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 them under 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: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. Pub.L. 110-181: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 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; Pub.L. 114-328: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 Pub.L. 114-328: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 full text however, the Navy continued to appoint the JAG to that rank until 2025.
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 Name Photo Branch Term began Term ended1 Col William Butler Remey USMC 1880 18922 CAPT Samuel Conrad Lemly USN 1892 19043 CAPT Samuel Willauer Black Diehl USN 1904 19074 CAPT Edward Hale Campbell USN 1907 19095 CAPT Robert Lee Russell USN 1909 19136 CAPT Ridley McLean USN 1913 19167 CAPT William Carleton Watts USN 1917 19188 RADM George Ramsey Clark USN 1918 19219 RADM Julian Lane Latimer USN 1921 192510 RADM Edward Hale Campbell USN 1925 192911 RADM David F. Sellers USN 1929 193112 RADM Orin Gould Murfin USN 1931 193413 RADM Claude C. Bloch USN 1934 193614 RADM Gilbert Jonathan Rowcliff USN 1936 193815 RADM Walter Browne Woodson USN 1938 194316 RADM Thomas Leigh Gatch USN 1943 194517 RADM Oswald Symister Colclough USN 1945 194818 RADM George Lucius Russell USN 1948 195219 RADM Ira Hudson Nunn USN 1952 195620 RADM Chester Charles Ward USN 1956 196021 RADM William Chamberlain Mott USN 1960 196422 RADM Wilfred Asquith Hearn USN 1964 196823 RADM Joseph Bryan McDevitt USN 1968 197224 RADM Merlin Howard Staring USN 1972 197525 RADM Horace Bascomb Robertson Jr. USN 1975 197626 RADM William Owen Miller USN 1976 197827 RADM Charles Eager McDowell USN 1978 198028 RADM John Smith Jenkins USN 1980 198229 RADM James Joseph McHugh USN 1982 198430 RADM Thomas Edward Flynn USN 1984 198631 RADM Hugh Don Campbell USN 1986 198832 RADM Everett Don Stumbaugh USN 1988 199033 RADM John Edward Gordon USN 1990 199234 RADM William Leon Schachte Jr. USN 1992 199335 RADM Harold Eric Grant USN 1993 199736 RADM John Dudley Hutson USN 1997 200037 RADM Donald J. Guter USN 2000 200238 RADM Michael F. Lohr USN 2002 200439 RADM James E. McPherson USN 2004 200640 VADM Bruce E. MacDonald USN 2006 200941 VADM James W. Houck USN 14 August 2009 20 July 201242 VADM Nanette M. DeRenzi USN 20 July 2012 26 June 201543 VADM James W. Crawford, III USN 26 June 2015 12 September 201844 VADM John G. Hannink USN 12 September 2018 18 August 18, 202145 VADM Darse Crandall USN 18 August 2021 5 September 202446 VADM Christopher C. French USN 5 September 2024 1 January 2025Acting RADM Lia M. Reynolds USN 1 January 2025 6 August 202547 MajGen David J. Bligh USMC 6 August 2025 Present
See also Judge Advocate General of the Army Judge Advocate General of the Air Force U.S. Marine Corps Judge Advocate Division Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeal Naval Inspector General JAG (television series) U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps U.S. Coast Guard Legal Division
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External links U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps official website