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Created Jan 0001
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Type Existential Dread
Keywords
secretary of the air force, united states senate, 10 u.s.c. § 9019, chief of space operations, united states air force, united states space force

General Counsel Of The Department Of The Air Force

“The General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force (acronym SAF/GC) is the chief legal officer of the United States Department of the Air Force. This...”

Contents
  • 1. Overview
  • 2. Etymology
  • 3. Cultural Impact

General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force

The General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force (acronym SAF/GC) is the chief legal officer of the United States Department of the Air Force . This position is responsible for providing legal advice to the Secretary of the Air Force , the Under Secretary of the Air Force , and other senior leaders within the department. The General Counsel also serves as the chief ethics official for the Department of the Air Force.

Overview

The General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force is appointed from civilian life by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the United States Senate . The role is governed by 10 U.S.C. § 9019 , which outlines the duties and responsibilities of the position.

According to Secretary of the Air Force Order No. 111.5, dated July 14, 2005, the General Counsel is the chief legal officer and chief ethics official of the Department of the Air Force. Legal opinions issued by the Office of the General Counsel are the controlling opinions of the Department of the Air Force. The General Counsel provides advice in accordance with applicable statutes on any legal subject and on other matters as directed by the Secretary.

Duties and Responsibilities

The General Counsel advises the Secretary of the Air Force, the Under Secretary of the Air Force, and the Assistant Secretaries of the Air Force, as well as the Chief of Staff of the Air Force , the Chief of Space Operations , and other military leaders of the United States Air Force and the United States Space Force on legal matters. However, the General Counsel does not handle statutory duties under the Uniform Code of Military Justice , which are performed by the Judge Advocate General of the Air Force .

List of General Counsels of the Department of the Air Force

The following is an incomplete list of individuals who have served as the General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force:

ImageNameAssumed OfficeLeft OfficePresident Appointed BySecretary Served Under
Brackley Shaw19471949Harry S. TrumanW. Stuart Symington
William T. Thurman19501950Harry S. TrumanW. Stuart Symington , Thomas K. Finletter
James T. Hill Jr.19501952Harry S. TrumanThomas K. Finletter
John Alvin Johnson19521958Dwight EisenhowerThomas K. Finletter , Harold E. Talbott , Donald A. Quarles , James H. Douglas Jr.
Max Golden19581962Dwight Eisenhower , John F. KennedyJames H. Douglas Jr. , Dudley C. Sharp , Eugene M. Zuckert
Gerritt W. Wesselink19641965Lyndon B. JohnsonEugene M. Zuckert
Stephen N. Shulman19651966Lyndon JohnsonEugene M. Zuckert , Harold Brown
J. William Doolittle19661968Lyndon JohnsonHarold Brown
John M. Steadman19681970Lyndon Johnson , Richard NixonHarold Brown , Robert C. Seamans, Jr.
Jack L. Stempler19701977Richard Nixon , Gerald FordRobert C. Seamans, Jr. , John L. McLucas , James W. Plummer , Thomas C. Reed
Peter B. Hamilton19771978Jimmy CarterJohn C. Stetson
Stuart R. Reichart19791981Jimmy CarterJohn C. Stetson , Hans M. Mark , Verne Orr
David E. Place19811984Ronald ReaganVerne Orr
Eugene R. Sullivan19841986Ronald ReaganVerne Orr , Russell A. Rourke
Kathleen A. Buck19861987Ronald ReaganRussell A. Rourke , Edward C. Aldridge, Jr.
Anne N. Foreman19871989Ronald ReaganEdward C. Aldridge, Jr.
Ann C. Petersen19891993George H. W. BushDonald B. Rice
Gilbert F. Casellas19931994Bill ClintonSheila E. Widnall
Sheila C. Cheston19951998Bill ClintonSheila E. Widnall
Jeh Charles Johnson19982001Bill ClintonF. Whitten Peters
Mary L. Walker20012008George W. BushJames G. Roche , Michael Wynne
Charles A. Blanchard20092013Barack ObamaMichael B. Donley
Joseph M. McDade Jr. (acting)20132014Barack ObamaDeborah Lee James
Gordon O. Tanner20142017Barack ObamaDeborah Lee James
Joseph M. McDade Jr. (acting)20172018Donald TrumpLisa Disbrow , Heather Wilson
Thomas E. Ayres20182021Donald TrumpHeather Wilson , Matthew Donovan (acting), Barbara Barrett
Craig A. Smith (acting)20212022Joe BidenJohn P. Roth (acting), Frank Kendall III
Peter J. Beshar20222025Joe BidenFrank Kendall III
Shannon McGuire (acting)2025PresentDonald TrumpTroy Meink

See Also