Will A. Gunn
Encyclopedia
Colonel
Will A. Gunn is an American
lawyer and former officer in the American Armed Forces. He has been recently nominated by President Barack Obama
to be the new general counsel for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
.
He attended the United States Air Force Academy
, graduating in 1980, and Harvard Law School
, graduating in 1986. While at Harvard, he was elected President of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau
. In 1990 Gunn was a White House Fellow and Associate Director of Cabinet Affairs.
In 2003, he was asked to lead the military lawyers defending detainees before the Guantanamo Military Commission
s. After getting advice from friends, many of whom advised against taking the job, and his pastor, he accepted the position and was appointed. His team wrote an amicus curae brief for the U.S. supreme court in the 2003-2004 case (Rasul v. Bush
) that ultimately established the right of detainees to bring cases in U.S. courts. This brief opposed the administration's position and supported the detainees. Colonel Gunn, the Pentagon general counsel and the White House counsel Alberto Gonzales
all authorized for submission to the court. He retired from the military in 2005 after more than 20 years of service. Subsequently, he entered private law practice, led a charitable organization and served as a church minister.
On October 21, 2004, Gunn was invited to address
Duke Law School. After his address Gunn was asked whether the Military Commissions could be conducted in a manner that was fair and just. He replied: "“I’d prefer that you all come to your own conclusions as to whether we can have full and fair proceedings.”
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Will A. Gunn is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and former officer in the American Armed Forces. He has been recently nominated by President 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...
to be the new general counsel for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
.
He attended the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
, graduating in 1980, and Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, graduating in 1986. While at Harvard, he was elected President of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau
Harvard Legal Aid Bureau
The Harvard Legal Aid Bureau is the oldest student-run legal services office in the country, founded in 1913. Located at 23 Everett Street in Cambridge, MA, the Bureau's mission is to provide an important community service while giving student attorneys the opportunity to develop professional...
. In 1990 Gunn was a White House Fellow and Associate Director of Cabinet Affairs.
In 2003, he was asked to lead the military lawyers defending detainees before the Guantanamo Military Commission
Guantanamo military commission
The Guantanamo military commissions are military tribunals created by the Military Commissions Act of 2006 for prosecuting detainees held in the United States Guantanamo Bay detainment camps.- History :...
s. After getting advice from friends, many of whom advised against taking the job, and his pastor, he accepted the position and was appointed. His team wrote an amicus curae brief for the U.S. supreme court in the 2003-2004 case (Rasul v. Bush
Rasul v. Bush
Rasul v. Bush, 542 U.S. 466 , is a landmark United States Supreme Court decision establishing that the U.S. court system has the authority to decide whether foreign nationals held in Guantanamo Bay were wrongfully imprisoned...
) that ultimately established the right of detainees to bring cases in U.S. courts. This brief opposed the administration's position and supported the detainees. Colonel Gunn, the Pentagon general counsel and the White House counsel Alberto Gonzales
Alberto Gonzales
Alberto R. Gonzales was the 80th Attorney General of the United States. Gonzales was appointed to the post in February 2005 by President George W. Bush. Gonzales was the first Hispanic Attorney General in U.S. history and the highest-ranking Hispanic government official ever...
all authorized for submission to the court. He retired from the military in 2005 after more than 20 years of service. Subsequently, he entered private law practice, led a charitable organization and served as a church minister.
On October 21, 2004, Gunn was invited to address
Duke Law School. After his address Gunn was asked whether the Military Commissions could be conducted in a manner that was fair and just. He replied: "“I’d prefer that you all come to your own conclusions as to whether we can have full and fair proceedings.”