Judge Advocate General of the United States Army explained

Post:Judge Advocate General
Body:the United States Army
Insignia:JAGcrest.gif
Insigniacaption:Insignia of the Army JAG Corps
Flag:Jagflag.JPG
Flagcaption:Flag of the JAG
Incumbent:LTG Joseph B. Berger III
Incumbentsince:July 15, 2024
Department:Judge Advocate General's Corps
Abbreviation:TJAG
Nominator:Secretary of the Army
Appointer:President of the United States
Appointer Qualified:with the advice and consent of the Senate
Termlength:4 years
Formation:July 29, 1775
First:LTC William Tudor
Deputy:Deputy Judge Advocate General
Website:Official 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 .

Creation

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 every day."[1] Congress agreed with Washington and Tudor was formally commissioned as a lieutenant colonel.[2]

U.S. Army Judge Advocates General

Name Photo Term began Term ended
1. July 29, 1775 April 9, 1777
2. April 10, 1777 June 3, 1782
3. October 2, 1782 November 3, 1783
4. CPT Campbell Smith July 16, 1794 June 1, 1802
5. March 2, 1849 September 3, 1862
6. September 3, 1862 December 1, 1875
7. December 1, 1875 January 22, 1881
8. February 18, 1881 December 22, 1894
9. January 3, 1895 May 21, 1901
10. May 21, 1901 May 22, 1901
11. May 22, 1901 May 24, 1901
12. May 24, 1901 February 14, 1911
13. February 15, 1911 February 14, 1923
14. February 15, 1923 November 15, 1924
15. November 16, 1924 November 15, 1928
16. November 16, 1928 February 28, 1931
17. March 1, 1931 November 30, 1933
18. December 1, 1933 November 30, 1937
19. December 1, 1937 November 30, 1941
20. December 1, 1941 November 30, 1945
21. December 1, 1945 November 30, 1949
22. January 27, 1950 January 27, 1954
23. February 5, 1954 December 31, 1956
24. January 1, 1957 December 31, 1960
25. January 1, 1961 December 31, 1963
26. January 1, 1964 June 30, 1967
27. July 1, 1967 June 30, 1971
28. July 1, 1971 June 30, 1975
29. July 1, 1975 June 30, 1979
30. July 1, 1979 July 31, 1981
31. August 1, 1981 July 31, 1985
32. August 1, 1985 July 31, 1989
(Acting) August 1, 1989 February 1, 1991
33. July 26, 1991 September 30, 1993
34. October 1, 1993 August 4, 1997
35. August 5, 1997 September 30, 2001
36. October 1, 2001 September 30, 2005
37. October 1, 2005 October 1, 2009
38. October 1, 2009 September 3, 2013
39. September 4, 2013July 14, 2017
40. July 14, 2017July 9, 2021[3]
41. July 12, 2021July 15, 2024
42. July 15, 2024Present

See also

Notes and References

  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. https://books.google.com/books?id=dCATAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP9.
  2. https://archive.org/download/journalsofcontin07unit/journalsofcontin07unit.pdf Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789.
  3. Web site: The United States Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps .