Judge Advocate General of the United States Army

The judge advocate general of the Army (TJAG) is the senior officer of the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the United States Army. Under Title 10 of the United States Code, the TJAG is appointed by the president of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate. Suitable candidates are recommended by the secretary of the Army. By statute, TJAG serves a four-year term as the legal adviser of the secretary of the Army and of all officers and agencies of the Department of the Army; directs the members of the Judge Advocate General's Corps in the performance of their duties; and receives, revises, and has recorded the proceedings of courts of inquiry and military commissions .

Creation The position of Judge Advocate General was the brainchild and creation of General George Washington. In a letter to the Continental Congress he wrote, "I would humbly propose that some provision should be made for a judge advocate, and provost-marshal. The necessity of the first appointment was so great that I was obliged to nominate a Mr. Tudor, who was well recommended to me, and now executes the office under an expectation of receiving captain's pay—an allowance (in my opinion) scarcely adequate to the service, in new raised troops, where there are every day."Washington, George. Official Letters to the Honorable American Congress, Written During the War Between the United Colonies and Great Britain by his Excellency George Washington.. Page 13. Retrieved from Google Books. . Congress agreed with Washington and Tudor was formally commissioned as a lieutenant colonel.Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789. page 645. (pdf page: 237).

U.S. Army Judge Advocates General Name Photo Term began Term ended1. LTC William Tudor July 29, 1775 April 9, 17772. COL John Laurance April 10, 1777 June 3, 17823. COL Thomas Edwards October 2, 1782 November 3, 17834. CPT Campbell Smith July 16, 1794 June 1, 18025. Bvt. MAJ John F. Lee March 2, 1849 September 3, 18626. Bvt. BG Joseph Holt September 3, 1862 December 1, 18757. BG William M. Dunn December 1, 1875 January 22, 1881(acting) COL William Winthrop January 22, 1881 February 18, 18818. BG David G. Swaim February 18, 1881 December 22, 18949. BG Guido Norman Lieber January 3, 1895 May 21, 190110. BG Thomas F. Barr May 21, 1901 May 22, 190111. BG John W. Clous May 22, 1901 May 24, 190112. MG George B. Davis May 24, 1901 February 14, 191113. MG Enoch H. Crowder February 15, 1911 February 14, 192314. MG Walter A. Bethel February 15, 1923 November 15, 192415. MG John A. Hull November 16, 1924 November 15, 192816. MG Albert A. Kreger November 16, 1928 February 28, 193117. MG Blanton C. Winship March 1, 1931 November 30, 193318. MG Arthur W. Brown December 1, 1933 November 30, 193719. MG Allen W. Gullion December 1, 1937 November 30, 194120. MG Myron C. Cramer December 1, 1941 November 30, 194521. MG Thomas H. Green December 1, 1945 November 30, 194922. MG Ernest M. Brannon January 27, 1950 January 27, 195423. MG Eugene M. Caffey February 5, 1954 December 31, 195624. MG George W. Hickman Jr. January 1, 1957 December 31, 196025. MG Charles L. Decker January 1, 1961 December 31, 196326. MG Robert H. McCaw January 1, 1964 June 30, 196727. MG Kenneth J. Hodson July 1, 1967 June 30, 197128. MG George S. Prugh July 1, 1971 June 30, 197529. MG Wilton B. Persons Jr. July 1, 1975 June 30, 197930. MG Alton H. Harvey July 1, 1979 July 31, 198131. MG Hugh J. Clausen August 1, 1981 July 31, 198532. MG Hugh R. Overholt August 1, 1985 July 31, 1989(Acting) MG William K. Suter August 1, 1989 February 1, 199133. MG John L. Fugh July 26, 1991 September 30, 199334. MG Michael J. Nardotti, Jr. October 1, 1993 August 4, 199735. MG Walter B. Huffman August 5, 1997 September 30, 200136. MG Thomas J. Romig October 1, 2001 September 30, 200537. LTG Scott C. Black October 1, 2005 October 1, 200938. LTG Dana K. Chipman October 1, 2009 September 3, 201339. LTG Flora D. Darpino September 4, 2013 July 14, 201740. LTG Charles N. Pede July 14, 2017 July 9, 202141. LTG Stuart W. Risch July 12, 2021 July 15, 202442. LTG Joseph B. Berger III July 15, 2024 February 21, 2025(Acting) MG Robert A. Borcherding February 21, 2025 July 1, 202543. MG Bobby L. Christine July 1, 2025 Incumbent

See also General Counsel of the Army Deputy Judge Advocate General of the United States Army Judge Advocate General of the Navy Judge Advocate General of the Air Force

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