Scott C . Black Lieutenant General Scott C . Black ( born September 1 , 1952 ) is a retired American military lawyer who was the Judge Advocate General of the United States Army from October 1 , 2005 to October 1 , 2009 . He was the first Lieutenant General to hold that position . He is currently vice president and general manager of global mission solutions at BAE Systems Support Solutions . Biography . Black grew up traveling the world in a military family . He graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a B . A . degree in Political Science . During his undergraduate education , he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity , California Eta chapter . Following graduation , General Black was commissioned through the ROTC program as an Armor officer . After three years at Fort Ord , California , he went to California Western School of Law in San Diego , where he earned a J . D . General Black also holds an M . S . degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University . General Black ’ s first duty assignment as a judge advocate was at Fort Bliss , Texas , where he served as the Chief of the Legal Assistance Branch , as a trial counsel and Chief of the Criminal Law Branch , and as a contract attorney . He later served in Washington , D . C . , as a general law attorney at the Office of The Judge Advocate General of the Army and as an Assistant Counsel to the President at the White House . In 1990 , General Black was assigned as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate , 7th Infantry Division ( Light ) , Fort Ord . From there , he went on to be the Chief , Military and Civil Law Division , United States Army Europe and Seventh Army , Germany . General Black ’ s next assignment was as the Staff Judge Advocate , 3d Infantry Division ( later redesignated 1st Infantry Division ) , United States Army Europe and Seventh Army , Germany . In July 1996 , General Black returned to the United States as the Legislative Counsel and later as Chief , Investigations and Legislative Division , Office of the Chief Legislative Liaison ( United States Army ) . He then served as Chief , Personnel , Plans , and Training Office and later as the Staff Judge Advocate of V Corps , United States Army Europe and Seventh Army . From 2001 – 2003 General Black served as the Assistant Judge Advocate General for Military Law and Operations , and from 2003 – 2005 as the Commanding General and Commandant of The Judge Advocate General ' s Legal Center and School . In October 2005 General Black was appointed the 37th Judge Advocate General of the United States Army . On December 8 , 2008 , the United States Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Major General Black for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General . He was officially promoted to that rank on December 11 , 2008 at the Pentagon . General Black attended the Judge Advocate Basic and Graduate courses , the Army Command and General Staff College , and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces . His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal , Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster , Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters , Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster , and the Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster . He is also entitled to wear the Parachutist Badge , the Ranger Tab , and the Army Staff Identification Badge . General Black is married and has four children .