Judge Advocate General of the Navy

Last updated
Judge Advocate General of the Department of the Navy
JAG
Judge Advocate General - Department of the Navy.png
Seal of the Office of the Judge Advocate General
RADM Lia M. Reynolds.jpg
Incumbent
Rear Admiral Lia M. Reynolds
Acting  
since January 1, 2025
Department of the Navy
Office of the Secretary
Reports to Secretary of the Navy
Chief of Naval Operations
Seat The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, United States
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term length Four years
Constituting instrument 10 U.S.C.   § 8088
Formation1880
First holderColonel William Butler Remey, USMC
Deputy Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy
Website Official website

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. [1] 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.

Contents

Duties

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: [2]

The principal deputy to the JAG is the deputy judge advocate general of the Navy.

Nomination and appointment

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. [1]

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. [3] [4] The statutory three-star rank was amended and struck from U.S. law in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017; [5] [6] 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

No.NamePhotoBranchTerm beganTerm ended
1 Col William Butler Remey William Butler Remey.jpg USMC 18801892
2 CAPT Samuel Conrad Lemly NH 95101 (29144632931).jpg USN 18921904
3CAPT Samuel Willauer Black Diehl Willauer Black Diehl (cropped).jpg USN 19041907
4CAPT Edward Hale Campbell Rear Adm'l E.H. Campbell, Judge Advocate General, U.S.N., 4-11-25 LCCN2016850271 (cropped).jpg USN 19071909
5CAPT Robert Lee Russell Capt Robert L Russell.jpg USN 19091913
6CAPT Ridley McLean RidleyMclean.jpg USN 19131916
7CAPT William Carleton Watts Capt W C Watts - NARA - 55174808 (cropped).jpg USN 19171918
8 RADM George Ramsey Clark George Ramsey Clark Rear Admiral USN (NH 51646 ).jpg USN 19181921
9RADM Julian Lane Latimer NH 48222 (29187285076).jpg USN 19211925
10RADM Edward Hale Campbell Rear Adm'l E.H. Campbell, Judge Advocate General, U.S.N., 4-11-25 LCCN2016850271 (cropped).jpg USN 19251929
11RADM David F. Sellers AdmSellers1934 (cropped).jpg USN 19291931
12RADM Orin Gould Murfin Orin Gould Murfin.jpg USN 19311934
13RADM Claude C. Bloch NH 79466 Admiral Claude Charles Bloch, USN.jpg USN 19341936
14RADM Gilbert Jonathan Rowcliff NH 89560-KN Rear Admiral Gilbert Jonathan Rowcliff, USN.jpg USN 19361938
15RADM Walter Browne Woodson Walter Browne Woodson.jpg USN 19381943
16RADM Thomas Leigh Gatch Thomas Leigh Gatch (cropped).jpg USN 19431945
17RADM Oswald Symister Colclough Oswald Symister Colclough (cropped).jpg USN 19451948
18RADM George Lucius Russell George Lucius Russell (cropped).jpg USN 19481952
19RADM Ira Hudson Nunn Ira Hudson Nunn.jpg USN 19521956
20RADM Chester Charles Ward Chester Charles Ward.jpg USN 19561960
21RADM William Chamberlain Mott William Chamberlain Mott.jpg USN 19601964
22RADM Wilfred Asquith Hearn Wilfred Asquith Hearn.jpg USN 19641968
23RADM Joseph Bryan McDevitt Joseph Bryan McDevitt.jpg USN 19681972
24RADM Merlin Howard Staring Merlin Howard Staring (cropped).jpg USN 19721975
25RADM Horace Bascomb Robertson Jr. Horace Bascomb Robertson.jpg USN 19751976
26RADM William Owen Miller RADM William Owen Miller (cropped).jpg USN 19761978
27RADM Charles Eager McDowell Charles E McDowell.jpg USN 19781980
28RADM John Smith Jenkins USN 19801982
29RADM James Joseph McHugh James Joseph McHugh.jpg USN 19821984
30RADM Thomas Edward Flynn Thomas Edward Flynn.jpg USN 19841986
31RADM Hugh Don Campbell Hugh Don Campbell.jpg USN 19861988
32RADM Everett Don Stumbaugh Admiral Stumbaugh.jpg USN 19881990
33RADM John Edward Gordon Rear Adm. John E. Gordon, USN (2).jpg USN 19901992
34RADM William Leon Schachte Jr. William Schachte.JPEG USN 19921993
35RADM Harold Eric Grant Harold E. Grant.jpg USN 19931997
36RADM John Dudley Hutson John D. Hutson.jpg USN 19972000
37RADM Donald J. Guter Donald Guter.JPEG USN 20002002
38RADM Michael F. Lohr RADM Michael F Lohr, Judge Advocate General of the Navy.JPEG USN 20022004
39RADM James E. McPherson James E McPherson.jpg USN 20042006
40 VADM Bruce E. MacDonald VADM Bruce E. MacDonald.jpg USN 20062009
41VADM James W. Houck VADM James W. Houck.jpg USN August 14, 2009July 20, 2012
42VADM Nanette M. DeRenzi VADM Nanette M. DeRenzi.jpg USN July 20, 2012June 26, 2015
43VADM James W. Crawford, III VICE ADMIRAL JAMES W. CRAWFORD, III.jpg USN June 26, 2015September 12, 2018
44VADM John G. Hannink Vice Adm. John G. Hannink (2).jpg USN September 12, 2018August 18, 2021
45VADM Darse E. Crandall Jr. Vice Adm. Darse E. Crandall, Jr.jpg USN August 18, 2021September 5, 2024
46VADM Christopher C. French VADM Christopher C. French.jpg USN September 5, 2024January 1, 2025 [7]
ActingRADM Lia M. Reynolds RADM Lia M. Reynolds.jpg USN January 1, 2025 [7] Incumbent

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 "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.
  2. United States Naval Regulations, Sections 0330 & 0331, Accessed on 2011-03-24.
  3. Pub.L. 110-181: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
  4. Pub.L. 110-181: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 full text
  5. Pub.L. 114-328: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017
  6. Pub.L. 114-328: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 full text
  7. 1 2 "JAG Corps Leadership Succession". GovDelivery. Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy. 2025-01-02. Retrieved 2025-02-11.