LAMP Distinguished Service Award - Winners

Award Winners

Each year the Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel has the honor of selecting recipients of the LAMP Distinguished Service Awards. Those chosen for the Award are individuals and units judged to have set the bar for military legal assistance, by pushing themselves and their practices in extraordinary ways.

Many Americans seem to assume the Judge Advocates only practice in the areas of military justice and operational law—an impression long reinforced in film, television and the media. But the average servicemember knows and appreciates that most military legal services performed by JAG officers and their civilian-lawyer counterparts fall under the legal assistance banner. These civil-law legal services address the same everyday consumer law, family law, landlord-tenant and other legal problems that entangle civilians, with the added complication that deployed servicemembers are entitled to extra legal protection when deployed thousands of miles from their home jurisdictions, and the understanding that unresolved legal issues imperil military morale and readiness.

To the average servicemember, then, the most important military lawyer is the one who works to get him or her out of a jam with a creditor, a landlord, a former spouse or a civilian court, or who makes sure his or her estate is in order before deployment.

The LAMP Distinguished Service Award program shines a light on those blazing paths in military legal assistance, that others might follow. This year as in years past, all of the nominees of the two uniformed services for the LAMP Distinguished Service Award deserve credit for outstanding performance. The Committee has selected the following recipients of the LAMP Distinguished Service Award.

View Past Award Recipients

2020 Award Winners

Army

The California Military Department Naturalization Project

The California Military Department (CMD) Naturalization Project, comprised of five volunteer judge advocates and one paralegal—LTC David Torres, MAJ Anthony Gordon, CPT Haeth Chim, CPT Monica Duwe, 1LT Robert Freeman, and SPC Yesenia Sesmas-Ocampos—who use their expertise to assist non-citizen servicemembers of the CMD in obtaining citizenship. While military service provides an expedited path to citizenship, the application procedures are often complicated and daunting for individuals, which necessitates the need for professional assistance. The CMD Naturalization Project has reached out to the entire California National Guard—of over 20,000 members—to determine who needs assistance with becoming Naturalized U.S. Citizens. This represents a significant legal assistance project for all California National Guard Servicemembers at a statewide level. This project kicked off in August 2020 in the middle of the national Covid-19 pandemic. As of the date of this award submission, the project has identified 226 members who are non-citizens, and the project has 30 clients, seven of whom have submitted their applications for naturalization to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The CMD Naturalization Project’s volunteers have taken time from their personal and professional lives to provide quality pro bono assistance and exceptional legal services.

Mr. Rudolph A. “Rudy” Wartella IV, Chief of Soldier and Family Legal Services, 10th Support Group, Okinawa, Japan

Mr. Rudolph A. “Rudy” Wartella IV distinguished himself by providing unparalleled legal assistance to Army and joint force clients across Okinawa, Japan, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the Chief of Soldier and Family Legal Services (SFLS) at Torii Station, where he is the supervising attorney for two local national legal assistants. While COVID-19 affected all military legal assistance offices in some way, the Torii Station SFLS faced unique challenges as a small office in a foreign country. Japan’s COVID-19 prevention measures, which were generally more restrictive than those in the United States, altered the traditional ways of doing business. Mr. Wartella adapted and innovated to satisfy American guidelines, as well as meet the standards expected of a good partner in a host nation. Legal services are invaluable to Torii Station’s client base, many of whom are young Soldiers serving overseas, away from home for the first time, and isolated from their families due to travel restrictions. During the COVID-19 crisis, similar offices Army-wide paused or limited their operations, but Mr. Wartella found creative ways to seamlessly continue full services. He offered expanded hours for telephonic consultations while also providing notaries and powers of attorney through scheduled visits, along with helping his team prepare documents in advance to reduce contact time with the notary and office staff. Meanwhile, he also maintained tax center operations. His client feedback this year is nothing short of extraordinary, as in the past year, his office received 296 customer surveys with an incredible 100% satisfaction rate. Overall, the Torii Station SFLS achieved highly despite limited resources and reduced budgets. Thanks to Mr. Wartella’s tireless efforts, the Torii Station SFLS increased its capacity, quality, and customer satisfaction by cross-training and working together as a team.

Navy

Region Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic (RLSO MIDLANT), Legal Assistance Department, Norfolk, VA

In 2020, Region Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic (RLSO MIDLANT) Legal Assistance Department developed and provided innovative new programs supporting the Exceptional Family Member Program and domestic violence victims. Rapidly adapting to overcome obstacles resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, RLSO MIDLANT’s Legal Assistance Department embodied a superior legal assistance program worthy of emulation. First, the Legal Assistance Department provided an exemplary response to COVID-19 that was immediately shared and replicated by other offices. Second, the RLSO MIDLANT training program for new military attorneys was streamlined and perfected, leading to participation and coordination from Legal Assistance Offices throughout the Navy and yielding better-trained advocates. Third, the Legal Assistance team led in developing and testing new special programs, including special education law support to the Exceptional Family Member Program, along with becoming the first office to provide expanded support to domestic violence victims under Section 548 of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. For these reasons, the Legal Assistance Department’s success and innovations have improved client services and increased mission readiness.

Lieutenant Amy Zajac, Staff Judge Advocate, Region Legal Service Office Western Pacific Branch Office Guam

During 2020, LT Zajac consistently met novel, large-scale challenges and remained committed to the legal assistance mission. She set the standard for superior and sustained support to Fleet legal readiness in the Indo-Pacific area of operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the sole Navy legal assistance provider in Guam, LT Zajac was instrumental in supporting the Sailors onboard USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71) during its outbreak of COVID-19. LT Zajac enabled her team to safely provide in-person notary services to Sailors in quarantine, participated in the Emergency Operations Center as the Region Legal Service Office Western Pacific Volunteer Response Coordinator, and met the emergent legal needs of emergency response teams. LT Zajac also planned and executed innovative legal assistance outreach events in Guam. This included organizing and executing more than 30 outreach events for deploying forces, along with holding substantive meetings with key Guam stakeholders. LT Zajac also became recognized as a subject matter expert on Guam law, in particular for estate planning issues in Guam, despite not being a Guam-licensed attorney. In recognition of her expertise in Guam estate planning, all military Services on Guam referred clients to LT Zajac for Guam estate planning issues. In 2020, LT Zajac also won a long running dispute with a Guam telecommunications company charging military members a $400 early cancellation fee in violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. As a result of this victory, LT Zajac’s Marine Corps and Air Force counterparts leveraged her success to assist their respective clients in claims against the telecommunications company. LT Zajac’s positive impact on the greater Guam community illustrates her commitment to service members and their families, military readiness, and the Navy’s Core Values.

Air Force

Office of The Staff Judge Advocate, 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, ND

The 5th Bomb Wing Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (5 BW/JA) serves two operational wings, 40 subordinate and tenant units, and 12,000 servicemembers, dependents, civilian personnel, and retirees. Despite the onset of COVID-19, the office provided services to 1,070 clients during 1,300 office visits and drafted more than 950 documents—saving clients $134,080 in legal fees. Although 5 BW/JA is a smaller office, it found opportunities to use the resources and strengths of its diverse team. For instance, a legal assistance attorney with experience in the German court system liaised with the German embassy to obtain a time sensitive visa for a pregnant spouse. The office also capitalized on a new attorney’s immigration experience by assisting clients with immigration issues. The team also expanded its services for deploying members by holding question and answer forums for Key Spouses and collaborating with Unit Deployment Managers to provide information on available legal assistance services. Amidst the global pandemic, the office used modern technology to creatively stay connected and verify client eligibility, while continuing to personalize services. Availing the assistance of the Red Cross, the office returned an Airman early from his deployment to spend time with his father during the last days of his life. The office also provided legal services to several elderly clients who contracted the virus. The office also assisted five Airmen when three rental agencies attempted to violate their Servicemembers Civil Relief Act rights. The office also processed 716 tax returns, resulting in refunds of $1.9 million, and saving their clients $323,000 in preparation fees.

Captain Hawar Sabir, 19th Airlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base, AR

Through Capt Hawar Sabir’s leadership and innovative efforts as the Chief of Legal Assistance, the Little Rock Air Force Base legal assistance team served 1,263 clients during 1,532 office visits and drafted 2,845 legal documents, saving the Little Rock community $385,800 in legal fees. Of these, Capt Sabir personally served 568 clients, drafted 155 wills and 382 medical and financial powers of attorney, saving his clients over $151,000. Faced with the onset of COVID-19, Capt Sabir quickly set up mitigation protocols in the office to minimize personal contacts, increase social distancing, and execute rigid sanitation practices. To meet the needs of deploying servicemembers, Capt Sabir developed both a drive-through and an on-site PDF line, ensuring Airmen were able to tackle personal legal concerns proactively and safely before deploying to a war zone. As a result, his team drafted over 720 wills and powers of attorney for nearly 350 deploying Airmen and their families. Capt Sabir also took care of the retiree community by drafting 64 wills and 143 powers of attorney. As an example of Capt Sabir’s dedication and expertise, he met with a first-assignment Airman late in the day and without an appointment to assist her with an unexpected landlord-tenant issue, and within a few days, Capt Sabir negotiated a lease termination agreement and a security deposit recovery. Capt Sabir also assisted a C-130 student pilot when he received a divorce petition; spent incalculable hours assisting an Airman to reopen her immigration case seeking naturalization; advocated for a retiree on a limited income with a stubborn creditor; and helped an Airman terminate her wedding venue agreement due to COVID-19. Capt Sabir demonstrated superior efforts in providing legal assistance to all of the Little Rock military community during an unprecedented year.

Marine Corps

Cherry Point Legal Assistance Office, Cherry Point, NC

In 2020, the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Legal Assistance Office maintained a superior legal assistance program despite limited resources, high personnel turnover, and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cherry Point Legal Assistance Office’s superior innovations in the year 2020 are exemplified by its Tax Center. While many military tax programs across the country closed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cherry Point Legal Assistance Office’s Tax Center remained open by providing virtual services as well as drop-off services. Cherry Point’s Tax Center was the first military tax program to use encrypted file-sharing websites and live-video conferencing to provide clients with the same level of high-quality tax services in the safety of their homes as they would receive in-person at the Tax Center. The Tax Center’s virtual innovations not only allowed it to remain open during the pandemic, but also ensured that it provided the same level of production as previous years. In addition to the Tax Center, the Legal Assistance Office faced multiple challenges and established major innovations to its traditional legal services. Despite a year of reduced resources and high personnel turnover, this never interrupted the Legal Assistance Office’s steady flow of high-quality services. The Office provided a total of 2,632 client services, saw 1,336 attorney/client visits, and prepared 1,425 documents in support of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Servicemembers, retirees, their families, members of the nearby Coast Guard station, and conflict clients from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. The Office’s uninterrupted services are due to its multiple innovations instituted over the past year.

Captain Candace R. Valentine, Legal Assistance Office, Legal Services Support Team, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC

Captain Valentine distinguished herself through the superior performance of her duties while serving as a Legal Assistance Attorney from October 2019 through September 2020. Motivated by a tenacious concern for force readiness and the well-being of others, Captain Valentine worked with unmatched passion and aptitude. She performed over 1,200 distinct legal services to 1,152 individual clients, personally saved Marines over $126,000, and advised thousands of deploying personnel. Captain Valentine routinely sought opportunities to apply her formidable legal abilities against complex and novel problem sets. Captain Valentine’s capabilities were also pivotal to the Legal Assistance Office’s COVID response efforts, and her creation of the Remote Pre-Deployment Brief Series (RPDBS) allowed mission-critical Legal Assistance operations to continue throughout a global pandemic. Her abilities as a military officer are unmatched by her peers. Captain Valentine’s numerous accomplishments reflect a tireless work ethic, an extraordinary intellect, and a genuine passion for service. She has immeasurably improved countless lives and continues to strive for excellence in all her endeavors.

Coast Guard

U.S. Coast Guard 2020 Contingency Response Legal Support Teams

The 2020 Contingency Response Legal Support Teams provided services that enabled active duty members the ability to return to the Coast Guard’s missions in a time when workload and operational requirements increased substantially due to storms, the pandemic, and tragedies. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Contingency Response Legal Support Teams mobilized to provide innovative virtual legal assistance. This included using readily available technology to create durable powers of attorney, along with designing a virtual presentation geared towards deploying members that included information on a variety of legal issues. The Legal Support Team also mobilized in response to 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, which was the most active and fifth costliest Atlantic hurricane season in history. In response to the impact on Coast Guard personnel and their families, these teams created and used an innovative telephone help-line approach to identify members’ needs and then traveled extensively to provide timely, face-to-face legal support—with a myriad of issues, including powers-of-attorney, insurance claims, and landlord-tenant disputes—to hundreds of Coast Guard families who sheltered in disaggregated locations to limit the spread of COVID-19. Then in October 2020, tragedy struck the Coast Guard and the Hatteras Island community when a fire broke out within a local housing complex, resulting in the unfortunate death of multiple members of the Coast Guard family. Less than ten hours after the fire began, a Legal Support Team was identified to provide legal assistance to those within the impacted community. The 2020 Contingency Response Legal Support Teams provided innovative, tireless, and exceptional support.

Ms. Belinda Alcantara, Legal Assistance Attorney, Eleventh Coast Guard District, Alameda, CA

The Eleventh Coast Guard District Legal Assistance Attorney, Ms. Belinda Alcantara, provided exceptional service to Coast Guard members, dependents, and retirees throughout California during 2020. In mid-March, when COVID-19 became a significant stressor for Coast Guard personnel, Ms. Alcantara worked with the State Bar of California to ensure the provision of telephonic and internet based assistance and document production satisfied professional standards. She then adapted and took steps to change the modes in which legal assistance was provided to ensure clients’ needs were met via safe remote means. She smartly created and implemented strategies including an electronically distributed Legal Assistance Newsletter, new online intake forms, and virtual platforms for counseling and executing documents ensuring her services were available to those in need. These steps protected her clients and her staff from potential virus exposure, without diminishing the high level of service her office provided. The efforts of Ms. Alcantara and her staff ensured that hundreds of military clients received critical legal assistance services for a wide variety of legal matters, including estate planning, family law, landlord-tenant, and many other cases. Ms. Alcantara has been essential in ensuring the stability of the workforce during this unprecedented period.

Past Award Recipients

2019

Army National Guard Legal Assistance Office for Area Support Group, Kuwait/38th Infantry Division

Captain Matthew Doyle, Chief, Legal Assistance, XVII Airborne Corps

Region Legal Service Office Southwest (RLSO SW), Legal Assistance Department

Lieutenant Rosemarie Lombardi, Legal Assistance Attorney, Region Legal Service Office Southeast (RLSO SE), Branch Office New Orleans, LA

502d Security Forces Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, TX

Captain Adam Zenger, 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, TX

Camp Pendleton Legal Assistance Office, Legal Services Support Section (LSSS), MCI-W, San Diego, CA

Captain Benjamin N. Goodrich, Legal Services Support Section, MCI-PAC, Okinawa, Japan

Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown Legal Assistance Office, Yorktown, VA

Mr. Benjamin McCarty, Legal Assistance Attorney, USCG District One Legal Office, Boston, MA

2018

502d Force Support Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, TX

Ms. Memory Heaton, 2d Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, LA

Stuttgart Law Center Legal Assistance Office, Germany

Ms. Barbara Wold, Legal Assistance Attorney, I Corps Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Joint Base Lewis-McChord Legal Assistance Office, WA

Camp Foster Legal Assistance Office, Legal Services Support Section (LSSS), MCI-PAC, Okinawa, Japan

Captain Kevin S. Estes, Officer-in-Charge (OIC), Legal Assistance Office, Legal Services Support Team (LSST), LSSS MCI-PAC, MCAS, Iwakuni, Japan

Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Hawaii, Legal Assistance Department

Mr. Jason Lawrance, Branch Head and Legal Assistance Provider, Region Legal Service Office Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia (RLSO EURAFSWA) Branch Office London, United Kingdom

United States Coast Guard 2018 Hurricane Legal Support Teams

2017

Staff Sergeant Brent W. Johnson, 355th Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ

Special Victims' Counsel Division, Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Joint Base Andrews, MD

Ms. Traci J. Voelke, Legal Assistance Attorney, Fort Belvoir, VA

Fort Gordon Legal Assistance Office, Fort Gordon, GA

LA Office, LSSS, MCI-East: Legal Assistance Office, Camp Lejeune, NC

Captain Robert McManimon, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Legal Assistance Office, LSSS, MCI-PAC, Okinawa, Japan

Region Legal Service Office Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia (RLSO EURAFSWA)

Ms. Cynthia Catalan-Rodriguez, Legal Assistance (LA) Attorney, Region Legal Service Office Southeast (RLSO SE) detachment Mayport (Det Mayport)

Eleventh Coast Guard District Legal Assistance Team, Alameda, CA

2016

673d Air Base Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK

Mr. James Bivens, Jr., 502d Force Support Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, TX

The Baumholder Legal Assistance Office

Ms. Dorothy Edgerton, Chief Legal Assistance, Fort Jackson, SC

Legal Assistance Office, Legal Services Support Team, Legal Service Support Section, Marine Corps Installation-West, Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, CA

Captain Joseph Lewis, Officer in Charge, Legal Assistance Office, Legal Services Support Team, Legal Service Support Section, Marine Corps Installations-Pacific, Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan

Region Legal Service Office Southeast

Mr. Luis Martin Mesa, Legal Assistance Attorney, Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) EURAFSWA

2015

81st Training Wing, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, MS

Captain Travis P. Brinton, 633d Air Base Wing, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA

Mr. Brian J. Novak, 502d Security Forces and Logistics Support Group, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Joint Base San Antonio, San Antonio, TX

The Fort Bragg Tax Center, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Legal Assistance Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, NC

Captain Tanya Mayes, Military Justice/Administrative Law Judge Advocate General, 80th

Thirteenth Coast Guard District Legal Assistance Team (D13), Thirteenth Coast Guard District, Seattle, WA

Mr. James Nicholson, Legal Assistance Attorney/Legal Service Command (LSC), District 5, Norfolk, VA

Legal Services Support Team, Legal Assistance Office, Camp Pendleton, CA

Captain Adam LoCascio, Defense Attorney, Defense Services Office, Legal Assistance Support Team, 29 Palms, CA

Legal Service Office (RLSO) Naval District Washington, Legal Assistance Department, Washington Navy Yard, DC

Lieutenant Sarah A. Aguero, Legal Assistance Attorney, Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Southeast, Branch Office Corpus Christi, TX

Mr. Daniel G. Jones, Legal Assistance Attorney, Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Northwest, Branch Office Bangor

Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG), Code 16, Disability Evaluation System (DES) Counsel Program, Formal Physical Evaluation Board (FPEB) Section, Washington Navy Yard, DC

2014

87th Air Base Wing (87 ABW/JA), Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ

Captain Morgan Christie, Chief of Legal Assistance & Civil Law, 97th Air Mobility Wing (97 AMW/JA), Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Altus Air Force Base, OK

Legal Assistance Office, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC), Presidio of Monterey, Monterey, CA

Mr. Bradley J. Huestis, Chief of Client Services, 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command (7A JMTC), Grafenwoehr, Germany

Legal Assistance Twentynine Palms, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Legal Services Support Team-Twentynine Palms, Palms, CA

Captain Mika’il Ali, Officer-in-Charge, Legal Assistance Section, Legal Services Support Team-Twentynine Palms, Palms, CA

Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Japan

Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Northwest

Mr. Nicholas King, Assistant Department Head, Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Southwest

2013

502d Force Support Group, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Joint Base San Antonio –Fort Sam Houston, TX

Captain Donald “Rick” Weeks, III, chief of Legal Assistance, 96th Test Wing, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Eglin Air Force Base, FL

The Fort Sill Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Legal Assistance Office, Fort Sill, OK

Mr. Russell H. Putnam, Jr., Legal Assistance Attorney, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, 3d Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA

Fourteenth Coast Guard District Legal Office, Fourteenth Coast Guard District, Honolulu, HI

Mr. Stephen Crawford, Legal Assistance Attorney, Coast Guard District Eight, New Orleans, LA

Camp Foster Okinawa Legal Assistance Office, Legal Service Support Team, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Okinawa

Captain Nicholas Mull, Officer-in-Charge, Camp Foster Legal Assistance Office, Legal Service Support Team, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Okinawa

Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Hawaii, Joint Base Pearl Harbor, HI

Mr. Dwain Alexander, II, Senior Legal Assistance Attorney, Region Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, VA

Commander Andrew R. House, Deputy Assistant Judge Advocate General for Legal Assistance, Deputy Chief of Staff, Victims Legal Counsel, Office of the Judge Advocate General (Code 16), Washington Navy Yard, DC

2012

31st Fighter Wing, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Aviano Air Base, Italy

Captain Joe Ahlers, Chief of Legal Assistance, 97th Air Mobility Wing, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Altus Air Force Base, OK

Joerg C. Moddelmog, Senior German Attorney–Advisor, Kaiserslautern Legal Services Center

Mr. Stephen Lynch, Legal Assistance Attorney, Ninth District Legal Office, Cleveland, OH

Legal Assistance Office, Legal Service Support Team, MCRD Parris Island, SC

Captain William Morrison, Officer–in–Charge, Legal Assistance Office, Camp Foster Okinawa

Region Legal Service Office Southwest

Ms. Sarah Courageous, Legal Assistance Attorney, Region Legal Service Office Hawaii

CAPT Kevin Patrick Flood, JAGC, USN (Ret.), Law Office of Kevin Patrick Flood, Jacksonville, FL

COL Mark E. Sullivan, USAR (Ret.), Law Offices of Mark E. Sullivan, P.A., Raleigh, NC

2011

35th Fighter Wing, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Misawa Air Force Base, Japan

Lieutenant Andrew Coffin, JAGC, USN, Naval Legal Service Office Pacific (Guam)

Coast Guard District Seventeen Legal Office, Juneau, AK

Ms. Elizabeth K. Fuglestad, Legal Assistance Attorney, Thirteenth District Legal Office, Seattle, WA

Joint Legal Assistance Office (LAO), Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, CA

Ms. Leah Copeland, Legal Assistance Attorney, 633d Air Base Wing, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE), VA

Mr. Michael Archer, Director of Legal Assistance, Marine Corps Installations East, Camp Lejeune, NC

Naval Legal Service Office Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia (NLSO EURAFSWA)

Mr. Terry Spearman, Paralegal, XVIII Airborne Corps, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Legal Assistance, Fort Bragg, NC

2010

Mr. Charles P. "Chuck" Koutras, Legal Assistance Attorney, US Army South, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Fort Sam Houston, TX

Reserve Judge Advocate Command Support Section, Legal Services Support Section, Marine Forces Reserve (RJACSS)

355 FW/JA, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Legal Office, Tucson, AZ

Mr. Brian Novak, Chief of Legal Assistance Division and Tax Center Manager, 502 Air Base Group, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, TX

Naval Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic (NLSO MIDLANT), Norfolk, VA

LT Matthew C. Cox, JAGC, USN,  Naval Legal Service Office Pacific (Pearl Harbor, Hawaii)

North Carolina National Guard (NCNG), NC

2009

Coast Guard Legal Assistance Field Response Team for Lost CG-1705 Aircraft, Alameda, CA

Legal Assistance Division, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Maneuver Center for Excellence, Fort Benning, GA

3d Infantry Division and Fort Stewart Office of the Staff Judge Advocate Legal Assistance Team, GA

Consolidated Legal Service Office, Camp LeJeune, NC

86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany

LT Garrett S. Snow, JAGC, USN, Naval Legal Service Office Pacific, Yokosuka, Japan

LtCol Adam E. Torem, USAFR, 11th Air Force, Elmendorf Air Force Base, AK.

2008

6^th Air Mobility Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida

Warner-Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia

Mr. George Sabga, Volunteer, Naval Legal Service Office Southwest

Naval Legal Service Office Pacific

2007

Lieutenant Graham C. Winegeart, JAGC, Naval Legal Service Office Pacific,  Detachment Guam

Lieutenant Michele V. Rosen, JAGC, Region Legal Service Office, Europe and Southwest Asia, Naples, Italy

Legal Assistance Office, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina

48th Fighter Wing, Legal Assistance and Preventive Law Division, RAF  Lakenheath, UK

Maintenance and Logistics Command Atlantic, General Law Branch, Legal Division

2006

Lieutenant Colonel Ferah Ozbek, Patrick AFB, FL

Legal Assistance Office, 101^st Airborne Division (Air Assault) & Fort Campbell, KY

Legal Assistance Office, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Beaufort, SC

Naval Legal Service Office North Central, Washington, DC

2005

Major Michael R. Martinez, Fort Carson, CO

81^st Training Wing (81 TRW), Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Keesler Air Force Base, MS

Third Infantry Division and Fort Stewart, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate Legal Assistance Office, Fort Stewart, GA

Coast Guard Hurricane Response Legal Assistance Team

• CG Academy, New London, CT
• CG Headquarters (COMDT G-L-6), Washington, DC
• CG MLCA Legal Division, Norfolk, VA
• CG MLCP Legal Division, Alameda, CA
• Eighth CG District, New Orleans, LAFirst CG District, Boston, MA
• Integrated Support Command Kodiak, Kodiak, AK
• Ninth CG District, Cleveland, OH
• Seventh CG District, Miami, FL
• Thirteenth CG District, Seattle, WA
  

Naval Legal Service Office Central, Pensacola, FL

Mr. Dwain Alexander, Navy Legal Service Office (NLSO) Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, VA

2004

Ms. Lisa J. Johnson, Paralegal, Navy Legal Service Office (NLSO) Southeast, Jacksonville, FL

Captain Eric S. Montalvo, Trial Counsel, OSJA, MCB, Quantico, VA

Captain Luisa Santiago, Chief, Legal Assistance/Foreign Claims, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Headquarters, Combined Joint Task Force 73, Bagram, Afghanistan

Lieutenant Jonathan Scott Simpson, Branch Head, Naval Legal Service Office Europe and Southwest Asia, London, UK

“TEAM PACAF”: Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), 15th Airlift Wing (PACAF), 354th

Fighter Wing (PACAF) and 154 Wing (Hawaii Air National Guard), Hickam Air Force Base, HI

2003

Mr. Kenyon E. Luce, Washington State Bar Association

Captain Pete Seidler, Head, United States Coast Guard Office of Legal Policy & Program Development

Lieutenant Jeremy Kimball Call, NLSO PAC, Yokosuka, Japan

Lieutenant Edward K. Westbrook, NLSO SW Branch Office, Naval Air Station Leemore, California

311th Support Command Corps (COSCOM)

2002

Legal Assistance Office, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego CA

Naval Legal Service Office Southeast, Jacksonville, FL

Captain Brandy Falk

Colonel George Hancock

Mr. Stephen Lynch

Captain Samuel F. Wright

2001

Joint Services Family Assistance Center Legal Team

September 11th Pro Bono Legal Relief Project

Colonel John S. Odom, Jr.

Captain Bruce E. MacDonald

Captain Jerry Alonzo Stevenson II

Captain Steven Fromm

2000

Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Legal Office, Georgia

Task Force Falcon Legal Assistance Office, Office of the Legal Advisor, Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo

Mr. Paul K. Davis, Southeast Regional Office, Federal Trade Commission, Georgia

Maintenance & Logistics Command Pacific Legal Assistance Program, California

Joint Legal Assistance Office, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California

Naval Legal Service Office Southwest, San Diego, California

1999

Legal Assistance Office, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, CA

Legal Assistance Office, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA

Mr. Lou Sherman and the Fort Polk Legal Assistance Division, Ft. Polk, LA

3WG/JA Legal Assistance Program, Elmendorf Air Force Base, AK

Captain James Key, USAF, Anderson Air Force Base, Guam

Mr. John McHenry, Naval Legal Service Office Southwest, San Diego, CA

1998

Naval Legal Service Office Northwest, Naval Base Seattle, WA

Task Force Eagle Legal Assistance Office, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Tuzla, Bosnia Herzegovina

Mr. Jim Brennan, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Fort Eustis, VA

Legal Assistance Section, Client Services Division, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Fort Sam Houston, TX

Lieutenant Brandon S. Keith, JAGC, USNR, Naval Legal Service Office, Southeast Detachment, Mayport, FL

Captain Theresa Bruno, USAF, Peterson Air Force Base, CO

1997

Captain Aaron E. Kornblum, USAF, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, WY

Mr. Kenyon E. Luce, Washington State Bar Association

Ms. Robin Coll, Civilian, Naval Legal Service Office, Mid-Atlantic

1996

US Army 2nd Infantry Division Tax Center

Lieutenant Commander Ronald Johnson, JAGC, U.S. Navy, Naval Justice School, Newport, RI

Legal Assistance Office, Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, NE

Legal Division, Coast Guard Maintenance and Logistics Command Atlantic

Mr. Richard Arkow, Chief, Marine Corps Legal Assistance Consolidated Legal Assistance Office, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, NC

Legal Assistance Office, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC

Legal Assistance Division, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Fort Benning, GA

Legal Assistance Office, Joint Law Center, Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Santa Ana, CA

Legal Assistance Office, Legal Services Center, Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe, HI

1995

Lieutenant Colonel Gregory Block, USA, Chief, Legal Assistance Branch, The U.S. Army Judge

Advocates Generals' School, Charlottesville, VA

Elisa Holland, Eighth Coast Guard District Legal Office, New Orleans, March, 1995

Angel Caldwell, Eighth Coast Guard District Legal Office, New Orleans, March, 1995

Joint Legal Assistance Office, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, CA

Naval Legal Service Office, Southeast Jacksonville, FL

1994

Lieutenant James Walsh, JAGC, USNR, Naval Legal Service Office Northeast, Groton, CT

Lieutenant Colonel George Hancock, USA, The U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's School, Charlottesville, VA

Captain Samuel W. Morris, USA, 1st Infantry Division (Mech) and Fort Riley, Fort Riley, KS

Mr. Jerry E. Shiles, Chief, Legal Assistance Division, 21st Theater Army Area Command Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, NC

Naval Legal Service Office, Europe and Southwest Asia

Colonel Alfred F. Arquilla, USA, Chief, Army Legal Assistance

1993

Captain Laurel L. Wilkerson, USA, Legal Assistance Division, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U. S. Army

Major Mary L. Hostetter, USMC, The U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's School, Charlottesville, VA

Captain Kerry M. Wheelehan, USA, Chief of Legal Assistance, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, NC

Captain Janet K. Mansfield, USA, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, HQ, I Corps and Fort Lewis, WA

Consolidated Legal Assistance Office, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, NC

Mr. Gunter D. Filippucci, Chief of Legal Assistance, Southern Law Center, Mannheim, Germany

Mr. Daniel McKernan, Fort Bliss, TX

1992

Mr. Juan J. Turull Echevarria, Coast Guard Greater Antilles Section, San Juan, PR

Legal Division, Coast Guard Maintenance and Logistics Command, Atlantic Legal Office, 7th Coast Guard District

Legal Assistance Office, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY

Captain Michael McWright,USA, 24th Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA

Captain Kurt D. Schmidt, USA, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, NC

Captain Julie Schrenk, USA, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, NC

Office of the District Counsel, Jacksonville District, South Atlantic Divison, US Army Corps of Engineers

Air Force legal personnel involved in the Hurricane Andrew relief efforts

1991

Naval Legal Service Office, Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines

Legal Assistance Offices, Clark Air Force Base, Philippines and Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

Naval Legal Service Office, Jacksonville, FL

1990

Legal Assistance Office, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Warner Robins, GA

Lieutenant Commander Jay J. Kessler, JAGC, USN, Naval Legal Service Office, San Francisco, CA

The Judge Advocate General, U.S. Army

The Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy

The Judge Advocate General, U.S. Air Force

The Director, Judge Advocate Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps

The Chief Counsel, U.S. Coast Guard

Lieutenant Colonel Gregory M. Huckabee, USA, Deputy Chief, Army Legal Assistance

Major James P. Pottorff, Jr.,USA, The U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's School, Charlottesville, VA

1989

Captain Anthony M. Cacavio, USAF, Eglin Air Force Base, FL

Naval Legal Service Office, San Diego, CA

Family Law Center, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, HI

Major Bernard P. Ingold, USA, The U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's School, Charlottesville, VA

1988

Naval Legal Service Office, Naval Base, Charleston, SC

Major General Hugh R. Overholt, USA, Judge Advocate General, U.S. Army

1987

Major Richard H. McCall, Jr., USA, Chief, Legal Assistance Division, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, NC

The Office of the Attorney General, State of North Carolina

Chief Petty Officer Stephen C. Bowles, USCG

1986

Captain Joseph P. Dugdale, USMC

Major Steven K. Mulliken, USA

Legal Assistance Office, U.S. Army, Berlin

1985

Consolidated Legal Assistance Section, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, NC

Major Charles W. Hemingway, USA

Gander Legal Assistance Support Team, U.S. Army

Legal Assistance Office, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA

Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Plattsburgh Air Force Base, NY

1984

Elmendorf Base Legal Office, Elmendorf Air Force Base, AK

1983

Legal Assistance Office, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Fort Dix, NJ

Joint Legal Assistance Office, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, CA

Major Harlan M. "Mike" Heffelfinger, USA

1982

Captain Timothy J. Grendell, USA

Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, RAF, Alconbury, England

Major J. Edward Reaves, Jr., JAGC, USAF

Captain Steven H. Muse, USA, Chief of Legal Assistance Office, Fort Sam Houston, TX

Legal Assistance Office, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Sam Houston, TX

1981

Legal Assistance Office, U.S. Army Air Defense Center and Fort Bliss, Fort Bliss, TX

Legal Assistance Office, Air Force Systems Command

Lieutenant Byron C. Rhodes, JAGC, USNR

Nellis Law Center, Nellis Air Force Base, NV

Legal Assistance Branch, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, 7th Infantry Division and Fort Ord, CA

Lieutenant Leonard F. Villa, JAGC, USNR, Naval Service Office, Norfolk, VA

1980

Legal Assistance Office, Naval Legal Service Office, San Diego, CA

Mrs. Elizabeth F. Buchanan, Legal Assistance Attorney, Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa

1979

Legal Assistance Office, Patrick Air Force Base, Satellite Beach, FL

Mr. James Costello, Legal Assistance Attorney, Seventh Coast Guard District, Miami, FL

Legal Assistance Office, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, TX

Other Awards

Outstanding Legal Assistance Student Award