constantly look at 

the future and that is imperative; however, we must never 

forget those who have come before us,” said Command 

Master Chief LNCM Stephen DiStefano.

“We look forward to working with retired legalmen 

who believe that our community is in need of an association dedicated to the issue of Navy legalmen,” LNCM Hill 

said. 

If you are interested in learning more about the creation 

of the Retired Legalman Association please contact LNCM 

Hill through e-mail at Steven.Hill@med.navy.mil.
32Milestones

Kim McLaughlin of RLSO Midwest 

was awarded the 2008 Chicago Federal 

Employee of the Year Award by the 

Chicago Federal Executive Board. Ms. 

McLaughlin was selected as the Outstanding Secretarial/Clerical employee 

in a program that covers 178 federal 

agencies and more than 78,000 federal 

employees in an 11-county area. 

This past year, in addition to her 

invaluable contributions in the area of 

military justice, Ms. McLaughlin was 

responsible for successfully processing 

1,800 active duty transient personnel 

and overseeing the prompt processing 

of more than 100 “returned deserters,” 

military personnel who have returned 

to military control after an extended 

period of unauthorized absence. She 

also ensured the expeditious processing of 300 Sailors whose misconduct 

or medical conditions necessitated early 

discharge from the U.S. Navy. 

The law firm Womble Carlyle was 

selected to receive the 2008 Employer 

Support of the Guard and Reserve 

Freedom Award. Navy Reservist 

LCDR Chris Geis, along with several 

other members of the firm, accepted the 

Freedom Award in Washington, DC in 

September. President George W. Bush 

and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates 

met with the award winners. 

The most notable firm policy was 

a continuation of differential pay for 

Reservists to cover differences in 

salary while on active duty. 

The Freedom Award is given by 

the U.S. Department of Defense to 

employers that exhibit exemplary 

support for the Reserve and National 

Guard. 

LCDR Chris Geis (pictured) 

recently returned from active duty 

service in the Middle East. 

CAPT Kirk Waits was presented 

the ABA’s Standing Committee on 

Armed Forces Law Outstanding 

Military Service Career Judge Advocate award for 2008, during the ABA 

annual Symposium in New York City. 

LN1 Charlotte Norman-Button

was selected as the RLSO Midlant 

Sailor of the Quarter for the period April 

through June 2008. As a member of the 

Naval Station Norfolk First Class Petty 

Officer Association, she assisted in the 

coordination and planning of the Deckplate Triad First Class Symposium. 

Navy and Marine Corps Appellate 

Government Division held an end of 

tour awards ceremony in honor of CDR 

Paul LeBlanc, Deputy Director, Appellate Government Division, and Maj 

Brian Keller and LT Derek Butler, 

both Appellate Government counsel. 

CDR LeBlanc’s next tour is at the Office 

of Military Commissions, Maj Keller is 

now a civilian employee, and LT Butler 

was selected to attend George Washington University for an LL.M in trial advocacy.

Koichi Sekizawa received the Navy 

Superior Civilian Service Award. The 

guest speaker and presenter was RADM 

James Kelly, Commander U.S. Naval 

Forces, who made a moving and inspirational speech in recognition of Mr. 

Sekizawa’s service. 

LN1 Nita Holliday graduated 

with honors from ITT Technical 

Institute with an Associate of Applied 

Science Degree in Criminal Justice 

in September. She is a member of the 

National Technical Honors Society 

and will continue her education. 

VADM Bruce MacDonald presented 

LT Kelly Trunnell of NLSO North 

Central with the Navy and Marine Corps 

Commendation Medal.

During VADM Bruce MacDonald’s trip to Great Lakes, he presented 

Mark Osher with a certificate commemorating 25 years of civil service.

LT Tim Flintoft reenlisted LN1 

George Amerson at Naval Submarine 

Support Center Norfolk in October. 
33 Milestones

See your name in print! Submit your command awards 

and photos to natalie.morehouse@navy.mil

LN1 Damillah Brewer was recognized as NLSO Midlant’s Sailor of the 

Quarter.

An investiture ceremony was held in September for 

associate judges of the U.S. Navy - Marine Corps Court of 

Criminal Appeals in the new Appellate Law Center Courtroom. CDR John Maksym, CAPT Eric Price, and CDR 

Thomas Booker were sworn in as judges. Chief Judge of the 

Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals CAPT 

Daniel O’Toole hosted the event. The investiture of the 

associate judges was performed by the Chief Judge of 

the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, the 

Honorable Andrew Effron.

Ms. Dena Winder from NLSO 

Midlant was recognized for her ten 

years of service as a civilian legal assistance attorney. She is also a member of 

the reserves. 

OS3 Brittany Goldade from

NLSO Midlant was Tax Assistance 

Center Junior Sailor of the Quarter. 

MM2 Jaime Thompson was 

NLSO Midlant’s Tax Assistance 

Center Sailor of the Quarter. 

BGen James Walker, the Staff Judge 

Advocate to the Commandant of the 

Marine Corps, promoted four Marines 

of Administrative Support Division 

(Code 40) to corporal in October. The 

promotion ceremony was held in the 

courtroom of the Navy Marine Corps 

Appellate Center. Cpl Jason Brown, 

Cpl Angelo Ciaramello, Cpl Ruban 

Arzate, and Cpl Mark Jaworsky, were 

promoted.

On Aug. 28, RLSO NW held a 

change of command on board the USS 

JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74). CDR 

Shelby Hladon turned command over 

to CAPT Jonathan Thow. 

CAPT Thow comes to RLSO NW 

after completing a deployment with 

Multi-National Forces Iraq. In Iraq, 

CAPT Thow worked with and mentored 

Iraqi judges, police, and prison officials 

to create a functioning criminal justice 

system. CDR Hladon will remain as the 

Executive Officer.

LT Elizabeth Schuller from NLSO 

Midlant was promoted to LT in July. 

She was also NLSO Midlant’s Junior 

Officer of the Quarter.

LCDR Daniel Werner reenlisted 

LN1 Carole McCoy in October at 

RLSO EURSWA Det Rota Spain. 

VADM Bruce MacDonald reenlisted LN2 Abraham Tarr and LN3 Desiree 

Lopez at the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Headquarters in October.
34Photos From The Fleet

LTJG Jesse Adams finished 2nd 

in the under 29 division.

Task Force 134 athletes LNC Mike Stephens, LNCS 

Roger Otte, and LT Candice Albright compete 

in a half marathon at Camp Victory, Iraq. 

CDR Mike Bates finished 1st 

in the 30 plus division.

LN2 Latisha Davis shakes hands with 

GEN David Petraeus in Iraq.

Team NLSO PAC dominated the 1st Annual Salty Dog Sprint 

Triathlon held on the Yokosuka Naval Base in September. 

CAPT Greg Belanger finished 1st 

in the 50 plus division.

Mr. Jim Fender, an attorney from the Office of the General Counsel, stands 

with Mr. Steve Rodgers. Mr. Rodgers is a retired Navy JAG Corps captain and 

will relieve Mr. Fender as the general counsel for Multi-National Forces - Iraq.

President George W. Bush posed with LT Sergio Sarkany 

in the Oval Office of the White House. LT Sarkany met 

the President while on a special assignment as an ethics 

advisor with the White House Counsel’s Office.

 IT3 Adam McDonald, LT Sarah Cottrill, LCDR Andy House, CDR Scott Thompson, LTJG April 

Dozier, LCDR Will Weiland, LTJG Jared Hernandez, and LT Chris Swain, members of NLSO 

Central and RLSO Southeast Det Pensacola at the Pensacola Navy Birthday Ball 2008. 
35

 GEN David Petraeus poses with Law and Order Task Force Investigative Team (Team 

Hurriya) commemorating the referral to trial of a case involving the kidnapping and murder 

of three U.S. Soldiers. LT Dave Christenson, from NLSO SW, is assigned to Team Hurriya. Photos From The Fleet

RLSO SE had a “Dining In” at Ocean Breeze Club onboard 

Naval Station Mayport. LT Jason Kaneyuki, LTJG William 

Bloomfield, and LT Clif Hutchinson attended the event.

RLSO EURSWA stopped at Hotel Romanico in Rome during the 

Mediterranean Law Conference. From left to right: LCDR Byron 

Divins; LT Chris Jeter; LCDR Jason Grover; CDR Tom Welsh; LT Tim 

French; CAPT Jon Fink; CDR Kevin Brew; and LT Ryan Santicola. 

 LNC Mike Stephens participated in an outreach project where 

he helped distribute soccer balls and other items to the families 

of detainees. LNC Stephens is serving as the magistrate noncommissioned officer-in-charge at Task Force 134, Iraq.

NLSO North Central attended recent training symposium in Norfolk and received the 

opportunity to go onboard the USS Carl Vinson. In addition to an educational 

tour, the junior officers were invited to have lunch in the wardroom. 

NLSO Pacific celebrated at the 233rd Navy Ball in Yokosuka, Japan at Purdy 

Fitness Center. LN1 Cynthia Griffin, Dana Snow, LTJG Nancy Pham, LT 

Garrett Snow, LTJG Jesse Adams, LT Emily Dewey, Kristin Hamon, LT Phil 

Hamon, CAPT Greg Belanger, and Viola Witherspoon attended the party.
Office of the Judge Advocate General

Public Affairs Office

1322 Patterson Ave., SE, Suite 3000

Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5066

Naval Station Norfolk Chief Petty Officers’ pinning ceremony.