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Virtual Event | Judge Advocates General: On the Frontline of National Security and the Rule of Law
Oct 8, 2025
11:00am
to
12:00pm
ET
Watch
Judge advocates general serve a critical role in the U.S. military by providing expert, apolitical legal advice to commanders and defense officials. With military activities taking place around the world, including the recent domestic deployment of military personnel for law enforcement purposes, legal advice serves a crucial function in ensuring such activities are consistent with the rule of law.
The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held a live, virtual event on Wednesday, October 8, from 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. ET with opening remarks from Admiral John Richardson, USN (Ret.), member of the CNAS Board of Directors and former chief of naval operations, and a panel discussion with Judge James E. Baker, former chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces; Rear Admiral James E. McPherson, JAGC, USN (Ret.), former undersecretary of the Army and former judge advocate general of the Navy; and Carrie Cordero, Robert M. Gates senior fellow and general counsel of CNAS.
The discussion provided context and deeper understanding of how military lawyers approach their important duties, the breadth of practice of military law, and the nature of providing operationally relevant legal advice under challenging circumstances.
Admiral John Richardson, USN (Ret.)
Member of the CNAS Board of Directors
Former Chief of Naval Operations
Featuring:
Judge James E. Baker
Professor and Director, Syracuse University Institute for Security and Law
Former Chief Judge U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
Carrie Cordero
Robert M. Gates Senior Fellow and General Counsel
Center for a New American Security
Rear Admiral James E. McPherson, JAGC, USN (Ret.)
Former Undersecretary of the Army
Former Judge Advocate General of the Navy
For registration questions, contact Jasmine Butler at [email protected]. For media inquiries, contact Charles Horn at [email protected].