The Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as the "JAG Corps" or "JAG", is the legal arm of the United States Navy. Today, the corps consists of a worldwide organization of more than 730 commissioned officers serving as judge advocates, 30 limited duty officers (law), 500 enlisted members and nearly 275 civilian personnel, all serving under the direction of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy.
The United States Marine Corps' Judge Advocate Division serves both to advise the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) and other officials in Headquarters, Marine Corps on legal matters, and to oversee the Marine Corps legal community. The head of the Judge Advocate Division (JAD) is the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant.
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. 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.
Bruce Edward MacDonald is a retired United States Navy vice admiral who last served as the 40th Judge Advocate General of the Navy from July 2006 to August 2009. Prior to that, MacDonald served as Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy from November 2004 to July 2006.
James Edwin McPherson is an American government official and retired United States Navy rear admiral. He served as the General Counsel of the Army from January 2, 2018, to March 24, 2020. He served as the United States Under Secretary of the Army from March 25, 2020, to January 20, 2021, and in acting capacity from July 23, 2019, to March 24, 2020. He served as Acting United States Secretary of the Navy from April 7, 2020, to May 29, 2020, following the resignation of Thomas Modly.
James W. Houck is a retired United States Navy vice admiral. He served as the 41st Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the United States Navy from 14 Aug. 2009 to 20 July 2012. He is currently on the faculty at Penn State Law and the Penn State School of International Affairs.
The Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy (DJAG) is the second-highest ranking JAG officer and lawyer in the United States Navy. As part of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, the DJAG also serves as Deputy Department of Defense Representative for Ocean Policy Affairs.
Nanette M. "Nan" DeRenzi is a former United States Navy officer. She served as the 42nd Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the United States Navy. She assumed that position on July 20, 2012 and held it until her retirement on June 26, 2015. Prior to that, she served as Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy (DJAG) from August 2009 to July 2012.
The Naval Legal Service Command is an Echelon 2 command of the United States Navy. Its stated mission is to provide legal services to the worldwide components of the fleet.
James Walter Crawford III is an American university administrator and former United States Navy officer who is the president-elect of Texas Southern University. He served in the Navy for 34 years before and is the former president of Felician University, having left the role in April 2023.
John G. Hannink is a retired United States Navy officer. He last served as the 44th Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the United States Navy. He assumed the position on September 12, 2018 following the retirement of Vice Admiral James W. Crawford, III and relinquished it on August 18, 2021 to Darse Crandall.
Christopher Watson Grady is a United States Navy admiral who is currently serving as the 12th vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since December 20, 2021.
Rear Admiral Walter Browne Woodson, U.S. Navy (Ret.) (1881-1948), was Judge Advocate General of the Navy under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, serving from 1938 to 1943.
Darse Earle Crandall Jr. is a United States Navy vice admiral who serves as the 45th Judge Advocate General of the Navy since August 18, 2021. He most recently served as the Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy and Commander of the Naval Legal Service Command from September 12, 2018 to August 18, 2021.
Michael Franklin Lohr is a retired United States Navy rear admiral who served as the 38th Judge Advocate General of the Navy from 2002 to 2004, assuming office on June 28, 2002. A career attorney, Lohr previously served as the Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy and Commander, Naval Legal Service Command from 2000 to 2002, with tenures as legal counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and fleet judge advocate to the United States Second Fleet.
Donald Joseph Guter is an American educator, lawyer and retired United States Navy rear admiral who was the 10th president and dean of South Texas College of Law Houston from 2009 to 2019. He previously served as the 10th dean of the Duquesne University School of Law from 2005 to 2008, when he was dismissed by Duquesne University president Charles J. Dougherty over a tenure battle.
