Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Air Force
Encyclopedia
The Judge Advocate General's Corps also known as the "JAG Corps" or "JAG
" is the legal arm of the United States Air Force
.
became a separate military service in September 1947. On 25 June 1948, the Congress established an office of The Judge Advocate General (TJAG) in the United States Air Force. On 8 July 1949, the Air Force Chief of Staff
designated 205 attorneys Air Force Judge Advocates. Thus, ironically, there were Air Force Judge Advocates three months before there was an Air Force Judge Advocate General. Following the promulgation of enabling legislation, the Air Force Judge Advocate General's Department was established on January 25, 1949 by Department of the Air Force General Order No. 7 (as amended by General Order No. 17, 15 May 1949). While this event was clearly the birth of the Department, it really represented an interim step, providing the Air Force authority to administer its military justice system within the existing Air Force structure of the time until other legislation (what became the Uniform Code of Military Justice
) could be developed and enacted. The department was originally a part of the Air Force Personnel Branch, but became a separate entity reporting directly to the Air Force Chief of Staff in February 1950. The first Air Force judge advocate general, Major General Reginald C. Harmon
, believed it important for Air Force JAGs to remain a part of a functionally interconnected military department. For that reason, the concept of a separate corps was discarded in favor of the department that existed until 2003.
In 2003, the Judge Advocate General's Department was renamed to the Judge Advocate General's Corps by order of the Secretary of the Air Force
, Dr. James G. Roche
. In December 2004, the Air Force Judge Advocate General, Thomas J. Fiscus
, accepted non-judicial punishment
under Article 15 of the UCMJ, for conduct unbecoming of an officer and obstruction of justice related to numerous unprofessional sexual relationships with subordinates. Upon his retirement, Fiscus was reduced two grades, to colonel. Major General Jack Rives
, the Deputy Judge Advocate General, became the Air Force Judge Advocate General as of February 2006. On 23 July 2008, General Rives was confirmed as a Lieutenant General, becoming the first TJAG to hold that rank.
On 15 December 2009, the President nominated Brigadier General Richard C. Harding to serve as the 16th Judge Advocate General. On 2 February 2010, the Senate Armed Services Committee endorsed the nomination and the Senate voted to confirm the nomination. Lieutenant General Rives retired on 5 February 2010, accepting the position of Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the American Bar Association
, and now-Lieutenant General Richard Harding became The 16th Judge Advocate General of the Air Force. His formal investiture and promotion ceremony occurred on 23 February 2010.
in Montgomery, Alabama
since 1993. The school provides instruction to new judge advocates and paralegals, in addition to offering approximately 30 continuing legal education courses. The School publishes scholarly legal journals such as The Air Force Law Review, semiannually and The Reporter, quarterly. The School also produces The Military Commander and the Law, a publication that is invaluable not only to judge advocates, but commanders and first sergeants in handling the myriad of legal issues that arise with a squadron or wing, and for the continued enforcement of good order and discipline.
Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...
" is the legal arm of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
History
The United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
became a separate military service in September 1947. On 25 June 1948, the Congress established an office of The Judge Advocate General (TJAG) in the United States Air Force. On 8 July 1949, the Air Force Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
The Chief of Staff of the Air Force is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Air Force, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Air Force, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the...
designated 205 attorneys Air Force Judge Advocates. Thus, ironically, there were Air Force Judge Advocates three months before there was an Air Force Judge Advocate General. Following the promulgation of enabling legislation, the Air Force Judge Advocate General's Department was established on January 25, 1949 by Department of the Air Force General Order No. 7 (as amended by General Order No. 17, 15 May 1949). While this event was clearly the birth of the Department, it really represented an interim step, providing the Air Force authority to administer its military justice system within the existing Air Force structure of the time until other legislation (what became the Uniform Code of Military Justice
Uniform Code of Military Justice
The Uniform Code of Military Justice , is the foundation of military law in the United States. It is was established by the United States Congress in accordance with the authority given by the United States Constitution in Article I, Section 8, which provides that "The Congress shall have Power . ....
) could be developed and enacted. The department was originally a part of the Air Force Personnel Branch, but became a separate entity reporting directly to the Air Force Chief of Staff in February 1950. The first Air Force judge advocate general, Major General Reginald C. Harmon
Reginald C. Harmon
Reginald C. Harmon was a Major General in the United States Air Force and served as its first Judge Advocate General. At the age of 29, he was elected as the mayor of Urbana, Illinois.-Background:...
, believed it important for Air Force JAGs to remain a part of a functionally interconnected military department. For that reason, the concept of a separate corps was discarded in favor of the department that existed until 2003.
In 2003, the Judge Advocate General's Department was renamed to the Judge Advocate General's Corps by order of the Secretary of the Air Force
United States Secretary of the Air Force
The Secretary of the Air Force is the Head of the Department of the Air Force, a component organization within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Secretary of the Air Force is appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate...
, Dr. James G. Roche
James G. Roche
Dr. James G. Roche was the 20th Secretary of the Air Force, serving from January 20, 2001 to January 20, 2005. Prior to serving as secretary, Roche served in the United States Navy for 23 years, and as an executive with Northrop Grumman....
. In December 2004, the Air Force Judge Advocate General, Thomas J. Fiscus
Thomas J. Fiscus
Thomas J. Fiscus was a Major General in the United States Air Force who served as Judge Advocate General of the Air Force, the highest ranking officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps...
, accepted non-judicial punishment
Nonjudicial punishment
Non-judicial punishment in the United States military, is a form of military justice authorized by Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Non-judicial punishment or "NJP" permits commanders to administratively discipline troops without a court-martial...
under Article 15 of the UCMJ, for conduct unbecoming of an officer and obstruction of justice related to numerous unprofessional sexual relationships with subordinates. Upon his retirement, Fiscus was reduced two grades, to colonel. Major General Jack Rives
Jack L. Rives
Jack L. Rives is the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the American Bar Association, and a former TJAG of the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps. In 2008, he became the first Judge Advocate General in any service to hold the rank of Lieutenant general...
, the Deputy Judge Advocate General, became the Air Force Judge Advocate General as of February 2006. On 23 July 2008, General Rives was confirmed as a Lieutenant General, becoming the first TJAG to hold that rank.
On 15 December 2009, the President nominated Brigadier General Richard C. Harding to serve as the 16th Judge Advocate General. On 2 February 2010, the Senate Armed Services Committee endorsed the nomination and the Senate voted to confirm the nomination. Lieutenant General Rives retired on 5 February 2010, accepting the position of Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
, and now-Lieutenant General Richard Harding became The 16th Judge Advocate General of the Air Force. His formal investiture and promotion ceremony occurred on 23 February 2010.
JAG School
The Air Force Judge Advocate General's School was founded in 1950 and has been located in the William Louis Dickinson Law Center, at Maxwell Air Force BaseMaxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
since 1993. The school provides instruction to new judge advocates and paralegals, in addition to offering approximately 30 continuing legal education courses. The School publishes scholarly legal journals such as The Air Force Law Review, semiannually and The Reporter, quarterly. The School also produces The Military Commander and the Law, a publication that is invaluable not only to judge advocates, but commanders and first sergeants in handling the myriad of legal issues that arise with a squadron or wing, and for the continued enforcement of good order and discipline.
Judge Advocates General of the Air Force
- Major General Reginald C. HarmonReginald C. HarmonReginald C. Harmon was a Major General in the United States Air Force and served as its first Judge Advocate General. At the age of 29, he was elected as the mayor of Urbana, Illinois.-Background:...
(1948–1960) - Major General Albert M. Kuhfeld (1960–1964)
- Major General Robert W. Manns (1964–1969)
- Major General James S. Cheney (1970–1973)
- Major General Harold R. Vague (1973–1977)
- Major General Walter D. Reed (1977–1980)
- Major General Thomas B. Bruton (1980–1985)
- Major General Robert W. Norris (1985–1988)
- Major General Keithe E. Nelson (1988–1991)
- Major Geneeral David C. Morehouse (1991–1993)
- Major General Nolan Sklute (1993–1996)
- Major General Bryan G. Hawley (1996–1999)
- Major General William A. Moorman (1999–2002)
- Major General Thomas J. FiscusThomas J. FiscusThomas J. Fiscus was a Major General in the United States Air Force who served as Judge Advocate General of the Air Force, the highest ranking officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps...
(2002–2004); served as major general, retired as colonel - Major General Jack L. RivesJack L. RivesJack L. Rives is the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the American Bar Association, and a former TJAG of the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps. In 2008, he became the first Judge Advocate General in any service to hold the rank of Lieutenant general...
(2004-2006); performed the duties of TJAG - Major General/Lieutenant General Jack L. RivesJack L. RivesJack L. Rives is the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the American Bar Association, and a former TJAG of the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps. In 2008, he became the first Judge Advocate General in any service to hold the rank of Lieutenant general...
(2006–2010) - Lieutenant General Richard C. Harding (February 2010–present)
See also
- Air Force Office of Special InvestigationsAir Force Office of Special InvestigationsThe Air Force Office of Special Investigations , is a Field Operating Agency of the United States Air Force that provides professional investigative services to commanders throughout the Air Force...
- Air Force Court of Criminal AppealsAir Force Court of Criminal AppealsThe Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals is an independent appellate judicial body authorized by Congress and established by the Judge Advocate General of the Air Force pursuant to the exclusive authority under . The Court hears and decides appeals of United States Air Force court-martial...
- U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps
- U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's CorpsJudge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. NavyThe Judge Advocate General's Corps also known as the "JAG Corps" or "JAG" is the legal arm of the United States Navy. Today, the corps consists of a worldwide organization of more than 730 Judge Advocates, 30 limited duty officers , 500 enlisted members and nearly 275 civilian personnel, serving...
- U.S. Marine Corps Judge Advocate DivisionU.S. Marine Corps Judge Advocate DivisionThe Judge Advocate Division is the United States Marine Corps's legal arm, and is subordinate to the Judge Advocate General of the Navy. The head of the Division is the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps...
- U.S. Coast Guard Legal Division
- Judge Advocate General's CorpsJudge Advocate General's CorpsJudge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...
- Judge Advocate General (disambiguation)
- Military justice
- United Kingdom
- Judge Advocate of the FleetJudge Advocate of the FleetIn the United Kingdom, the Judge Advocate of Her Majesty's Fleet was a civilian judge who was responsible for the supervision and superintendence of the court martial system in the Royal Navy...
- Judge Advocate General (United Kingdom)
- Judge Advocate of the Fleet
- Canada
- Judge Advocate General (Canada)Judge Advocate General (Canada)The Office of the Judge Advocate General for the Canadian Forces provides legal advice to commanders at bases and wings, provides lawyers who defend accused persons at courts martial, teaches courses to other CF members or advises a commanding officer in an operational theatre to uphold the ethical...
- Judge Advocate General (Canada)