Thomas Hemingway
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General
Thomas Hemingway is an American military lawyer who has served as a legal advisor to the Office of Military Commissions. Thomas Hemingway was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in November 1962 after earning his undergraduate degree at Willamette University
. Upon graduation, he took an educational delay and earned his doctor of jurisprudence in 1965 at Willamette University College of Law
. Hemingway entered active service in November 1965. He has also been an associate professor of law at the United States Air Force Academy
and a senior judge on the Air Force Court of Military Review. He is a current member of the state bar in Oregon and the District of Columbia, and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States. He retired from active service in October 1996. General Hemingway was recalled to active service in August 2003 to fill the position as Legal Adviser to the Convening Authority in the Department of Defense Office of Military Commissions, Washington, D.C.
He was replaced by Thomas W. Hartmann
.
Leaked memos, quoted in an article published by Australian newspaper The Age
, revealed major concerns Major Robert Preston and Captain John Carr had about the procedure for trying suspected terrorists held in the Guantanamo Bay detainment camp
. These two military lawyers were tasked to serve as prosecutors before those commissions. The memos revealed that they thought their superior had promised them that the commissions trying the suspects would be rigged.
Hemingway was quoted trying to dismiss the concerns of three of the lawyers as based on simple misunderstandings.
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
Thomas Hemingway is an American military lawyer who has served as a legal advisor to the Office of Military Commissions. Thomas Hemingway was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in November 1962 after earning his undergraduate degree at Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
. Upon graduation, he took an educational delay and earned his doctor of jurisprudence in 1965 at Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
. Hemingway entered active service in November 1965. He has also been an associate professor of law at the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
and a senior judge on the Air Force Court of Military Review. He is a current member of the state bar in Oregon and the District of Columbia, and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States. He retired from active service in October 1996. General Hemingway was recalled to active service in August 2003 to fill the position as Legal Adviser to the Convening Authority in the Department of Defense Office of Military Commissions, Washington, D.C.
He was replaced by Thomas W. Hartmann
Thomas W. Hartmann
Thomas W. Hartmann is an American lawyer and officer in the United States Air Force Reserve. He has 32 years of criminal, commercial and civil litigation experience. Between 1983 and 1991 he was a prosecutor and defense counsel in the Air Force, including duties as Chief Air Force Prosecutor in...
.
Leaked memos, quoted in an article published by Australian newspaper The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
, revealed major concerns Major Robert Preston and Captain John Carr had about the procedure for trying suspected terrorists held in the Guantanamo Bay detainment camp
Guantanamo Bay detainment camp
The Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a detainment and interrogation facility of the United States located within Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. The facility was established in 2002 by the Bush Administration to hold detainees from the war in Afghanistan and later Iraq...
. These two military lawyers were tasked to serve as prosecutors before those commissions. The memos revealed that they thought their superior had promised them that the commissions trying the suspects would be rigged.
Hemingway was quoted trying to dismiss the concerns of three of the lawyers as based on simple misunderstandings.
Assignments
- November 1965 - January 1969, Chief of Civil Law, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
- January 1969 - January 1970, Chief of Military Justice and provincial liaison with the Thai government, Udon Royal Thai AFBUdon Thani International AirportUdonthani International Airport is an airport located near the city of Udon Thani in Udon Thani Province in the northeast region of Thailand. It is approximately 280 miles northeast of Bangkok...
, Thailand - January 1970 - July 1971, Chief of Military Justice, 15th Air Force, March AFB, Calif.
- July 1971 - July 1975, Associate Professor of Law, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
- July 1975 - July 1979, Staff Judge Advocate, 62nd Military Airlift Wing, McChord AFB, Wash.
- July 1979 - June 1982, Staff Judge Advocate, 435th Tactical Airlift Wing, Rhein-Main Air Base, West Germany
- June 1982 - October 1983, senior judge on the Air Force Court of Military Review, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
- October 1983 - July 1985, Chief of Military Justice, Office of the Judge Advocate General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., and Chairman of the Joint Service Committee on Military Justice and the DOD Military Justice Act of 1983 Advisory Commission
- July 1985 - June 1988, Staff Judge Advocate, 17th Air Force, Sembach AB, West Germany
- June 1988 - May 1990, Staff Judge Advocate, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
- May 1990 - August 1991, Director of the U.S. Air Force Judiciary and Vice Commander of the Air Force Legal Services Center, Washington, D.C.
- August 1991 - August 1996, Chief Counsel, U.S. Transportation Command, and Staff Judge Advocate, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
- August 2003–present, Legal Adviser, Office of Military Commissions, Office of the General Counsel, Department of Defense, Washington D.C.
Major awards and decorations
Defense Distinguished Service MedalDefense Distinguished Service MedalThe Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States...
Defense Superior Service MedalDefense Superior Service MedalThe Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe 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 clusterOak leaf clusterAn 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...
Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious 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 two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal- Federal Republic of Germany Military Achievement Medal
Other achievements
- 1985 Justice Tom C. Clark Award for outstanding accomplishments in career service to the U.S. government, District of Columbia Chapter of the Federal Bar AssociationFederal Bar AssociationThe Federal Bar Association is the primary voluntary professional organization for private and government lawyers and judges practicing and sitting in federal courts in the United States.-Background:...
. He is the only officer in the military service to receive the award. - 2002 Distinguished Alumni Citation for achievement in government service, Willamette UniversityWillamette UniversityWillamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
Effective dates of promotion
- Second Lieutenant June 3, 1962
- First Lieutenant June 3, 1965
- Captain January 27, 1967
- MajorMajor (United States)In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
September 1, 1973 - Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant Colonel (United States)In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
February 1, 1979 - ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
August 1, 1983 - Brigadier GeneralBrigadier general (United States)A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
May 1, 1992
External links
- Leaked emails claim Guantanamo trials rigged, The AgeThe AgeThe Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
, August 1, 2005 - Official bio, Department of DefenseUnited States Department of DefenseThe United States Department of Defense is the U.S...