News 2021

Reserve Judge Advocates Support Hurricane Recovery
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Cmdr. Mark deVry and Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Dursa – both admiralty law specialists affiliated with the Navy Reserve Law Program (NRLP) – recently returned home after volunteering on short notice to assist Louisiana officials in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. The storm – which made landfall in late August and early September – was the deadliest and most destructive Louisiana hurricane since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Cmdr. Mark …

Navy Reserve Law Program Captain Retires
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Capt. Kevin Kelly, an accomplished and esteemed member of the Navy Reserve Law Program (NRLP), retired on Nov. 1, 2021 after 32 years of military service. Capt. Kevin Kelly, an accomplished and esteemed member of the Navy Reserve Law Program (NRLP), retired on Nov. 1, 2021 after 32 years of military service.
Reflecting on this milestone, Kelly said he is grateful to many people. However, first and foremost, …

Judge Advocate is the “Voice" of the Shock Trials
Washington, D.C. – This summer, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) successfully completed its Full Ship Shock Trials (FSST). JAG Community member Lt. Abbie Ortman – who was serving as the discipline officer, or “mini judge,” aboard the Ford – served as the “voice” of the FSST. This summer, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) successfully completed its Full Ship Shock Trials (FSST). JAG Community member Lt. Abbie Ortman – …

Judge Advocate Presents Authored Paper at McMullen Naval History Symposium
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Lt. Cmdr. Dennis E. Harbin – a judge advocate currently serving as a joint legal observer and trainer for the J7 Directorate in the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – joined academics and historians from around the globe to present at the U.S. Naval Academy's (USNA) McMullen Naval History Symposium Sept. 23-24, 2021. Lt. Cmdr. Dennis E. Harbin – a judge advocate currently serving as …

Naval Air Station Sigonella: Angela Del Popolo In the Spotlight
SIGONELLA, ITALY – Angela Del Popolo loves languages, which helps in her job as a language specialist for the Angela Del Popolo loves languages, which helps in her job as a language specialist for the Region Legal Service Office Europe Africa Central (RLSO EURAFCENT) Detachment Sigonella. (RLSO EURAFCENT) Detachment Sigonella.
A native of Catania, Sicily, Del Popolo’s linguistic affinity began at a very young age. A native of Catania, Sicily, Del …

Navy Judge Advocate Receives Prestigious Award from National Intelligence University
Washington, DC – JAG community member Lt. Cmdr. Alex Homme was awarded the Judge Allan Nathanial Kornblum Award upon his July graduation from National Intelligence University (NIU) master’s degree program. Homme is an active-duty judge advocate, who currently serves as Deputy Special Assistant for Legal Matters at the Office of the Naval Inspector General in Washington, D.C. JAG community member Lt. Cmdr. Alex Homme was awarded the Judge Allan Nathanial …

Judge Advocate Wins ABA Outstanding Young Military Lawyer Award
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Bar Association (ABA) has awarded Lt. Michelle Flash – a Navy JAG community member currently serving as staff judge advocate at Naval Special Warfare Group 10 – the 2021 ABA Outstanding Young Military Lawyer Award. The American Bar Association (ABA) has awarded Lt. Michelle Flash – a Navy JAG community member currently serving as staff judge advocate at Naval Special Warfare Group 10 – the …

Legalman Earns Commission During Career Intermission
MILLINGTON, Tenn. –
Proving the Navy can help you achieve your goals, Legalman 1st Class Chelse Wilson took advantage of the Career Intermission Program (CIP) to earn a law degree and receive a commission into the Judge Advocate General Corps.
“The CIP is beneficial to Sailors of all ranks and rates. The program allows a Sailor to achieve a goal that might not be possible while on active duty, while still …

RLSO Southeast Holds Change of Command
Jacksonville, Fla. –
Region Legal Service Office Southeast (RLSO SE) held a change of command ceremony on July 30, 2021, in the courtroom in Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.
Region Legal Service Office Southeast (RLSO SE) held a change of command ceremony on July 30, 2021, in the courtroom in Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.
Capt. Mark F. Klein, chief of staff for Region Legal Service Offices, presided virtually over …

Health Law Judge Advocate Discusses Changing Practice Area
Falls Church, Va. – The Military Health System (MHS) is in the midst of an historical, timely, and necessary healthcare transformation to improve patient care for its 9.6 million beneficiaries, which includes active and Reserve service members, veterans, and their families. The Military Health System (MHS) is in the midst of an historical, timely, and necessary healthcare transformation to improve patient care for its 9.6 million beneficiaries, which includes active …
What You Should Know About the Navy’s Fraternization Instruction
In November 2020, the Navy published an update to its Fraternization Policy. The new instruction, OPNAVINST 5370.2E, provides updated reporting procedures for instances of fraternization, as well as a more robust discussion section to help members navigate a determination of what relationships might violate the policy. This article is meant to offer a synopsis of the newly published instruction – a lawful general order – and to clarify what responsibilities …
Navy Region Legal Service Offices Merge
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – On Aug. 15, 2021, two Navy commands – Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Hawaii and RLSO Northwest – merged. The merger created a unified RLSO headquartered in Bremerton, Wash., with a detachment in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as well as three branch offices in Washington State. On Aug. 15, 2021, two Navy commands – Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Hawaii and RLSO Northwest – merged. The merger …

Navy JAG Corps Welcomes New Leadership
ANNAPOLIS, Md. –
The Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps held a change of office ceremony Aug. 18, 2021, onboard U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
The Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps held a change of office ceremony Aug. 18, 2021, onboard U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
During the event – presided over by Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday – Vice Adm. John G. Hannink …

Judge Advocate Receives McGinnis Family Award for Outstanding Performance in Fleet Seminar Education
OAHU, Hawaii – Lt. Cmdr. Joseph "JoHo" Horton – who serves as staff judge advocate for Joint Inter-Agency Task Force-West, Camp H.M. Smith, Oahu, Hawaii – was awarded the McGinnis Family Award for Outstanding Performance in Fleet Seminar Education at the U.S. Naval War College Joint Professional Military Education (JPME I) graduation, held June 24, 2021. Lt. Cmdr. Joseph "JoHo" Horton – who serves as staff judge advocate for Joint …

Naval Justice School Marks 75th Anniversary
NEWPORT, R.I. – On July 6, the Navy JAG community commemorated the 75 On July 6, the Navy JAG community commemorated the 75th anniversary of the founding of its Naval Justice School (NJS). A special ceremony that included distinguished guests – as well as NJS students and staff – took place at Naval Station Newport, where NJS is headquartered. anniversary of the founding of its Naval Justice School (NJS). …

2021 Navy JAG Corps Summer Interns
The Navy JAG Corps is proud to host our 2021 summer interns! The Navy JAG Corps offers internships and externships to law students wishing to gain valuable legal experience, the opportunity for academic credit, and greater insight into life as a Navy judge advocate. Meet some of our summer interns.
Haley Almany
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Region Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic, Detachment Groton
“I applied to the Navy …

JAG Community Member Wins ABA Career Judge Advocate Award
WASHINGTON, DC – The American Bar Association (ABA) has announced that Navy judge advocate Cmdr. Abigail L. Meyers – who currently serves as Operations Officer at the Naval Justice School – has been selected to receive the ABA Outstanding Military Service Career Judge Advocate Award, sponsored by the Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law (SCAFL). The American Bar Association (ABA) has announced that Navy judge advocate Cmdr. Abigail L. Meyers …

DSO Pacific Holds Change of Command
YOKOSUKA, Japan – Defense Service Office (DSO) Pacific held a change of command ceremony at the Adm. Arleigh A. Burke Officers’ Club onboard Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan on July 16, 2021. Defense Service Office (DSO) Pacific held a change of command ceremony at the Adm. Arleigh A. Burke Officers’ Club onboard Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan on July 16, 2021.
Rear Adm. Darse E. Crandall, Deputy Judge Advocate General and Commander …

RLSO Hawaii Holds Change of Command and Prepares for Consolidation
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Hawaii held a change of command ceremony on July 21, 2021, aboard Battleship Missouri (BB 63) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Rear Adm. Darse E. “Del” Crandall, Commander, Naval Legal Service Command, presided over the ceremony in which Capt. Bradley A. Appleman was relieved by Cmdr. Michele V. Rosen as commanding officer. Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Hawaii held a …
Nomination of Commander, Navy Legal Service Command
We are pleased to announce that CAPT David G. Wilson, JAGC, U.S. Navy, has been nominated by the President to serve as Commander, Naval Legal Service Command (CNLSC), and to advance to the grade of Rear Admiral (Lower Half). The nomination is now pending confirmation by the U.S. Senate. We are pleased to announce that CAPT David G. Wilson, JAGC, U.S. Navy, has been nominated by the President to serve …