James W. Crawford III

James Walter Crawford III[2] (born November 28, 1957)[2][3] is a former United States Navy officer, serving for 34 years before retiring. He served as the 43rd Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the United States Navy from June 26, 2015 to September 12, 2018.[4] He assumed that position after the retirement of Vice Admiral Nanette DeRenzi in June, 2015.

James W. Crawford III
Birth nameJames Walter Crawford III
Born (1957-11-28) November 28, 1957
Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1983–2018
RankVice admiral
Commands heldJudge Advocate General of the Navy
Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy
AwardsNavy Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
[1]

Early life

Vice Adm. James W. Crawford III was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He graduated from Belmont Abbey College in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in political science.

Career

He was commissioned through the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps Student Program and in 1983 graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill. He later earned a Master of Laws in Ocean and Coastal Law from the University of Miami School of Law and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.

Crawford served from 2012-2015 as the deputy judge advocate general of the Navy and commander, Naval Legal Service Command. As commander, Naval Legal Service Command, he led the judge advocates, enlisted legalmen and civilian employees of 14 commands worldwide, providing prosecution and defense services, legal assistance services to individuals and legal support to shore and afloat commands.

Crawford served from 2007-2011 as legal counsel to the chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. From 2011–2012, he served as commander, NATO Rule of Law Field Support Mission/Rule of Law Field Force-Afghanistan.

Before his appointment to flag rank, he served as special counsel to the chief of naval operations, the senior staff judge advocate for the commander, U.S. Pacific Command and as the fleet judge advocate for U.S. 7th Fleet. In command, he served as commanding officer, Region Legal Service Office Southeast.

Crawford also served at Navy Personnel Command; the Office of the Legal Counsel to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Naval War College; commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe; the Naval Justice School and Cruiser-Destroyer Group 8. He began his legal career as a defense counsel at the Naval Legal Service Trial Defense Activity, Naval Air Station Jacksonville.

Crawford was the 43rd Judge Advocate General of the Navy. Crawford is the principal military legal counsel to the Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations and serves as the Department of Defense representative for ocean policy affairs (REPOPA). He led 2,300 attorneys, enlisted legalmen and civilian employees of the worldwide Navy JAG Corps community.

Crawford is a member of the state bar of North Carolina. His personal decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal (three awards), the Legion of Merit (three awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Crawford's long career ended under a cloud. Less than two months prior to his retirement, the Navy Times reported on a ruling from the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces that he had illegally influenced the prosecution of Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Keith E. Barry (on charges of rape of a girlfriend). Senior Chief Barry's conviction was overturned on that appeal and dismissed with prejudice.

The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces found Crawford's involvement constituted "unlawful influence."[5] In reaching this conclusion, the court applied Article 37 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which at the time of his conduct prohibited judge advocates (and others subject to the code) from "unlawfully influencing action of court." [5][6] The appellate attorney for the exonerated Senior Chief urged that the Navy not allow for Crawford's upcoming retirement, but instead to place him on legal hold and go forward with a prosecution of Crawford for this charge of UCI.

Defense attorneys in other cases have alleged similar improper influence by Crawford.

According to his official US Navy biography, Crawford retired on November 1, 2018. There is no mention within his official biography of this appellate finding of UCI on his part.

References
  1. "United States Navy Biography". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  2. Register of commissioned and warrant officers of the United States Navy and reserve officers on active duty (1985)
  3. United States Public Records, 1970-2009 (Virginia, 2001)
  4. http://jag.navylive.dodlive.mil/2018/09/12/navy-jag-corps-holds-change-of-office-ceremony-2/
  5. "United States v. Barry" (PDF).
  6. "Article 37".
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.