Wikipedia

Judge Advocate General of the Navy

The Judge Advocate General of the Navy (JAG) is the highest-ranking uniformed lawyer in the United States Department of the Navy. The Judge Advocate General is the principal advisor to the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations on legal matters pertaining to the Navy.[2] The Judge Advocate General also performs other duties prescribed to him under 10 U.S.C. § 8088 and those prescribed under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Judge Advocate General of the Department of the Navy
JAG
Seal of the Office of the Judge Advocate General
Incumbent
Vice Admiral Christopher C. French, JAGC, USN
since September 5, 2024[1]
Department of the Navy
Office of the Secretary
Reports toSecretary of the Navy
Chief of Naval Operations
SeatThe Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, United States
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term lengthFour years
Constituting instrument10 U.S.C. § 8088
Formation1880
First holderColonel William Butler Remey, USMC
DeputyDeputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy
WebsiteOfficial website

Duties

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The Judge Advocate General of the Navy, according to the United States Navy Regulations, has three principal roles: Staff Assistant in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, commanding the Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG), and is Chief of the Judge Advocate General's Corps.

The Judge Advocate General maintains a close working relationship with the General Counsel of the Department of the Navy, the senior civilian lawyer in the Department of the Navy.

The Judge Advocate General:[3]

  • provides or supervises the provision of all legal advice and related services throughout the Department of the Navy, except for the advice and services provided by the General Counsel;
  • performs the functions required or authorized by law;
  • provides legal and policy advice to the Secretary of the Navy on military justice, administrative law, claims, operational and international law, and litigation involving these issues, and;
  • acts on other matters as directed by the Secretary of the Navy.

The principal deputy to the JAG is the Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy.

Nomination and appointment

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The Judge Advocate General is nominated for appointment by the President with the advice and/or suggestion of the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy, and must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate. The Judge Advocate General is appointed to a four-year term of office but they historically serve for three. The Judge Advocate General has also historically been a naval officer, however, statute states that a Marine officer can be appointed to the position as long as they meet the requirements stated in the section.[2]

Previously, the Judge Advocate General was appointed as a two-star rear admiral. In 2008, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 advanced the position of the Judge Advocate General to a statutory three-star vice admiral or lieutenant general.[4][5] The statutory three-star rank was amended and struck from U.S. law in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017,[6][7] however the Navy currently still appoints the JAG to that rank.

Other than age and years of military service, there is no other statute of limitations on how many times the JAG can be renominated for appointment to that position if the President so chooses, however the JAG normally serves one term.

List of Judge Advocates General of the Navy

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No. Name Photo Branch Term began Term ended
1 Col William Butler Remey   USMC 1880 1892
2 CAPT Samuel Conrad Lemly   USN 1892 1904
3 CAPT Samuel Willauer Black Diehl   USN 1904 1907
4 CAPT Edward Hale Campbell   USN 1907 1909
5 CAPT Robert Lee Russell   USN 1909 1913
6 CAPT Ridley McLean   USN 1913 1916
7 CAPT William Carleton Watts   USN 1917 1918
8 RADM George Ramsey Clark   USN 1918 1921
9 RADM Julian Lane Latimer   USN 1921 1925
10 RADM Edward Hale Campbell   USN 1925 1929
11 RADM David F. Sellers   USN 1929 1931
12 RADM Orin Gould Murfin   USN 1931 1934
13 RADM Claude C. Bloch   USN 1934 1936
14 RADM Gilbert Jonathan Rowcliff   USN 1936 1938
15 RADM Walter Browne Woodson   USN 1938 1943
16 RADM Thomas Leigh Gatch   USN 1943 1945
17 RADM Oswald Symister Colclough   USN 1945 1948
18 RADM George Lucius Russell   USN 1948 1952
19 RADM Ira Hudson Nunn   USN 1952 1956
20 RADM Chester Charles Ward   USN 1956 1960
21 RADM William Chamberlain Mott   USN 1960 1964
22 RADM Wilfred Asquith Hearn   USN 1964 1968
23 RADM Joseph Bryan McDevitt   USN 1968 1972
24 RADM Merlin Howard Staring   USN 1972 1975
25 RADM Horace Bascomb Robertson Jr.   USN 1975 1976
26 RADM William Owen Miller   USN 1976 1978
27 RADM Charles Eager McDowell   USN 1978 1980
28 RADM John Smith Jenkins USN 1980 1982
29 RADM James Joseph McHugh   USN 1982 1984
30 RADM Thomas Edward Flynn   USN 1984 1986
31 RADM Hugh Don Campbell   USN 1986 1988
32 RADM Everett Don Stumbaugh   USN 1988 1990
33 RADM John Edward Gordon   USN 1990 1992
34 RADM William Leon Schachte Jr.   USN 1992 1993
35 RADM Harold Eric Grant   USN 1993 1997
36 RADM John Dudley Hutson   USN 1997 2000
37 RADM Donald J. Guter   USN 2000 2002
38 RADM Michael F. Lohr   USN 2002 2004
39 RADM James E. McPherson   USN 2004 2006
40 VADM Bruce E. MacDonald   USN 2006 2009
41 VADM James W. Houck   USN August 14, 2009 July 20, 2012
42 VADM Nanette M. DeRenzi   USN July 20, 2012 June 26, 2015
43 VADM James W. Crawford, III   USN June 26, 2015 September 12, 2018
44 VADM John G. Hannink   USN September 12, 2018 August 18, 2021
45 VADM Darse E. Crandall Jr.   USN August 18, 2021 September 5, 2024
46 VADM Christopher C. French   USN September 5, 2024 Incumbent

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Morehouse, Natalie (2024-09-05). "Navy JAG Corps Hosts Change of Office". DVIDS. Washington Navy Yard: U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  2. ^ a b "10 U.S. Code § 8088 - Judge Advocate General's Corps: Office of the Judge Advocate General; Judge Advocate General; appointment, term, emoluments, duties". LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  3. ^ United States Naval Regulations, Sections 0330 & 0331, Accessed on 2011-03-24.
  4. ^ [1] Pub.L. 110-181: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
  5. ^ [2] Pub.L. 110-181: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 full text
  6. ^ [3] Pub.L. 114-328: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017
  7. ^ [4] Pub.L. 114-328: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 full text
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