Scott C. Black
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
Scott C. Black (born September 1, 1952) is a retired American military lawyer who was the Judge Advocate General of the United States Army
from October 1, 2005 to October 1, 2009. He was the first Lieutenant General to hold that position.
with a B.A. degree in Political Science
. During his undergraduate education, he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi
fraternity, California Eta chapter. Following graduation, General Black was commissioned through the ROTC
program as an Armor officer. After three years at Fort Ord
, California, he went to California Western School of Law
in San Diego, where he earned a J.D.
General Black also holds an M.S. degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University
.
General Black’s first duty assignment as a judge advocate was at Fort Bliss
, Texas, where he served as the Chief of the Legal Assistance Branch, as a trial counsel and Chief of the Criminal Law Branch, and as a contract attorney. He later served in Washington, D.C., as a general law attorney at the Office of The Judge Advocate General of the Army and as an Assistant Counsel to the President at the White House
.
In 1990, General Black was assigned as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, 7th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Ord. From there, he went on to be the Chief, Military and Civil Law Division, United States Army Europe
and Seventh Army, Germany. General Black’s next assignment was as the Staff Judge Advocate, 3d Infantry Division (later redesignated 1st Infantry Division), United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany.
In July 1996, General Black returned to the United States as the Legislative Counsel and later as Chief, Investigations and Legislative Division, Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Army, Washington, D.C. He then served as Chief, Personnel, Plans, and Training Office and later as the Staff Judge Advocate of V Corps, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army. From 2001–2003 General Black served as the Assistant Judge Advocate General for Military Law and Operations, and from 2003–2005 as the Commanding General and Commandant of The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School
. In October 2005 General Black was appointed the 37th Judge Advocate General of the United States Army. On December 8, 2008, the United States Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Major General Black for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General. He was officially promoted to that rank on December 11, 2008 at the Pentagon.
General Black attended the Judge Advocate Basic and Graduate courses, the Army Command and General Staff College
, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces
.
His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit
with Oak Leaf Cluster
, Meritorious Service Medal
with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. He is also entitled to wear the Parachutist Badge
, the Ranger Tab
, and the Army Staff Identification Badge
.
General Black is married and has four children.
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
Scott C. Black (born September 1, 1952) is a retired American military lawyer who was the Judge Advocate General of the United States Army
Judge Advocate General of the United States Army
The Judge Advocate General of the United States Army is the commanding officer of the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the United States Army. Under Title 10 of the United States Code, the TJAG is appointed by the President of the United States. Suitable candidates are recommended by the...
from October 1, 2005 to October 1, 2009. He was the first Lieutenant General to hold that position.
Biography
Black grew up traveling the world in a military family. He graduated from California Polytechnic State UniversityCalifornia Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....
with a B.A. degree in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. During his undergraduate education, he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
fraternity, California Eta chapter. Following graduation, General Black was commissioned through the ROTC
Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a college-based, officer commissioning program, predominantly in the United States. It is designed as a college elective that focuses on leadership development, problem solving, strategic planning, and professional ethics.The U.S...
program as an Armor officer. After three years at Fort Ord
Fort Ord
Fort Ord was a U.S. Army post on Monterey Bay in California. It was established in 1917 as a maneuver area and field artillery target range and was closed in September 1994. Fort Ord was one of the most attractive locations of any U.S. Army post, because of its proximity to the beach and California...
, California, he went to California Western School of Law
California Western School of Law
California Western School of Law, founded in 1924, is a private, non-profit law school located in San Diego, California. It is popularly known as California Western or Cal Western and formerly California Western University. The school was approved by the American Bar Association in 1962 and became...
in San Diego, where he earned a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
General Black also holds an M.S. degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University
National Defense University
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the United States Department of Defense, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy. It is chartered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Navy Vice Admiral...
.
General Black’s first duty assignment as a judge advocate was at Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas. With an area of about , it is the Army's second-largest installation behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area behind the...
, Texas, where he served as the Chief of the Legal Assistance Branch, as a trial counsel and Chief of the Criminal Law Branch, and as a contract attorney. He later served in Washington, D.C., as a general law attorney at the Office of The Judge Advocate General of the Army and as an Assistant Counsel to the President at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
.
In 1990, General Black was assigned as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, 7th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Ord. From there, he went on to be the Chief, Military and Civil Law Division, United States Army Europe
United States Army Europe
United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, is an Army Service Component Command of the United States Army and the land component of United States European Command. It is the largest American formation in Europe.-Invasion of Sicily:...
and Seventh Army, Germany. General Black’s next assignment was as the Staff Judge Advocate, 3d Infantry Division (later redesignated 1st Infantry Division), United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany.
In July 1996, General Black returned to the United States as the Legislative Counsel and later as Chief, Investigations and Legislative Division, Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Army, Washington, D.C. He then served as Chief, Personnel, Plans, and Training Office and later as the Staff Judge Advocate of V Corps, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army. From 2001–2003 General Black served as the Assistant Judge Advocate General for Military Law and Operations, and from 2003–2005 as the Commanding General and Commandant of The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School
The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School
The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School educates military, civilian, and international personnel in legal and leadership skills. The center is operated by the United States Army and is located in Charlottesville, Virginia...
. In October 2005 General Black was appointed the 37th Judge Advocate General of the United States Army. On December 8, 2008, the United States Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Major General Black for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General. He was officially promoted to that rank on December 11, 2008 at the Pentagon.
General Black attended the Judge Advocate Basic and Graduate courses, the Army Command and General Staff College
Command and General Staff College
The United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers. The college was established in 1881 by William Tecumseh Sherman as a...
, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
The Industrial College of the Armed Forces is a U.S. military educational institution tasked with preparing military officers and civilian government officials for leadership and executive positions in the field of national security...
.
His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with Oak Leaf Cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
, Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. He is also entitled to wear the Parachutist Badge
Parachutist Badge (United States)
The Parachutist Badge, also commonly referred to as "Jump Wings" or "Snow Cone", is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces awarded to members of the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy...
, the Ranger Tab
Ranger Tab
The Ranger Tab is a service school military decoration of the United States Army signifying completion of the 61-day long Ranger School course in small-unit infantry combat tactics in woodland, mountain, and swamp operations. In December 2009 a British NCO earned the Ranger tab...
, and the Army Staff Identification Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
The Army Staff Identification Badge is a badge of the United States Army worn by personnel who serve at the Office of the Secretary of the Army and the Army Staff at Headquarters, Department of the Army and its agencies. Neither an award nor a decoration, the badge is a distinguishing emblem of...
.
General Black is married and has four children.