Gordon Cresswell

Major General Gordon M. "Biff" Cresswell, USMC (played by David Andrews) is a fictional character on the American television series JAG.

Gordon M. Cresswell
David Andrews as Major General Gordon Cresswell
First appearanceWhole New Ball Game
(October 29, 2004)[1]
Last appearanceFair Winds and Following Seas
(April 29, 2005)[2]
Portrayed byDavid Andrews
In-universe information
NicknameBiff
OccupationJudge Advocate General of the Navy
SpouseDora Cresswell
ChildrenCameron Cresswell (daughter)
ReligionChristian
RankMajor General, USMC

After Rear Admiral A.J. Chegwidden (John M. Jackson) retired as Judge Advocate General of the Navy at the end of the ninth season, Gordon Cresswell, a Judge Advocate in the Marine Corps, succeeds him in the tenth season.

Career

Like his predecessor, General Cresswell is also a graduate from the United States Naval Academy. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Staff Judge Advocate to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Prior to that, he served as the SJA in Iraq, where he was wounded and cited for saving a general's life. His injuries brought him to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he met President George W. Bush. When Admiral Chegwidden announced his retirement, Cresswell, then a colonel, was the administration's choice for the post.[1]

A board of Naval and Marine flag and general officers submitted Cresswell's name to Secretary of the Navy Edward Sheffield (Dean Stockwell) for the position, but allegations of impropriety prompted the Secretary of Defense to call for a full hearing by the Senate Armed Services Committee. Committee members grilled Cresswell on a variety of topics including torture, presidential power, and the legality of the war in Iraq. Though his confirmation was doubtful, Cresswell ultimately won confirmation and appointment to the grade of Major General. Cresswell's major argument during his hearing in front of the senate was that "the Law is blind. She is also an Independent. And she doesn't care if you get re-elected next year," and that the JAG position "shouldn't be political."[1]

General Cresswell's assumption of command at JAG headquarters did not go without pain. His appointment took most of the staff by surprise, including Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie and Commander Harmon Rabb. Also, while his direct leadership style was similar to Admiral Chegwidden's, the staff's unfamiliarity with him led to a great deal of nervousness.[3] Added to that, Cresswell and MacKenzie were once acquainted while assigned in Okinawa. Cresswell, then the Staff Judge Advocate in Okinawa, reprimanded the man with whom MacKenzie was having an affair. Though MacKenzie had worried that Cresswell would reprimand her for the incident, she later discovered Cresswell harbored no animosity toward her, since she was the junior officer involved.

Characterization

Much like Admiral Chegwidden, General Cresswell comes off as rather hard-nosed, and bound to his post. He also is noted for lending a helping hand to his staff, and will, to the utmost of his abilities, and position, defend his staff if he knows them to be in the right in what they are doing.

He is an evangelical Christian.

Family

General Cresswell is married to Dora (Mel Harris). He also has a daughter named Cameron or "Cammie" (Daneel Harris), who attends the United States Naval Academy and is in a relationship with fellow cadet Mikey Roberts, younger brother of Cresswell's subordinate Bud Roberts, as of the end of the series.[4][5]

Awards and decorations
1st Row Silver Star Purple Heart
2nd Row Meritorious Service Medal Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ 2 award stars
3nd Row Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/ 1 award star Combat Action Ribbon w/ 1 award star
4th Row Navy Presidential Unit Citation Navy Unit Commendation w/ 2 service star
5rd Row Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 2 service star Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
6rd Row National Defense Service Medal w/ 2 service stars Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal
7rd Row Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal
8th Row Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 2 service stars Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon w/ 1 service stars Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

He also has the Rifle Expert 2nd award, and Pistol Expert 2nd award.

gollark: The issue isn't the extra typing, it's that it's easy to forget and introduce weirdness (and also the extra line is ugly).
gollark: What a great* idea.
gollark: I mostly use it for mildly patternmatchy ones, so it is irritating there.
gollark: But this niceness is reduced by all the `break`s.
gollark: I like `switch`es because they're nicer than just having a lot of `if` statements.

References
  1. "Whole New Ball Game". JAG. Season 10. Episode 4. October 29, 2004. CBS.
  2. "Fair Winds and Following Seas". JAG. Season 10. Episode 22. April 29, 2005. CBS.
  3. "This Just In from Baghdad". JAG. Season 10. Episode 5. November 5, 2004. CBS.
  4. "Straits of Malacca". JAG. Season 10. Episode 16. February 25, 2005. CBS.
  5. "Death at the Mosque". JAG. Season 10. Episode 18. April 1, 2005. CBS.
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