Air Force Judge Advocate General's School Podcast

In the latest AFJAGS podcast, Maj Alexxa Pritchett is joined by Capt Joseph Ludmir, a recent graduate of Squadron Officer School (SOS), to provide a first-hand account of the newly redesigned SOS curriculum and experience. Captain Ludmir offers his perspective on the shift from traditional classroom instruction to interactive, hands-on war-gaming exercises. He discusses the physical and mental demands of the course, the importance of integrating with other career fields, and how JAGs can leverage their unique skills to contribute to the team.

In this episode, Maj Alexxa Pritchett is joined by Capt Rachel Book, a graduate of Officer Training School (OTS) class 25-06, to provide a first-hand account of what you can expect during OTS. Captain Book shares her invaluable insights into the entire OTS experience, from the initial impressions of the first week to the day-to-day balance of physical training and academics. She offers practical advice on how to prepare physically, what to pack, and how to mentally approach the unique challenges of OTS. This episode is a must-listen for those preparing to begin their Air Force careers at OTS.

In this episode Maj Alexxa Pritchett is joined by Maj Aniesha Bell, Chief of Recruiting for the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps, for a look at the various accession programs available to civilians, law students, and current service members, including the Direct Appointment Program (DAP), the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP), and the Educational Delay program. Major Bell also provides valuable tips for submitting a strong application and highlights the significant financial incentives offered, such as the Student Loan Repayment Program and JAG Continuation Pay. Have questions about these programs or the application process? Please reach out to Recruiting at 1 (800) JAG-USAF or (703) 614-2385 or send an email to [email protected]. Online application can be found here: https://jagusaf.jag.af.mil/. Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USAFJAG Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airforcejagcorps

The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) directed the military services to make attorneys trained in special education law available for military members and their families. Over the past four years, the Air Force JAG Corps has developed a robust program to train attorneys and provide resources to build the Department of the Air Force’s legal assistance capabilities in this area. In this episode, Major Laura Wheat and Major Andrew Woodbury interview Ms. Sharon Ackah and talk about the Exceptional Family Member Program, the education law services provided by the JAG Corps, and the history and development of this area of law. EFMP Central Cell Family Vector Website: http://daffamilyvector.us.af.mil The DAF Family Vector Video Library includes a section of videos on Special Education Law available here: https://daffamilyvector.us.af.mil/MemberSite/Content?TaxonId=10411 Eligible military legal assistance beneficiaries can locate the closest legal assistance office using the U.S. Armed Forces Legal Assistance Locator: https://legalassistance.law.af.mil . ----------- Interested in learning more about the Air Force JAG Corps? Have questions about our programs or the application process? Please contact us at 1-800-JAG-USAF or [email protected]. Don’t forget to check out our website at airforce.com/jag

In the 2024 Department of Defense Arctic Strategy, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated about the Arctic, “[t]his increasingly accessible region is becoming a venue for strategic competition, and the United States must stand ready to meet the challenge alongside Allies and partners.” In this episode, Major Laura Wheat interviews Major Keshat Lemberg about the multi-domain legal implications of the Arctic, as well as the current challenges and opportunities presented vis-à-vis Russia and China due to the changing environment, melting sea ice, and opening of shipping lanes. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interested in learning more about the Air Force JAG Corps? Have questions about our programs or the application process? Please contact us at 1-800-JAG-USAF or [email protected]. Don’t forget to check out our website at airforce.com/jag.

In this episode, Major Laura Wheat closes out the “JAGs on the Job” series by interviewing Colonel Simone Davis and Colonel Corrie Mack about their experiences serving as judge advocates in the United States Air Force, and more specifically, working in operations and international law capacities. In case you missed the first two episodes in this series, go back to Episodes 76 and 80 to hear about military justice and discipline, and civil law and litigation. ------------------------------------------------------------ Interested in learning more about the Air Force JAG Corps? Have questions about our programs or the application process? Please contact us at 1-800-JAG-USAF or [email protected]. Don’t forget to check out our website at airforce.com/jag.

Happy 75th Anniversary to the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps! In this special edition episode, Major Laura Wheat interviews various key JAG Corps personnel to give brief overviews on some of the major events over the past 75 years, in chronological order. Special guest speakers include: Lieutenant General Charles Plummer, The Judge Advocate General; Major General Rebecca Vernon, Deputy Judge Advocate General; Chief Master Sergeant Laura Puza, Senior Enlisted Advisor to The Judge Advocate General; Retired Lieutenant General Jack Rives, The 15th Judge Advocate General; Retired Major General William Moorman, The 13th Judge Advocate General; Major General Mitch Neurock, Mobilization Assistant to The Judge Advocate General; Major General Charles Walker, Air National Guard Assistant to The Judge Advocate General; Brigadier General Michael Tomatz, Director, Operations and International Law Directorate; Brigadier General Gail Crawford, Director, Military Justice and Discipline Directorate; Brigadier General Christopher Brown, Lead Special Trial Counsel; Colonel Shelly Frank, Director, Inspections and Standardization; Colonel Andrea Hall, Chief, Military Justice Law and Policy; Colonel Mark Hoover, Director, Legal Information Services Directorate; Colonel Brett Landry, Chief, Trial Defense Division; Colonel Lanourra Phillips, Chief, Victims’ Counsel Division; First Lieutenant Terri Adams, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate; First Lieutenant Jordan Anderson, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate; First Lieutenant King Tsang, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate; Airman First Class Pita Qiolevu, Paralegal; and Airman First Class Mason Walch, Paralegal. ------------------------------------------------------------ Interested in learning more about the Air Force JAG Corps? Have questions about our programs or the application process? Please contact us at 1-800-JAG-USAF or [email protected]. Don’t forget to check out our website at airforce.com/jag.

In this episode, Major Laura Quaco interviews Colonel Patricia Wiegman-Lenz and Major Sean McDivitt about their experiences serving as judge advocates in the United States Air Force, and more specifically, working in civil law and litigation capacities. Over the coming months, there will be one more episode in this "JAGs on the Job" series, focused on operations and international law. In case you missed it, go back to Episode 76 to hear the episode on military justice and discipline. ------------------------------------------------------------ Interested in learning more about the Air Force JAG Corps? Have questions about our programs or the application process? Please contact us at 1-800-JAG-USAF or [email protected]. Don’t forget to check out our website at airforce.com/jag.

In this episode, Major Laura Quaco talks with Lieutenant Colonel Dane Horne and Major Allison Gish about their experiences serving as judge advocates in the United States Air Force, and more specifically, working in military justice and discipline capacities. Over the coming months, there will be two more episodes in this "JAGs on the Job" series--one episode will be focused on civil law and the other on operations and international law. -------------------- Interested in learning more about the Air Force JAG Corps? Have questions about our programs or the application process? Please contact us at 1-800-JAG-USAF or [email protected]. And don’t forget to check out our website at airforce.com/jag.

In this episode, Major Laura Quaco sits down with Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Neil, the Director of Operations for the Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC). Lt Col Neil and Maj Quaco discuss the historical background and development of OSTC—a major military justice reform required by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. Historically, commanders have decided whether to pursue court-martial charges against service members for all violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Beginning on December 27, 2023, Special Trial Counsel will have exclusive authority to make prosecutorial decisions for 14 victim-based offenses. Interested in learning more about the Air Force JAG Corps? Have questions about our programs or the application process? Please contact us at 1-800-JAG-USAF or [email protected]. Don’t forget to check out our website at airforce.com/jag.

In this episode of the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s School Podcast, Major Laura Quaco continues her conversation with Lieutenant Colonel Sandra O’Hern and Dr. Andy Akin, discussing operations and international legal principles related to Russia and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. You can go back to Episode 73 to hear the first part of the conversation in which they discuss Russian history and the relationship between Russia and Ukraine leading up to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Interested in learning more about the Air Force JAG Corps? Have questions about our programs or the application process? Please contact us at 1-800-JAG-USAF or [email protected] > . Don’t forget to check out our website at airforce.com/jag.g.

In this episode of the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s School Podcast, Major Laura Quaco is joined by Dr. Andy Akin and Lieutenant Colonel Sandra O’Hern for a conversation about Russian history and the relationship between Russia and Ukraine leading up to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Stay tuned for the next episode to hear the remainder of the conversation in which the host and guests discuss operations and international legal principles related to Russia and the conflict. Interested in learning more about the Air Force JAG Corps? Have questions about our programs or the application process? Please contact us at 1-800-JAG-USAF or [email protected]. Don’t forget to check out our website at airforce.com/jag.

In the words of General Curtis LeMay, the fifth Chief of Staff of the Air Force, “at the very heart of warfare lies doctrine.” In this episode, Major Laura Quaco and Major Victoria Smith sit down with Colonel Richard Major and Lieutenant Colonel Derek Rowe to discuss doctrine. Col Major and Lt Col Rowe are the Vice Commander and Staff Judge Advocate, respectively, at the LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. During the interview, they discuss the background and importance of doctrine, its development, and provide resources for learning more about doctrine. They also discuss legal doctrine, specifically, and the role of judge advocates in an operational environment. For resources discussed in the episode, visit https://www.doctrine.af.mil/. To contact the doctrine team at the LeMay Center, you may email their organizational box at [email protected]. Interested in learning more about the Air Force JAG Corps? Have questions about our programs or the application process? Please contact us at 1-800-JAG-USAF or [email protected]. And don’t forget to check out our website at airforce.com/jag.

"Space Debris and the Gray Zone” is a continuation of our National Security Law (NSL) Competition series. The NSL competition is a writing competition hosted by AFJAGS and sponsored by The JAG School Foundation. This year’s topic was How National Security Law Impacts America’s Strategic Competition in the Gray Zone. In this episode, Maj Charlie Hedden sat down with the competition winner, Maj Edwin Kisiel, to discuss his paper on how Russia, China, and other Great Power competitors can take advantage of gaps in space and environmental laws in the Gray Zone. Interested in learning more about the Air Force JAG Corps? Have questions about our programs or the application process? Please contact us at 1-800-JAG-USAF or [email protected]. And don’t forget to check out our website at airforce.com/jag.

This episode is a continuation of our National Security Law Competition (NSL) series. In this episode, Maj Hedden sits down with Capt Matthew Ormsbee to discuss way in which the United States can take advantage of our existing treaty with Taiwan to help prevent Chinese Gray Zone activity in the South China Sea. The NSL competition is a writing competition hosted by AFJAGS and sponsored by The JAG School Foundation. This year’s topic was How National Security Law Impacts America’s Strategic Competition in the Gray Zone.

In August 2021, the world watched as Kabul, Afghanistan fell into Taliban control. Among those watching were the 775,000 U.S. service members who were deployed to Afghanistan at least once in their career. For many of those men and women, watching the vents in Afghanistan brought back memories that spurred them to seek mental-health treatment. Dr. Levi Cole is an Air Force clinical psychologist, and in this interview, he discussed the surge in mental-health treatment after the events in Afghanistan in 2021, as well as other phenomena affecting the wellbeing of Airmen. Dr. Cole shares his insight into effective coping, treatment, and relationship strategies both for individuals and the units to which they belong.

This episode is a continuation of our National Security Law Competition series. Maj Erin Davis sits down with Maj Jessica Tirado to discuss how recent advancements in space technology have opened the door for our strategic competitors to take advantage of gaps in space law. Maj Tirado examines the potential for updating the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC) and humanitarian laws to bridge this gap.

This is the second of a two-part interview with Maj Alan Serrano on the First Amendment. In this episode, we discuss Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Assembly, and Freedom of Religion within the military. We tackle some of the most hot-button issues, including the interplay between free speech and the use of social media, how commanders grapples with curtailing certain types of speech, what constitutes an extremist group, and how the military typically handles requests for religious accommodations.

This episode is Part 1 of a two-part interview with Maj Alan Serrano. In this episode, we discuss Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Association and Religion within the military. Interested in learning more about the Air Force JAG Corps? Have questions about our programs or the application process? Please contact us at 1-800-JAG-USAF or [email protected]. And don’t forget to check out our website at airforce.com/jag.

This episode is the first of a series of interviews with competitors in the National Security Law Competition, a writing competition hosted by The Air Force Judge Advocate General's School and sponsored by The JAG School Foundation. This year’s topic was How National Security Law Impacts America’s Strategic Competition in the Gray Zone. Capt McCaffrey’s paper discussed how our internal responses to domestic terrorism have impacted our strategic response in the Gray Zone. _______________________________________________________________ Interested in learning more about the Air Force JAG Corps? Have questions about our programs or the application process? Please contact us at 1-800-JAG-USAF or [email protected]. And don’t forget to check out our website at airforce.com/jag.

In this episode, as part of the Great Powers Competition series, Maj Davis and Maj Hedden sit down with Air War College professor Dr. Liz Woodworth and AFJAGS Law Chair Lt Col Charles Gartland to review The Good Earth by Pearl Buck. The Good Earth is a novel set in early 20th century China and describes the life of Wang Lung, a peasant farmer, and the privations his family overcomes while maintaining their ancestral connections to the land and agriculture

In this episode Maj Hedden sits down with Maj Edwin Kisiel to discuss his recent paper, Law as an Instrument to Solve the Orbital Debris Problem, which was published in the Environmental Law Journal in 2021. Maj Kisiel outlines the current environmental laws and the gaps created by the rapid development of space technology and its resulting debris.

In this episode we review A Day In The Life of Ivan Denisovich, a novella by Nobel laureate Alexandr Solzhenitsyn. Set in a soviet labor camp in the 1950s, the visceral one-day account of that life was one of the first widely available portraits of life in the Gulag. As such, we review it for what we can learn about our great power competitor Russia by examining this part of that nation’s history and culture.

This is the second of our two-part conversation with Capt Matt Ormsbee about his article titled "Lawcraft: China's Evolving Approach to International Law and the Implications for American National Security," which was published in Fordham Law Review. The article analyzes China's apparent attitudes toward international law, and how that has evolved over the last few decades and what means for the interests of the United States and other nations going forward.

In this episode, we talk with Capt Matt Ormsbee about his article titled "Lawcraft: China's Evolving Approach to International Law and the Implications for American National Security," which was published in Fordham Law Review. The article analyzes China's apparent attitudes toward international law, and how that has evolved over the last few decades and what means for the interests of the United States and other nations going forward.

Today we’re talking about Great Power Competition, a term generally used for the United States’ current posture as it relates to China and Russia. The specter is one of three predominant players competing to protect and/or expand their respective spheres of influence over the globe. Today we launch our first podcast in a series of episodes that will introduce, define, and explore this phenomenon. We’ll talk about how it started, where it is, and where it looks like it’s headed, and we’ll talk about why it matters. We’ve assembled experts from various fields to help us understand our competitors better, to help us understand our history better, and in turn to help us understand our role that much better. Today, a primer on China, with Lt Col Charles Gartland. Currently the Law Chair Director for Air University here at Maxwell Air Force Base, Lt Col Gartland has been studying and writing about China for several years and he agreed to bring his considerable understanding of that competitor to bear to kick off this series.

In this episode, your hosts sit down with Air University Law Chair Lt Col Charles Gartland and discuss The Caine Mutiny, the 1951 Pulitzer-prize winning novel by Herman Wouk. We’ll discuss this monumental work of World War II historical fiction and extract its lessons for today on leadership, followership, and the nature of military command.

In this episode, Major Davis guides us through a conversation with Lt Col robert Vorhees and Lt col Justin Swick, two Air Force medical law attorneys, about the Defense Health Agency transition, which has changed the landscape of the Military Health System.

Ep 53. Book Review – Lincoln on Leadership with Lt Col Charles Gartland

In this special edition of the podcast, Major Ryan Brunson and Major Jessica Delaney educate explain some of the recent, pertinent changes to military justice and how those changes impact legal offices and practitioners. They discuss the Criminal Investigation & Prosecution Capability, Special Victim Investigation & Prosecution Capability, and investigative processes.

This episode features Capt Kevin Malloy and Capt Jeremy Driggs, two Air Force JAGs. Both are graduates of two different professional military education programs. Squadron Officer School, and the less-well-known Inter-American Squadron Officer School. They offer an overview of these programs, their tips on how to be successful, and how they grew in leadership, teambuilding, and innovation through the process.

This is the second of a two-part episode exploring some potential big changes in the role commanders play in the military justice system. We interview Professor David Schlueter, a subject matter expert in this topic, which is at the forefront of many legal practitioners' minds, as congress and senior government officials have endorsed removing commanders' authority to prosecute sexual assault and similar felony-level cases. Assuming these reforms take effect, this will be another large change in the practice of military justice. In this interview Professor Schlueter discusses the commanders' role in the military justice system, his analysis of some of the proposals in congress, and his forecast of how military justice may look with some of these changes.

This is part one of a two-part episode exploring some potential big changes in the role commanders play in the military justice system. We interview Professor Dave Schlueter, a subject matter expert in this topic, which is at the forefront of many legal practitioners’ minds, as congress and senior government officials have endorsed removing commanders’ authority to prosecute sexual assault and similar felony-level cases. Assuming these reforms take effect, this will be another large change in the practice of military justice. In this interview professor Schlueter discusses the commanders’ role in the military justice system, his analysis of some of the proposals in congress, and his forecast of how military justice may look with some of these changes.

This is part 2 of a two-part episode with Reserve Colonel Benjamin Bowden, in which we discuss best practices, challenges to be aware of, and even how local military trial counsel can counsel legal assistance clients with domestic issues. Colonel Bowden draws on his extensive experience as an Air Force JAG and also as a civilian Circuit Trial Judge in Covington County, Ala.

This is part 1 of a two-part episode with Reserve Colonel Benjamin Bowden, in which we discuss best practices, challenges to be aware of, and even how local military trial counsel can counsel legal assistance clients with domestic issues. Colonel Bowden draws on his extensive experience as an Air Force JAG and also as a civilian Circuit Trial Judge in Covington County, Ala.

this is part 2 of a two-part interview where we discuss the enlisted paralegal career field in the Air Reserve Component (ARC) with two guets, Chief Master Sergeant Lisa List and Master Sergeant Troy Tobaben. . This interview builds off of the interview conducted on the Air Force JAG Corps ARC in episodes 38 and 39 that focused more on the officer JAG opportunities. Chief Master Sergeant Lisa List is the Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) to the Senior Paralegal Manager to the Air Force Judge Advocate General (TJAG). In this position, she serves as the principal advisor to the Senior Paralegal Manager, The Judge Advocate General of the Air Force, and senior staff on all Reserve enlisted matters for paralegals within the JAG Corps worldwide. Chief List partners with senior leaders to review and manage the overall health of the Reserve paralegal program, to include quality of life, morale, and welfare issues. Chief List enlisted in the Air Force on active duty in 1994 where she performed 3 active duty assignments over 7 years including 2 assignments at a wing legal office and 1 at a numbered Air Force. In 2002, she left active duty and joined the Category A Reserves. Through her career she has held multiple senior enlisted positions at the wing, NAF, and MAJCOM levels to include an Active Guard-Reserve (AGR) tour at Robins AFB, Georgia. Master Sergeant Troy Tobaben is the Law Office Superintendent assigned to the 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. MSgt Tobaben oversees legal services for all military personnel and dependents assigned to 10th Air Force units and military retirees in the Texas area. MSgt Tobaben began his military career in the Navy on active duty assigned to the U.S.S. Constellation where he served as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Fuels for 5 years. He was next assigned to shore duty at Naval Air Station Barber’s Point, Hawaii, where he remained until he left active duty in 1999. After an 11-year break in service, he joined the Air Force Reserve as a Category A Knowledge Operations Specialist for the 336th Air Reserves at March Air Reserve Base, California. Then in 2012 MSgt Tobaben cross-trained into the paralegal career field and transferred to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, before moving into his current position.

This is part 1 of two-part interview where we discuss the enlisted paralegal career field in the Air Reserve Component (ARC) with two guests, Chief Master Sergeant Lisa List and Master Sergeant Troy Tobaben. This interview builds off of the interview conducted on the Air Force JAG Corps ARC in episodes 38 and 39 that focused more on the officer JAG opportunities. Chief Master Sergeant Lisa List is the Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) to the Senior Paralegal Manager to the Air Force Judge Advocate General (TJAG). In this position, she serves as the principal advisor to the Senior Paralegal Manager, The Judge Advocate General of the Air Force, and senior staff on all Reserve enlisted matters for paralegals within the JAG Corps worldwide. Chief List partners with senior leaders to review and manage the overall health of the Reserve paralegal program, to include quality of life, morale, and welfare issues. Chief List enlisted in the Air Force on active duty in 1994 where she performed 3 active duty assignments over 7 years including 2 assignments at a wing legal office and 1 at a numbered Air Force. In 2002, she left active duty and joined the Category A Reserves. Through her career she has held multiple senior enlisted positions at the wing, NAF, and MAJCOM levels to include an Active Guard-Reserve (AGR) tour at Robins AFB, Georgia. Master Sergeant Troy Tobaben is the Law Office Superintendent assigned to the 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. MSgt Tobaben oversees legal services for all military personnel and dependents assigned to 10th Air Force units and military retirees in the Texas area. MSgt Tobaben began his military career in the Navy on active duty assigned to the U.S.S. Constellation where he served as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Fuels for 5 years. He was next assigned to shore duty at Naval Air Station Barber’s Point, Hawaii, where he remained until he left active duty in 1999. After an 11-year break in service, he joined the Air Force Reserve as a Category A Knowledge Operations Specialist for the 336th Air Reserves at March Air Reserve Base, California. Then in 2012 MSgt Tobaben cross-trained into the paralegal career field and transferred to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, before moving into his current position.

In this interview, we speak with Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force (CMSSF), Roger Towberman, on the new US Space Force, resiliency, and mindset. CMSSF Towberman is the first to hold this position as the highest enlisted noncommissioned officer in the United States Space Force, effective as of April 2020. In this capacity, he acts as the personal senior enlisted advisor to the Chief of Space Operations and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, proper utilization and development of the U.S. Space Force. Through his career spanning over 3 decades, Chief Towberman has held duties as a ground and airborne cryptologic language and intelligence analyst, in addition to a myriad of leadership roles at the squadron, group, wing, Numbered Air Force, Major Command and Combatant Command level. He has deployed multiple times including in support of Operations Joint Forge, Allied Force, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Unified Protector. As a Career Enlisted Aviator, he has logged more than 4,500 flying hours.

This is part 2 of a 2-part interview on the Air Force JAG Corps Air Reserve Component (ARC). We continue in discussion with our 3 guests including Brigadier General Mitch Neurock, Lieutenant Colonel Rebecca Otey, and Captain Amanda Wang who collectively share their stories and unique officer perspectives on serving in the ARC, how to balance part-time service with a civilian career, leverage their military training in professional development, and how to apply if interested. Note: Since the recording and production of this interview, Brigadier General Neurock was appointed as Major General and will be the Mobilization Assistant to The Judge Advocate General. Captain Wang also recently promoted to Major. Congratulations to both on their achievements!

This is part 1 of a great 2-part interview for anyone who may have an interest in serving their country part-time through the Air Force JAG Corps Air Reserve Component, or ARC, which includes the Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard. We have 3 guests on the show including Brigadier General Mitch Neurock, Lt Col Rebecca Otey, and Capt Amanda Wang who collectively share their stories and unique officer perspectives on serving in the Air Force JAG Corps ARC, how to balance part-time service with a civilian career, leverage their military training in professional development, and how to apply if interested.

In this interview, we speak with Colonel Sheri Jones & Mr. Dan O’Connor on the “Digital Transformation” occurring within the Air Force JAG Corps. We discuss why and how the digital transformation is underway, offer some historical context, then move into discussion on applications, the design process, migration to cloud, and even touch upon how this digital transformation impacts the culture of the Corps as a whole. Colonel Sheri Jones is the Director and Chief Information Officer for the Air Force JAG Corps’ Legal Information Services Directorate located at Maxwell AFB. In this capacity, she is responsible for providing responsive and secure legal-specific information technology solutions to the Air Force and DOD legal communities. She has held a number of positions through her Air Force JAG career to include working at the base legal office, as a professor at the Air Force Academy, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Chief of Officer Assignments for the Air Force JAG Corps, as the Staff Judge Advocate at the 30th Space Wing, Vandenberg AFB, CA, and prior to her current position as the Deputy Commandant of the Air Force JAG School. Our second guest, Mr. Dan O’Connor, is the Deputy Director with Colonel Jones at the Legal Information Services Directorate. He oversees implementation of the Air Force JAG Corps information technology architecture including its case management, knowledge management, learning management and VTC platforms. He also directs the joint/DoD Computer Aided Legal Research capability. Mr. O’Connor began his career as a project engineer at VSA Engineering in Michigan where he designed automotive modeling software for Ford Motor Company. After attending and graduating law school, he practiced corporate law for a law firm in Detroit before transitioning into the Air Force.

This is part 2 of our discussion on the Defense Personal Property Program, or DP3 Program, with Director, Mr. Rick Marsh, and US Transportation Command attorney-advisor, Mr. Bradley Richardson. This part 2 continues where we left off on part 1. We continue our discussion on the DP3 Program to include how the DP3 team conducts strategic communication, innovates, works legal issues, and operates to improve the overall experience for customers, contractors, and other stakeholders.

In this 2-episode interview, we discuss the Defense Personal Property Program, or DP3 Program, with Director, Mr. Rick Marsh, and US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) attorney-advisor, Mr. Bradley Richardson. The DP3 Program deals with the movement of household goods and POVs, non-temporary storage, and the DoD management framework. We discuss the challenges faced by the DP3 Program, innovative solutions that the team is working on, and how they conduct strategic communication to their stakeholders including customers, contractors, senior leaders, Congress, through litigation, and others.

Today’s interview is the second consecutive interview with environmental law subject matter experts. In this interview, we have the pleasure to speak with Mr. Jim Cannizzo, a retired Air Force JAG, and current Senior Attorney-Advisor in the Mission Sustainment and Planning Branch of the Environmental Law Field Support Center, San Antonio, Texas. We discuss “The Wind Energy Boom” including some of the biggest wind energy challenges faced both within the Air Force and DoD. We also continue our discussion on the interplay between environmental law and military operations, and how this impacts our national security.

Today's interview is the first of two separate interviews with environmental law subject matter experts. We have the pleasure to speak with Mr. Joseph Miller, to discuss Environmental Law and Air Force Operations. We plan to discuss some the biggest environmental law challenges we face both within the Air Force and DoD and the interplay between environmental law and operational law – an area often overlooked but very important from a national security perspective. Mr. Miller is the Chief of the Air Force Environmental Law Field Support Center, located in San Antonio, Texas which is now part of the Operations & International Law Directorate, Office of The Judge Advocate General. He leads a team of 32 attorneys and paralegals located at 9 locations in advising the headquarters staff, major commands and subordinate legal offices of the US Air Force on all environmental and land use statutes, regulations and policies.

In this interview we sit down with Master Sergeant Austin Hardin, an active duty Air Force paralegal, to discuss his 2013 combat experience in Afghanistan. This combat experience earned him a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his heroic actions in an insurgent convoy attack where he was initially rendered unconscious by a vehicle born IED, recovered, immediately began returning fire, and saved the lives of the other passengers. MSgt Hardin discusses the convoy experience and how he worked to recover after being injured in the convoy attack and assimilate back into his legal office. He also offers some leadership principles and takeaways that he learned through the experience.

Welcome to Part 2 of The Birth of the Special Victims' Counsel (SVC) Program with (Retired) Lieutenant General Richard Harding, The Judge Advocate General of the United States Air Force from 2010-2014, who was instrumental in creating the SVC program. This Part 2 continues where we left off from Part 1 as General Harding discusses the seminal case of LRM v Kastenberg that afforded victims counsel certain legal rights on behalf of their clients, how universities across the country are now modeling aspects of military procedure in their administrative Title 9 sex assault cases on campus, and his views on how to effectuate positive change.

In this 2-part interview we discuss The Birth of the Special Victims' Counsel (SVC) Program with (Retired) Lieutenant General Richard Harding, The Judge Advocate General of the United States Air Force from 2010-2014, who was instrumental in creating the SVC program that affords sex assault victims independent legal counsel. In this Part 1, we take a behind-the-scenes look at how the SVC Program was created. General Harding discusses the initial opposition to the program, its biggest challenges, and how he worked to effectuate positive change.

Welcome to Part 2 of our interview with Lt Col Carlos Colon, an Air Force JAG Reservist and full-time FBI Special Agent and Polygraph Examiner & Coordinator. This part 2 continues where we left off from Part 1 as we continue to debunk the biggest polygraph examination myths. To date, Lt Col Colon has conducted over 900 polygraph exams and in this interview we take a deep dive into what polygraphs are, how they’re used in investigations and screening tests, how aspects of them can be admissible in court, the tech behind them, and the experts that use them.

In this 2-part interview we’re going to tackle the polygraph examination…and bust the biggest myths and misconceptions on them with Lt Col Carlos Colon, an Air Force JAG Reservist and full-time FBI Special Agent and Polygraph Examiner & Coordinator. To date, Lt Col Colon has conducted over 900 polygraph exams, and in this interview, we’ll take a deep dive into what polygraphs are, how they’re used in investigations and screening tests, how aspects of them can be admissible in court, the tech behind them, and the experts that use them.