The general counsel of the Department of the Air Force (acronym SAF/GC) is the chief legal officer of the U.S. Department of the Air Force.
By U.S. law, the general counsel of the Department of the Air Force is appointed from civilian life by the president of the United States upon the advice and consent of the United States Senate, and performs such duties as the secretary of the Air Force specifies.
According to Secretary of the Air Force Order No. 111.5, dated July 14, 2005, "The General Counsel is the chief legal officer and chief ethics official of the Department of the Air Force. Legal opinions issued by the Office of the General Counsel shall be the controlling opinions of the Department of the Air Force. The General Counsel provides advice in accordance with applicable statues on any legal subject and on other matters as directed by the Secretary."General Counsel webpage In other words, the general counsel advises the secretary of the air force, the under secretary, and the assistant secretaries, as well as the chief of staff of the air force, chief of space operations, and other military leaders of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force on legal matters, other than those statutory duties under the Uniform Code of Military Justice performed by the judge advocate general of the Air Force.
List of general counsels of the Department of the Air Force (incomplete list)
ImageNameAssumed officeLeft officePresident appointed bySecretary served underBrackley Shaw19471949Harry S. TrumanW. Stuart SymingtonWilliam T. Thurman19501950Harry S. TrumanW. Stuart Symington, Thomas K. Finletter James T. Hill Jr.19501952Harry S. TrumanThomas K. Finletter John Alvin Johnson19521958Dwight Eisenhower Thomas K. Finletter, Harold E. Talbott, Donald A. Quarles, James H. Douglas Jr.Max Golden19581962Dwight Eisenhower, John F. KennedyJames H. Douglas Jr., Dudley C. Sharp, Eugene M. ZuckertGerritt W. Wesselink19641965Lyndon B. JohnsonEugene M. ZuckertStephen N. Shulman19651966Lyndon JohnsonEugene M. Zuckert, Harold BrownJ. William Doolittle19661968Lyndon JohnsonHarold BrownJohn M. Steadman19681970Lyndon Johnson, Richard NixonHarold Brown, Robert C. Seamans, Jr.Jack L. Stempler19701977Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford Robert C. Seamans, Jr., John L. McLucas, James W. Plummer, Thomas C. Reed,Peter B. Hamilton19771978Jimmy CarterJohn C. StetsonStuart R. Reichart19791981Jimmy CarterJohn C. Stetson, Hans M. Mark, Verne OrrDavid E. Place19811984Ronald ReaganVerne OrrEugene R. Sullivan19841986Ronald ReaganVerne Orr, Russell A. RourkeKathleen A. Buck19861987Ronald ReaganRussell A. Rourke, Edward C. Aldridge, Jr.Anne N. Foreman19871989Ronald ReaganEdward C. Aldridge, Jr.Ann C. Petersen19891993George H. W. BushDonald B. RiceGilbert F. Casellas19931994Bill ClintonSheila E. WidnallSheila C. Cheston19951998Bill ClintonSheila E. WidnallJeh Charles Johnson19982001Bill ClintonF. Whitten PetersMary L. Walker20012008George W. BushJames G. Roche, Michael WynneCharles A. Blanchard20092013Barack ObamaMichael B. DonleyJoseph M. McDade Jr. (acting)20132014Barack ObamaDeborah Lee JamesGordon O. Tanner20142017Barack ObamaDeborah Lee JamesJoseph M. McDade Jr. (acting)20172018Donald TrumpLisa DisbrowHeather WilsonThomas E. Ayres20182021Donald TrumpHeather WilsonMatthew Donovan (acting)Barbara BarrettCraig A. Smith (acting)20212022Joe BidenJohn P. Roth (acting)Frank Kendall IIIPeter Beshar20222025Joe BidenFrank Kendall IIIShannon McGuire (acting)20252026Donald TrumpTroy MeinkWilliam K. Lane III2026PresentDonald TrumpTroy Meink
See also General Counsel of the Department of Defense General Counsel of the Army General Counsel of the Navy
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