Judge Advocate General of the United States Army

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Judge Advocate General of the United States Army
Insignia of the Army JAG Corps
Flag of the JAG
Incumbent
LTG Stuart W. Risch
since July 12, 2021
Judge Advocate General's Corps
AbbreviationTJAG
NominatorSecretary of the Army
AppointerPresident of the United States
with the advice and consent of the Senate
Term length4 years
FormationJuly 29, 1775
First holderLTC William Tudor
DeputyDeputy Judge Advocate General
WebsiteOfficial Website

The Judge Advocate General of the United States Army (TJAG) is the senior 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 with the advice and consent of the Senate. Suitable candidates are recommended by the Secretary of the Army. By statute, TJAG serves a four-year term as the legal adviser of the Secretary of the Army and of all officers and agencies of the Department of the Army; directs the members of the Judge Advocate General's Corps in the performance of their duties; and receives, revises, and has recorded the proceedings of courts of inquiry and military commissions 10 U.S.C. § 7037.

Creation[edit]

The position of Judge Advocate General was the brainchild and creation of General George Washington. In a letter to the Continental Congress he wrote, "I would humbly propose that some provision should be made for a judge advocate, and provost-marshal. The necessity of the first appointment was so great that I was obliged to nominate a Mr. Tudor, who was well recommended to me, and now executes the office under an expectation of receiving captain's pay—an allowance (in my opinion) scarcely adequate to the service, in new raised troops, where there are court-martials [sic] every day."[1] Congress agreed with Washington and Tudor was formally commissioned as a lieutenant colonel.[2]

U.S. Army Judge Advocates General[edit]

No. Name Photo Term began Term ended
1. LTC William Tudor July 29, 1775 April 9, 1777
2. COL John Laurance April 10, 1777 June 3, 1782
3. COL Thomas Edwards October 2, 1782 November 3, 1783
Position abolished on November 3, 1783
4. CPT Campbell Smith July 16, 1794 June 1, 1802
Position abolished on June 1, 1802
5. Bvt. MAJ John F. Lee March 2, 1849 September 3, 1862
6. Bvt. BG Joseph Holt September 3, 1862 December 1, 1875
7. BG William M. Dunn December 1, 1875 January 22, 1881
8. BG David G. Swaim February 18, 1881 December 22, 1894
9. BG Guido Norman Lieber January 3, 1895 May 21, 1901
10. BG Thomas F. Barr May 21, 1901 May 22, 1901
11. BG John W. Clous May 22, 1901 May 24, 1901
12. MG George B. Davis May 24, 1901 February 14, 1911
13. MG Enoch H. Crowder February 15, 1911 February 14, 1923
14. MG Walter A. Bethel February 15, 1923 November 15, 1924
15. MG John A. Hull November 16, 1924 November 15, 1928
16. MG Albert A. Kreger November 16, 1928 February 28, 1931
17. MG Blanton C. Winship March 1, 1931 November 30, 1933
18. MG Arthur W. Brown December 1, 1933 November 30, 1937
19. MG Allen W. Gullion December 1, 1937 November 30, 1941
20. MG Myron C. Cramer December 1, 1941 November 30, 1945
21. MG Thomas H. Green December 1, 1945 November 30, 1949
22. MG Ernest M. Brannon January 27, 1950 January 27, 1954
23. MG Eugene M. Caffey February 5, 1954 December 31, 1956
24. MG George W. Hickman, Jr. January 1, 1957 December 31, 1960
25. MG Charles L. Decker January 1, 1961 December 31, 1963
26. MG Robert H. McCaw January 1, 1964 June 30, 1967
27. MG Kenneth J. Hodson July 1, 1967 June 30, 1971
28. MG George S. Prugh July 1, 1971 June 30, 1975
29. MG Wilton B. Persons, Jr. July 1, 1975 June 30, 1979
30. MG Alton H. Harvey July 1, 1979 July 31, 1981
31. MG Hugh J. Clausen August 1, 1981 July 31, 1985
32. MG Hugh R. Overholt August 1, 1985 July 31, 1989
(Acting) MG William K. Suter August 1, 1989 February 1, 1991
33. MG John L. Fugh July 26, 1991 September 30, 1993
34. MG Michael J. Nardotti, Jr. October 1, 1993 August 4, 1997
35. MG Walter B. Huffman August 5, 1997 September 30, 2001
36. MG Thomas J. Romig October 1, 2001 September 30, 2005
37. LTG Scott C. Black October 1, 2005 October 1, 2009
38. LTG Dana K. Chipman October 1, 2009 September 3, 2013
39. LTG Flora D. Darpino September 4, 2013 July 14, 2017
40. LTG Charles N. Pede July 14, 2017 July 9, 2021[3]
41. LTG Stuart W. Risch July 12, 2021 Present

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Washington, George. Official Letters to the Honorable American Congress, Written During the War Between the United Colonies and Great Britain by his Excellency George Washington.. Page 13. Retrieved from Google Books. [1].
  2. ^ Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789. page 645. (pdf page: 237).
  3. ^ "The United States Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps".