Judge Advocate General of the Navy

{{Short description|Highest-ranking uniformed lawyer in the United States Department of the Navy}}

{{Infobox official post

|post = Judge Advocate General

|body = the Department of the Navy

|native_name = JAG

|flag =

|flagsize = 120px

|flagcaption = Navy

|insignia = Judge Advocate General - Department of the Navy.png

|insigniasize = 120px

|insigniacaption = Seal of the Office of the Judge Advocate General

|image =

|imagesize =

|incumbent = Vacant

|incumbentsince = 21 February 2025

|acting =

|style =

|department = 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

|appointer = The President

|appointer_qualified = with Senate advice and consent

|termlength = Four years

|constituting_instrument = {{UnitedStatesCode|10|8088}}

|precursor =

|formation = 1880

|first = Colonel William Butler Remey, USMC

|deputy = Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy

|salary =

|website = [http://www.jag.navy.mil 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.{{Cite web |title=10 U.S. Code § 8088 - Judge Advocate General’s Corps: Office of the Judge Advocate General; Judge Advocate General; appointment, term, emoluments, duties |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/8088 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=LII / Legal Information Institute |language=en}} The judge advocate general also performs other duties prescribed to him under {{UnitedStatesCode|10|8088}} and those prescribed under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

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:[http://www.usmc.mil/news/publications/Documents/United%20States%20Navy%20Regulations.pdf United States Naval Regulations, Sections 0330 & 0331], Accessed on 2011-03-24.

  • 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

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.

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.[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?tab=main&bill=h110-4986] Pub.L. 110-181: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-4986] Pub.L. 110-181: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 full text The statutory three-star rank was amended and struck from U.S. law in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017;[https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2943] Pub.L. 114-328: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017[https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2943/text] Pub.L. 114-328: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 full text 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

class="wikitable"

! {{Abbr|No.|Number}}!! Name !! Photo !! Branch !! Term began !! Term ended

1Col William Butler Remey75pxUSMC18801892
2CAPT Samuel Conrad Lemly75pxUSN18921904
3CAPT Samuel Willauer Black Diehl75pxUSN19041907
4CAPT Edward Hale Campbell75pxUSN19071909
5CAPT Robert Lee Russell75pxUSN19091913
6CAPT Ridley McLean75pxUSN19131916
7CAPT William Carleton Watts75pxUSN19171918
8RADM George Ramsey Clark75pxUSN19181921
9RADM Julian Lane Latimer75pxUSN19211925
10RADM Edward Hale Campbell75pxUSN19251929
11RADM David F. Sellers75pxUSN19291931
12RADM Orin Gould Murfin75pxUSN19311934
13RADM Claude C. Bloch75pxUSN19341936
14RADM Gilbert Jonathan Rowcliff75pxUSN19361938
15RADM Walter Browne Woodson75pxUSN19381943
16RADM Thomas Leigh Gatch75pxUSN19431945
17RADM Oswald Symister Colclough75pxUSN19451948
18RADM George Lucius Russell75pxUSN19481952
19RADM Ira Hudson Nunn75pxUSN19521956
20RADM Chester Charles Ward75pxUSN19561960
21RADM William Chamberlain Mott75pxUSN19601964
22RADM Wilfred Asquith Hearn75pxUSN19641968
23RADM Joseph Bryan McDevitt75pxUSN19681972
24RADM Merlin Howard Staring75pxUSN19721975
25RADM Horace Bascomb Robertson Jr.75pxUSN19751976
26RADM William Owen Miller75pxUSN19761978
27RADM Charles Eager McDowell75pxUSN19781980
28RADM John Smith JenkinsUSN19801982
29RADM James Joseph McHugh75pxUSN19821984
30RADM Thomas Edward Flynn75pxUSN19841986
31RADM Hugh Don Campbell75pxUSN19861988
32RADM Everett Don Stumbaugh75pxUSN19881990
33RADM John Edward Gordon75pxUSN19901992
34RADM William Leon Schachte Jr.75pxUSN19921993
35RADM Harold Eric Grant75pxUSN19931997
36RADM John Dudley Hutson75pxUSN19972000
37RADM Donald J. Guter75pxUSN20002002
38RADM Michael F. Lohr75pxUSN20022004
39RADM James E. McPherson75pxUSN20042006
40VADM Bruce E. MacDonald75pxUSN20062009
41VADM James W. Houck75pxUSN14 August 200920 July 2012
42VADM Nanette M. DeRenzi75pxUSN20 July 201226 June 2015
43VADM James W. Crawford, III75pxUSN26 June 201512 September 2018
44VADM John G. Hannink75pxUSN12 September 201818 August 18, 2021
45VADM Darse E. Crandall Jr.75pxUSN18 August 20215 September 2024
46VADM Christopher C. French75pxUSN5 September 20241 January 2025{{cite web|url=https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNJAGC/bulletins/3c9ec2f|title=JAG Corps Leadership Succession|date=2025-01-02|access-date=2025-02-11|publisher=Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy|website=GovDelivery}}
ActingRADM Lia M. Reynolds75pxUSN1 January 202521 February 2025{{Cite web |last=Novelly |first=Konstantin Toropin,Thomas |date=2025-02-21 |title=Fired: Joint Chiefs Chairman, Top Navy Leader, Air Force Vice Chief, Service Judge Advocates General |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/02/21/fired-joint-chiefs-chairman-top-navy-leader-air-force-vice-chief-service-judge-advocates-general.html |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=Military.com |language=en}}

See also

Notes

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