News 2021

Reserve Judge Advocates Support Hurricane Recovery

Reserve Judge Advocates Support Hurricane Recovery

December 16th, 2021

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

Navy Reserve Law Program Captain Retires

November 24th, 2021

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

Judge Advocate is the “Voice" of the Shock Trials

November 19th, 2021

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 – …

Three Judge Advocates Selected as ICAP Fellows

Three Judge Advocates Selected as ICAP Fellows

November 5th, 2021

Three Navy judge advocates have been named 2021 fellows in the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP).  The program is sponsored by the Navy and hosted by the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. Three Navy judge advocates have been named 2021 fellows in the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP).  The program is sponsored by the Navy and hosted by the Josef Korbel …

Judge Advocate Presents Authored Paper at McMullen Naval History Symposium

Judge Advocate Presents Authored Paper at McMullen Naval History Symposium

October 27th, 2021

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

Naval Air Station Sigonella: Angela Del Popolo In the Spotlight

October 21st, 2021

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 Reserve Captain Receives NAPABA Award

Navy Reserve Captain Receives NAPABA Award

October 19th, 2021

In September, Capt. John Han – a seasoned and decorated member of the Navy Reserve Law Program (NRLP) – was awarded the Military and Veteran Service Award from the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).  The award will be presented to Han at the 2021 NAPABA Convention in December in Washington, D.C. In September, Capt. John Han – a seasoned and decorated member of the Navy …

Navy Judge Advocate Receives Prestigious Award from National Intelligence University

Navy Judge Advocate Receives Prestigious Award from National Intelligence University

October 1st, 2021

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

Judge Advocate Wins ABA Outstanding Young Military Lawyer Award

September 28th, 2021

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

Legalman Earns Commission During Career Intermission

September 23rd, 2021

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

RLSO Southeast Holds Change of Command

September 21st, 2021

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

Health Law Judge Advocate Discusses Changing Practice Area

September 13th, 2021

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

September 8th, 2021

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

August 24th, 2021

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

Navy JAG Corps Welcomes New Leadership

August 19th, 2021

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

Judge Advocate Receives McGinnis Family Award for Outstanding Performance in Fleet Seminar Education

July 31st, 2021

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

Naval Justice School Marks 75th Anniversary

July 31st, 2021

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

2021 Navy JAG Corps Summer Interns

July 29th, 2021

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

JAG Community Member Wins ABA Career Judge Advocate Award

July 28th, 2021

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

DSO Pacific Holds Change of Command

July 26th, 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. 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 …