U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps

Houck served from 2006-2009 as the deputy JAG of the Navy and commander, Naval Legal Service Command. As commander, Naval Legal Service Command, Houck was charged with providing prosecution and other command services to shore and afloat commands through nine Region Legal Service Offices as well as defense counsel, personal representation, and legal assistance services for individual sailors through eight regional Naval Legal Service Offices.

Before his appointment to flag rank, he served as special assistant for Legal and Legislative Matters to the secretary of the Navy and later as special counsel to the chief of Naval Operations. He also served as the senior staff judge advocate for the commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command/U.S. Atlantic Fleet as well as the commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet in Bahrain. In command, he served as commanding officer, Naval Legal Service Office, North Central.

Houck's other assignments include service in the Office of the Legal Counsel to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs, and in the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy, both as executive assistant to the JAG and as special assistant for Transformation, the JAG Corps' lead strategic planner. He began his legal career first as a trial counsel (prosecutor) and then as a defense counsel at Naval Station Mayport, Fla.

Houck's personal decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service medal, the Legion of Merit (five awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (two awards) and the Navy Achievement Medal.

Updated: 19 August 2009

Before her appointment to flag rank, she served as the Senior Staff Judge Advocate for Commander, U.S. Southern Command; Special Assistant for Legal and Legislative Matters to the Secretary of the Navy; Legislative Counsel for Environmental Programs in the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs; and Executive Assistant to the JAG. In command, she served as Commanding Officer, Naval Legal Service Office, North Central.

Afloat, DeRenzi served as the fleet Judge Advocate to Commander, U.S. SEVENTH and THIRD Fleets, as well as Staff Judge Advocate to Commander, Carrier Group SEVEN.

DeRenzi began her career as a litigator, first as a defense counsel and later as a trial counsel (prosecution) in Newport, RI, followed by assignments in appellate defense and civil litigation in Washington, DC.

DeRenzi is admitted to practice before the courts of the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She holds various decorations and awards, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (four awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal (two awards).

Updated: 04 March 2010

Before his appointment to flag rank, he served as defense counsel, trial counsel, and head of Command Services at Navy Legal Service Office (NLSO) San Francisco. He then reported to NLSO Naples, Italy, later assuming duties as Staff Judge Advocate for Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy. In 1986, he reported to the Naval Military Personnel Command (NMPC) in Arlington, Va., where he served as assistant legal counsel to the Chief of Naval Personnel until leaving active duty in September 1987.

Talson joined the Naval Reserve following his release from active duty in 1987, and served in a variety of billets to include four command assignments: Legal Service Office Norfolk Det. 306; Volunteer Training Unit (Law) 0603; Civil Law Support Activity 206 (Litigation); and Navy Personnel Command 06 Det. 106. Under his command, the latter two units were selected for the Rear Admiral Hugh H. Howell Award for best Reserve Law Program unit. Rear Admiral Talson also served as Staff Judge Advocate for Readiness Command Mid-Atlantic/Region Mid-Atlantic Reserve Component Command, and on the staff of Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic .

Rear Admiral Talson is authorized to wear the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, and various unit, service, and campaign awards.

Updated: 12 November 2010

Master Chief Browning’s history of assignments includes: Mobile Mine Assembly Group Detachment TWO, Machrihanish, Scotland; Naval Legal Service Office Puget Sound, Bremerton, Wash.; Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ONE, Agana, Guam; U.S. Naval Legal Service Office Southwest Pacific, Guam; USS Sacramento (AOE 1) in Bremerton, Washington; Naval Legal Service Office Northwest, Bremerton, Wash.; USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in Norfolk, Va., and San Diego, Calif.; Naval Submarine Support Facility New London, Groton, Conn.; and Naval Justice School, Newport, R.I.

In January 2009, Master Chief Browning was selected to become the 11th Command Master Chief of Naval Legal Service Command and Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Judge Advocate General of the Navy.

Master Chief Browning’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards), Navy Unit Commendation (two awards), Battle Efficiency Ribbon (two awards), Good Conduct Medal (five awards), National Defense Service Medal (two awards), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (two awards), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (three awards), and Pistol Marksmanship Medal. He is also qualified as a Master Training Specialist.

Updated: 08 May 2009

Master Chief Lüthi’s history of assignments include: Command Chief, NR Office of Legal Counsel, Bureau of Naval Personnel (Arlington, VA); Command Chief, NR Navy Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic 306 (Norfolk, VA); Command Senior Chief, NR Trial Service Office Southeast (Mayport, Fla.); Senior Enlisted Leader, NR Navy Network Warfare Command Headquarters (NAB Little Creek, VA); and Senior Enlisted Advisor, NR Navy Personnel Command - Legal (Arlington, VA). Through his various assignments, he has provided direct Legalman support to such highly visible events as Tailhook, the IG investigation regarding female carrier pilot training, documenting the September 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon, and assisting the legal advisor to the Combatant Status Review Tribunals. In January 2009, Master Chief Lüthi was selected as the Command Master Chief for the JAG Reserve Law Program.

Master Chief Lüthi graduated with honors from the University of Wyoming in 1978 with a B.S. in Administration of Justice. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Wyoming in 1987. In civilian life, he is Clerk of the Panel of the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, a Judicial Branch senior executive appointment he has held since June 2006. Previously, he was Senior Staff Attorney for the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. He is admitted to practice law in Wyoming and the District of Columbia.

Master Chief Lüthi’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal; Navy Commendation Medal (four awards); Navy Achievement Medal (four awards); Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal (five awards); National Defense Service Medal (two awards); Armed Forces Reserve Medal; Military Outstanding Voluntary Service Medal; Navy / Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon; Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon (Sharpshooter); and Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon (Sharpshooter).

Updated: February 2009