The General Counsel

General Counsel

A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...

 of the Department of the Navy is the senior civilian lawyer in the United States Department of the Navy

United States Department of the Navy

The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...

 and is the senior legal adviser to the Secretary of the Navy

United States Secretary of the Navy

The Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...

. The Office of the General Counsel of the Navy provides legal advice to the Secretary, the Under Secretary of the Navy

Under Secretary of the Navy

The Under Secretary of the Navy is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the United States Department of the Navy. The Under Secretary, called the "Under" in Pentagon slang, reports to the Secretary of the Navy ....

 and the various Assistant Secretaries of the Navy and their staffs. The General Counsel of the Navy is the third highest-ranking civilian office in the Department of the Navy, behind the Secretary and Under Secretary of the Navy. The General Counsel maintains a close working relationship with the Judge Advocate General of the Navy

Judge Advocate General of the Navy

The Judge Advocate General of the Navy is the highest ranking uniformed lawyer in the United States Department of the Navy. The Judge Advocate General is the principal advisor to the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations on legal matters pertaining to the Navy...

, the senior uniformed lawyer in the Department of the Navy.

The General Counsel manages nearly 650 attorneys worldwide, helps to oversee the Naval Criminal Investigative Service

Naval Criminal Investigative Service

The United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency of the United States Department of the Navy...

, and advises senior Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 and Marine Corps

United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...

 officials on litigation, acquisition, contractual, fiscal, environmental, property, personnel, legislative, ethics, and intelligence law issues.
The first General Counsel of the Navy was appointed in 1941. From 1862 to 1941, essentially the same function was provided by the Solicitor General of the Navy

Solicitor General of the Navy

The Solicitor General of the Navy was an office of the United States Department of the Navy that existed periodically from 1862 until 1929. In 1941, it was superseded by the permanent office of General Counsel of the Navy...

.

General Counsels of the Navy, 1941—Present

Name	Assumed Office	Left Office	President President of the United States The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....  Appointed By	Secretary United States Secretary of the Navy The Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...  Served Under
H. Struve Hensel H. Struve Hensel Herman Struve Hensel was an American international lawyer who served in several senior positions in the Department of the Navy and the Department of Defense from 1941 to 1946 and from 1952 to 1955.-Biography:...	July 10, 1941	January 30, 1945	Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...	Frank Knox Frank Knox -External links:... , James Forrestal James Forrestal James Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
W. John Kenney W. John Kenney William John Kenney was United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy 1945-46, Under Secretary of the Navy 1947-49, and the operating chief of the Marshall Plan 1950-52.-Early life and career:...	February 5, 1945	April 2, 1945	Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...	James Forrestal James Forrestal James Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
Patrick H. Hodgson Patrick H. Hodgson Patrick H. Hodgson was a United States lawyer who served as General Counsel of the Navy from April 3, 1945 through October 31, 1945....	April 3, 1945	October 31, 1945	Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...	James Forrestal James Forrestal James Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
J. Henry Neale J. Henry Neale -Biography:J. Henry Neale was educated at Amherst College and Harvard Law School.In 1945, President of the United States Harry Truman named Neale General Counsel of the Navy, a post Neale held from November 1, 1945 until July 26, 1946...	November 1, 1945	July 26, 1946	Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...	James Forrestal James Forrestal James Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
William Wemple William Wemple William Wemple was a United States lawyer.-Biography:Wemple was born in New York City on November 3, 1912. He attended the Wardlaw School 1924-28, and then the Loomis School, graduating in 1930. He then attended Harvard College, receiving his A.B. in 1934. During his time in college, he was...	July 27, 1946	August 23, 1946	Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...	James Forrestal James Forrestal James Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
James T. Hill, Jr. James T. Hill, Jr. James T. Hill, Jr. was a lawyer with the United States Department of the Navy and the United States Department of the Air Force.Hill joined the Department of the Navy's Office of General Counsel in 1944. From August 24, 1946 until May 15, 1947, he was General Counsel of the Navy.In 1950,...	August 24, 1946	May 15, 1947	Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...	James Forrestal James Forrestal James Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
Hudson B. Cox Hudson B. Cox Hudson B. Cox was a United States lawyer who served as General Counsel of the Navy from May 16, 1947 until April 29, 1949....	May 16, 1947	April 29, 1949	Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...	James Forrestal James Forrestal James Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense.... , John L. Sullivan John L. Sullivan (Navy) John Lawrence Sullivan was Assistant Secretary of the Navy 1946-47 and the first Department of Defense Secretary of the Navy in the Truman Administration 1947-49. He was appointed to that position upon Secretary Forrestal's installation as the first Secretary of Defense. He resigned in protest...
Harold B. Gross Harold B. Gross Harold B. Gross was a United States lawyer who served as General Counsel of the Navy from April 30, 1949 until August 30, 1953....	April 30, 1949	August 30, 1953	Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...	Francis P. Matthews Francis P. Matthews Francis Patrick Matthews served as 49th United States Secretary of the Navy, during the administration of President Harry Truman. Matthews served during most of Truman's second term, from May 25, 1949 to July 31, 1951... , Dan A. Kimball Dan A. Kimball Dan Able Kimball was the 50th U.S. Secretary of the Navy.-Biography:Kimball was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 1, 1896. He was an Army Air Service pilot during the First World War and maintained an intense interest in aviation thereafter... , Robert B. Anderson
F. Trowbridge vom Baur F. Trowbridge vom Baur Francis Trowbridge vom Baur was a United States lawyer who was General Counsel of the Navy from 1953 to 1960.-Biography:...	December 15, 1953	April 30, 1960	Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...	Robert B. Anderson, Charles Thomas Charles Thomas (Secretary of the Navy) Charles S. Thomas was a U.S. administrator. He served as Secretary of the Navy between May 3, 1954 and April 1, 1957.Thomas was born in Independence, Missouri, attended the University of California and Cornell... , Thomas S. Gates, Jr., William B. Franke William B. Franke William Birrell Franke was United States Secretary of the Navy from 1959 to 1961 under Dwight D. Eisenhower. Franke was born in Troy, New York and attended Pace College...
Meritt H. Steger Meritt H. Steger Meritt H. Steger was a United States lawyer who served as General Counsel of the Navy from May 2, 1960 until May 31, 1971....	May 2, 1960	May 31, 1971	Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...	William B. Franke William B. Franke William Birrell Franke was United States Secretary of the Navy from 1959 to 1961 under Dwight D. Eisenhower. Franke was born in Troy, New York and attended Pace College... , John Connally John Connally John Bowden Connally, Jr. , was an influential American politician, serving as the 39th governor of Texas, Secretary of the Navy under President John F. Kennedy, and as Secretary of the Treasury under President Richard M. Nixon. While he was Governor in 1963, Connally was a passenger in the car in... , Fred Korth Fred Korth Fred Korth served as Secretary of the Navy during 1962-63; he was also Assistant Secretary of the Army in 1952-53.... , Paul Nitze Paul Nitze Paul Henry Nitze was a high-ranking United States government official who helped shape Cold War defense policy over the course of numerous presidential administrations.-Early life, education, and family:... , Paul Robert Ignatius Paul Robert Ignatius Paul Robert Ignatius is an American former administrator. He served as Secretary of the Navy between 1967 and 1969 and was the Assistant Secretary of Defense under the Johnson administration.-Life and career:... , John Chafee John Chafee John Lester Hubbard Chafee was an American politician. He served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, as the 66th Governor of Rhode Island, as the Secretary of the Navy, and as a United States Senator.-Early life and family:...
Hart T. Mankin Hart T. Mankin Hart T. Mankin was a United States lawyer and judge who served as General Counsel of the Navy from 1971 to 1973.-Biography:Hart T. Mankin was born in Cleveland. Mankin was educated at Sewanee: The University of the South, graduating in 1954. Upon graduation, he joined the United States Air Force...	June 7, 1971	July 21, 1973	Richard Nixon Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...	John Chafee John Chafee John Lester Hubbard Chafee was an American politician. He served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, as the 66th Governor of Rhode Island, as the Secretary of the Navy, and as a United States Senator.-Early life and family:... , John Warner John Warner John William Warner, KBE is an American Republican politician who served as Secretary of the Navy from 1972 to 1974 and as a five-term United States Senator from Virginia from January 2, 1979, to January 3, 2009...
E. Grey Lewis E. Grey Lewis E. Grey Lewis was a United States lawyer who served as General Counsel of the Navy from 1973 to 1977.-Biography:E. Grey Lewis was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey and educated at the Peddie School where he was student body president. Lewis attended Princeton University, receiving a B.A. in...	August 1, 1973	April 21, 1977	Richard Nixon Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...	John Warner John Warner John William Warner, KBE is an American Republican politician who served as Secretary of the Navy from 1972 to 1974 and as a five-term United States Senator from Virginia from January 2, 1979, to January 3, 2009... , J. William Middendorf J. William Middendorf John William Middendorf II was a Republican United States diplomat.-Biography:Middendorf received a Bachelor of Naval Science from College of the Holy Cross in 1945. He served in the Navy just at the end of World War II as engineer officer and navigator of USS LCS 53, being mustered out in 1946...
Togo D. West, Jr. Togo D. West, Jr. Togo Dennis West, Jr. is an American attorney and public official who was the third person to occupy the post of Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He was nominated by President Bill Clinton on January 27, 1998, during Clinton's second term, and was confirmed by the Senate on May 5, 1998. He had...	April 22, 1977	January 13, 1979	Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...	W. Graham Claytor, Jr.
Coleman Hicks Coleman Hicks Coleman Selby Hicks was a United States lawyer who served as General Counsel of the Navy from 1979 to 1981.-Biography:Coleman Hicks was born in Columbus, Ohio and raised in Mason City, Iowa. Hicks was educated at Princeton University, receiving his B.A. in 1965...	May 25, 1979	January 13, 1981	Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...	Edward Hidalgo Edward Hidalgo Edward Hidalgo served as the United States Secretary of the Navy in the Carter administration from October 24, 1979 to January 20, 1981...
Walter T. Skallerup, Jr. Walter T. Skallerup, Jr. Walter T. Skallerup, Jr. was a United States lawyer who served in various roles at the United States Department of Defense, most notably as General Counsel of the Navy from 1981 until his death in 1987.-Biography:...	August 24, 1981	July 29, 1987	Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....	John Lehman John Lehman John F. Lehman, Jr. is an American investment banker and writer who served as Secretary of the Navy in the Reagan administration and in 2003–04 was a member of the 9/11 Commission....
Harvey J. Wilcox (Deputy GC)	July 29, 1987	November 21, 1988		Jim Webb Jim Webb James Henry "Jim" Webb, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Virginia. He is also an author and a former Secretary of the Navy. He is a member of the Democratic Party.... , William L. Ball William L. Ball William L. Ball III is an American former government service worker and political appointee. He held senior posts in the Reagan Administration, beginning as an Assistant Secretary of State under George Shultz in 1985 . He moved to the White House staff in 1986 as President Reagan’s chief lobbyist...
Lawrence L. Lamade Lawrence L. Lamade Lawrence L. Lamade is a United States lawyer who was General Counsel of the Navy from 1988 to 1989.-Biography:Lawrence L. Lamade attended the Landon School, followed by Princeton University, receiving his B.A. in 1969. He then served as an officer in the United States Navy from 1969 to 1972. Upon...	November 22, 1988	November 21, 1989	Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....	William L. Ball William L. Ball William L. Ball III is an American former government service worker and political appointee. He held senior posts in the Reagan Administration, beginning as an Assistant Secretary of State under George Shultz in 1985 . He moved to the White House staff in 1986 as President Reagan’s chief lobbyist... , Henry L. Garrett III Henry L. Garrett III Henry Lawrence Garrett, III served as the 68th Secretary of the Navy from May 15, 1989 to June 26, 1992 in the administration of George H. W. Bush.-References:...
Craig S. King Craig S. King Craig S. King is a United States lawyer who was General Counsel of the Navy from 1989 to 1993.-Biography:Craig S. King was born in American Fork, Utah on February 4, 1953. He attended Brigham Young University, graduating with a B.A. in 1977. He then attended the Georgetown University Law Center,...	November 22, 1989	January 20, 1993	George H. W. Bush George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...	Henry L. Garrett III Henry L. Garrett III Henry Lawrence Garrett, III served as the 68th Secretary of the Navy from May 15, 1989 to June 26, 1992 in the administration of George H. W. Bush.-References:... , Sean O'Keefe Sean O'Keefe Sean O'Keefe is the CEO of EADS North America, a subsidiary of the European aerospace firm EADS, a former Administrator of NASA, and former chancellor of Louisiana State University . O'Keefe is also a former member of the board of directors of DuPont...
Steven S. Honigman Steven S. Honigman Steven S. Honigman is a United States lawyer who served as General Counsel of the Navy from 1993 to 1998.-Biography:Steven S. Honigman was educated at New York University, from which he received a B.A. and at Yale Law School, from which he received a J.D...	June 1, 1993	March 15, 1998	Bill Clinton Bill Clinton William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...	John Howard Dalton John Howard Dalton John Howard Dalton is a U.S. administrator and banker. Dalton was Secretary of the Navy from July 22, 1993 to November 16, 1998.-Education and Navy service:...
Eugene Angrist (Deputy GC)	March 15, 1998	September 28, 1998		John Howard Dalton John Howard Dalton John Howard Dalton is a U.S. administrator and banker. Dalton was Secretary of the Navy from July 22, 1993 to November 16, 1998.-Education and Navy service:...
Stephen W. Preston Stephen W. Preston Stephen W. Preston is a United States lawyer who served as General Counsel of the Navy from 1998 to 2000 and in 2009 was nominated by Barack Obama as General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency.-Biography:...	September 28, 1998	November 17, 2000	Bill Clinton Bill Clinton William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...	Richard Danzig Richard Danzig Richard Jeffrey Danzig is an American lawyer who served as the 71st Secretary of the Navy under President Bill Clinton...
John E. Sparks (Acting)	November 17, 2000	December 12, 2000		Richard Danzig Richard Danzig Richard Jeffrey Danzig is an American lawyer who served as the 71st Secretary of the Navy under President Bill Clinton...
William Molzahn (Deputy GC)	December 12, 2000	July 25, 2001		Richard Danzig Richard Danzig Richard Jeffrey Danzig is an American lawyer who served as the 71st Secretary of the Navy under President Bill Clinton...
Alberto J. Mora Alberto J. Mora Alberto J. Mora is a former General Counsel of the Navy. He led an effort within the Defense Department to oppose the legal theories of John Yoo and to try to end coercive interrogation tactics at Guantanamo Bay, which he argued are unlawful....	July 25, 2001	January 1, 2006	George W. Bush George W. Bush George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....	Gordon R. England Gordon R. England Gordon Richard England is an American businessman who served as the United States Deputy Secretary of Defense and twice as United States Secretary of the Navy in the administration of U.S. President George W...
Paul C. Ney, Jr. Paul C. Ney, Jr. Paul C. Ney, Jr. is a United States lawyer who served as Acting General Counsel of the Navy in 2006.-Biography:Paul C. Ney, Jr. attended Cornell University, receiving a B.S. in Biology in 1980. Ney next enrolled in the joint J.D. / M.B.A. program at Vanderbilt University, graduating in 1984. He...  (Acting)	January 2, 2006	September 25, 2006		Donald C. Winter Donald C. Winter Donald Charles Winter is an American businessman who served as United States Secretary of the Navy. A former top executive of Northrop Grumman, he was nominated in 2005 by President George W. Bush, confirmed by the United States Senate, and took the oath of office on January 3, 2006...
Frank Jimenez Frank Jimenez Frank R. Jimenez became the 21st General Counsel of the U.S. Department of the Navy on September 25, 2006, following his nomination by George W. Bush and confirmation by the United States Senate...	September 25, 2006	April 30, 2009	George W. Bush George W. Bush George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....	Donald C. Winter Donald C. Winter Donald Charles Winter is an American businessman who served as United States Secretary of the Navy. A former top executive of Northrop Grumman, he was nominated in 2005 by President George W. Bush, confirmed by the United States Senate, and took the oath of office on January 3, 2006...
Anne M. Brennan Anne M. Brennan Anne M. Brennan was the acting United States General Counsel of the Navy in 2009.-Biography:Anne M. Brennan attended Wellesley College, receiving a B.A., and Suffolk University Law School, receiving a J.D....  (Acting)	April 30, 2009			Ray Mabus Ray Mabus Raymond Edwin "Ray" Mabus, Jr. is the 75th United States Secretary of the Navy. Mabus served as the 60th Governor of the U.S...
Paul L. Oostburg Sanz Paul L. Oostburg Sanz Paul L. Oostburg Sanz is the current United States General Counsel of the Navy.-Biography:Paul L. Oostburg Sanz received a B.A. from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, an M.P.A. from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton...	March 12, 2010		Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...	Ray Mabus Ray Mabus Raymond Edwin "Ray" Mabus, Jr. is the 75th United States Secretary of the Navy. Mabus served as the 60th Governor of the U.S...