News

Navy Judge Advocate Awarded the U.S. Special Operations Command Garrison Award
Lt. Cmdr. Charles (“Charlie”) Gough was awarded the 2018 U. S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Garrison Award. Lt. Cmdr. Charles (“Charlie”) Gough was awarded the 2018 U. S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Garrison Award.
The Maj. Gen. Garrison award is presented to the attorney or paralegal who best supported special operations forces (SOF) over the course of the previous year. Maj. Gen. Garrison was a decorated SOF commander who led …
Navy Civilian Makes Quilts for Children
Mr. Randal Powers, Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Mid-Atlantic Branch Office Newport, is an expert quilter and has dedicated numerous hours to making quilts for ill children. Starting when he was about 10 years old, Powers helped his mom quilt to pay the bills. Mr. Randal Powers, Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Mid-Atlantic Branch Office Newport, is an expert quilter and has dedicated numerous hours to making quilts for ill …
Legal Officer Course Mobile Training Team
Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore is quickly becoming a hub for innovation and creative ways to train the over 6,000 Sailors assigned in the area. Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore is quickly becoming a hub for innovation and creative ways to train the over 6,000 Sailors assigned in the area.
A joint effort by NAS Lemoore staff judge advocate (SJA), Region Legal Service Office Southwest Detachment (DET) Lemoore, Naval Justice …

Key West SJA partners with local Law Enforcement
Lt. John O. Wilson joined law enforcement partners in Key West to conduct a maritime sweep of the restricted waters off Naval Air Station Key West (NASKW).
After assuming duties in August 2018, Wilson successfully stood up the long-awaited Magistrate Program in Key West. Wilsons' efforts built on seven years of hard work and dedication from the three previous staff judge advocates who preceded him. This program allows Naval Security …
Judge advocates Attend Oxford Course for Military and Government Lawyers
Cmdr. Bradley Parker, Office of the Judge Advocate General, and Lt. Derek Kandt, Region Legal Service Office Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia (RLSO EURAFSWA), attended the 2019 Oxford Course for Military and Government Lawyers. Cmdr. Bradley Parker, Office of the Judge Advocate General, and Lt. Derek Kandt, Region Legal Service Office Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia (RLSO EURAFSWA), attended the 2019 Oxford Course for Military and Government Lawyers.
This marks …
Navy Judge Advocate helps train African nations in Cutlass Express 2019
Cmdr. Brian Whitaker, a judge advocate assigned to Navy Reserve Commander Navy Europe-Navy Africa-Sixth Fleet, joined with sailors and marines from around the world in Pemba, Mozambique in support of exercise Cutlass Express 2019, Jan. 28-Feb 6. Cmdr. Brian Whitaker, a judge advocate assigned to Navy Reserve Commander Navy Europe-Navy Africa-Sixth Fleet, joined with sailors and marines from around the world in Pemba, Mozambique in support of exercise Cutlass Express …
Naval District Washington Trains Prosecutors and Investigators
Last month, Lt. Amanda Serfess – trial counsel at Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington – trained local JAG community and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) personnel. During two lively learning events, she spoke in-depth about changes brought about by the Military Justice Act of 2016 (MJA 16). Last month, Lt. Amanda Serfess – trial counsel at Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington – trained local JAG community …

JAG Corps Team Receives Tour of Mine Countermeasures Ship USS Gladiator (MCM11)
The team from Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) EURAFSWA Detachment Bahrain toured the USS Gladiator (MCM 11), one of four Mine Countermeasures ships home-ported in Bahrain. It was the first time the office had coordinated such a tour in at least four years, if not ever. The team from Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) EURAFSWA Detachment Bahrain toured the USS Gladiator (MCM 11), one of four Mine Countermeasures ships home-ported …
RLSO MIDLANT Hosts Second Annual “A Day in the Life of a U.S. Navy JAG”
Region Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic’s (RLSO MIDLANT) recruiting team hosted another successful “A Day in the Life of a U.S. Navy JAG” event, welcoming 33 prospective judge advocates – including law students, licensed attorneys, naval officers, and enlisted sailors – to their command on Feb. 4. Region Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic’s (RLSO MIDLANT) recruiting team hosted another successful “A Day in the Life of a U.S. Navy JAG” event, welcoming …

MIT SEMINAR XXI: Foreign Politics, International Relations, and the National Interest
Navy JAG Corps senior officers and civilians seeking to deepen their understanding of national security and foreign relations policy are eligible to apply to be Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Navy JAG Corps senior officers and civilians seeking to deepen their understanding of national security and foreign relations policy are eligible to apply to be Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Seminar XXI Fellows at no cost to themselves or their …
Legalman Selected for JAG Corps In-Service Procurement Program
The Fiscal Year 2019 Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps In-Service Procurement Program (IPP) selection board met in February to consider 15 highly qualified applicants and selected Legalman 1st Class Matthew B. Burns, Strategic Communications Wing One (SCW-1) the second legalman selectee in the program’s five-year history. The Fiscal Year 2019 Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps In-Service Procurement Program (IPP) selection board met in February to consider 15 highly qualified applicants …
U.S. 2nd Fleet and the Era of Great Power Competition
In early 2018, a new National Defense Strategy was released highlighting a shift in focus from regional threats to great power competition. Seeing the need to adopt this new focus, CNO announced the reestablishment of U.S. 2nd Fleet, calling it a “dynamic response to a dynamic security environment” and adding, “That’s why today, we’re standing up 2nd Fleet to address these changes, particularly in the North Atlantic.” In early 2018, …

2019 Class of Presidential Leadership Scholars Announced
The The Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) program has announced that Lt. Ben Maddox -- a member of the Navy JAG community -- has been selected as one of the 60 Scholars chosen for the program’s fifth annual class. (PLS) program has announced that Lt. Ben Maddox -- a member of the Navy JAG community -- has been selected as one of the 60 Scholars chosen for the program’s fifth annual …
Five Years In, Navy JAG Corps In-service Procurement Program Continues to Shine
This past month, Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington (RLSO NDW) hosted a commissioning ceremony for Lt. j.g. This past month, Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington (RLSO NDW) hosted a commissioning ceremony for Lt. j.g. Melisa Wink, welcoming her as the newest member of the RLSO NDW and Navy JAG Corps wardroom. Wink, a 2018 honors graduate of George Mason University School of Law, checked aboard …

USS John C. Stennis Hosts Rare General Court-Martial at Sea
A rare naval tradition was observed onboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as the First Navy Jack was hoisted up the signal yardarm, indicating a General Court-Martial was being held at sea. A rare naval tradition was observed onboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as the First Navy Jack was hoisted up the signal yardarm, indicating a General Court-Martial was being held at sea.
With all …

VITA Connects Service Members to Tax Support
The 2019 tax season is underway, and, once again, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is The 2019 tax season is underway, and, once again, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is open to eligible Navy personnel, dependents, and retirees at select locations around the globe. VITA links active-duty and retired service members and their dependents, as well as deployed civilians, to free self-service tax software via to …

Legalman 7th Fleet Sea Sailor of the Year
YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Vice Admiral Phil Sawyer announced the 2018 Sailor of the Year during a ceremony held at the Chief Petty Officer’s Club in Yokosuka, Japan Jan 17th. This year’s competition featured 9 Sailors competing for the prestigious award. YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Vice Admiral Phil Sawyer announced the 2018 Sailor of the Year during a ceremony held at the …

Tax Season: What You Need to Know
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Free-File Options
What can the Naval Legal Service Command (NLSC) VITA program do for me? The NLSC’s VITA program hosts self-service VITA tax centers at select Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) locations that assist 10 U.S.C. § 1044-eligible filers, including active-duty and retired Service Members, their dependents, and deployed civilians to electronically file their own taxes via The NLSC’s VITA program hosts self-service VITA …
Direct Commissioning Officer Program Selectee Blazes a New Trail
The Navy Reserve Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps recently welcomed its first enlisted selectee under the Direct Commissioning Officer Program (DCOP). The Navy Reserve Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps recently welcomed its first enlisted selectee under the Direct Commissioning Officer Program (DCOP).
Blazing a trail for other enlisted Sailors, former Senior Chief Logistics Specialist Jimi Wyatt recently completed the Direct Commission Officer’s Indoctrination Course (DCIOC) and is beginning his first formal training …

2018 Legalman of the Year and Sailor of the Year
Legalman 1st Class Decora D. Hawkins – currently assigned to USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) – was named the 2018 Legalman of the Year. Legalman 1st Class Oneka L. Stegall – currently assigned to Region Legal Service Office Japan – was named the 2018 Naval Legal Service Command (NLSC) Sailor of the Year. Legalman 1st Class Decora D. Hawkins – currently assigned to USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) …