Twice The Citizen

Alumni Reflect on Military Service, Law Careers, and Benefits of Enlisting as a Legal Professional

By Lauren Mineau

Law school graduates can follow a range of career paths. Some go into Big Law. Some go to small firms. Some to government. Some to entertainment. Some to public service.

But some Albany Law School alumni have paired their legal education with serving their country in the U.S. military—many within the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps.

Some of them have decades of rewarding experiences. Some are just getting started.

Some entered law school aiming for JAG. Some were drawn in during law school. Some wrapped up all three years on campus, passed the bar, started their career and then decided to enlist.

“There’s no hard timeline, which is a good thing because I think a lot of folks, certainly young practitioners, may be a few years into their careers and they are looking for more fulfillment,” Major General Joseph B. Berger III and the 22nd Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Army, said.

There are three components of the Army JAG Corps—active duty, reserves, and guard—and many other branches follow a similar model. Active duty is all in, working full time as a military lawyer. The reserves strictly augment active units. The guard serves individual states with orders coming from governors.

A career as a military lawyer is professionally challenging,  personally gratifying, financially secure, and has three components of its own according to Maj. Gen. Berger.

“As I talk to lawyers, we talk generally about three components of work satisfaction. One, do you work with good people? Do you like your client? And then does your work have purpose?
[Most of us] would be hard-pressed to think of a day, let alone a week, where we didn’t check all three. And I think that is one of the incredible powers of this organization is it’s a group who wants to be here,” he said.

While some of the alumni gathered here walked different paths to their service, all of them are proud of their country, the legal profession, and their decision to join up to help their fellow countrymen and women.

Lt. Col. Theologos Voudouris ’03

Lt. Col. Theologos Voudouris ’03 has 23 years of active and reserve U.S. Army duty. He’s seen 49 countries, 12 duty stations, three infantry divisions, and been responsible for hundreds of soldiers at a time.

He is proudest of being the operations officer at the U.S. Army’s Advocacy Center in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Opened in 2022, the $7 million, nearly 9,300 square-feet facility will be the Army’s newest legal training institution with modern classrooms  supporting military legal professional training. One of the  newest offerings is an electronic evidence course.

“That was a tremendous opportunity. It will serve the country for years to come. It’s the only advocacy center in the defense department and truly a major development for the Army,” he said.
 As retirement approaches, Voudouris is excited to spend time with family, singing, and fostering collegiality and teamwork in civilian life. He encourages joining the JAG Corps, with its  opportunities for legal and personal growth.

“If they have the opportunity to join the JAG Corps, be it Army, Navy, the Marines, Air Force, I will tell them to jump at that opportunity. It has been truly a blessing to be able to have traveled the world and to assist soldiers when they needed my help the most,” he said. “But it wasn’t just me. It was always a team of judge advocates and paralegals that mobilized to help out our soldiers and their families. Take that opportunity because you will learn so much, not only about the law, but about yourself.”

Paul Barden ’92

Paul Barden ’92 has about three decades of experience in the army, specifically in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps
(JAG).

Barden joined the JAG Corps after completing his undergraduate studies  through ROTC. While many of his classmates focused on first jobs, he sharpened his litigation skills. He retired in 2013 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

After the bar exam, he entered active duty. Initially, he worked in a legal assistance office on a range of legal issues: creditor, landlord-tenant, and separation/divorce. He went on to advise the 82nd Airborne Division commander.

“I was responsible for advising the command on legal issues pertaining to things like targeting if we were going to go fight someplace. When I was in that role, I spent the better part of the year in a secure facility planning the airborne invasion of Haiti,” he said. “I was involved in all the legal issues surrounding that, which was fascinating work. And you’re talking about a young 20-something captain in a room full of colonels and generals.”

Barden then became a trial counsel and prosecutor, tapping into litigation skills from law school. He tackled drug offenses, sex crimes, and even a capital murder case.

He was also a special assistant U.S. attorney, prosecuting federal crimes commit-ted by civilians on military bases. His final assignment on active duty was with the Army Claims Service, overseeing tort claims against the army. This role involved handling personal injury and medical malpractice cases, which shaped his current civilian practice.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Barden started his own practice, focusing on personal injury and medical malpractice. He had independence and worked remotely, leveraging the increased acceptance of virtual meetings with clients.

“I think for me, the largest takeaway from law school was the ability to critically think. That really drives everything we do as lawyers—to be able to understand a problem and formulate a plan. That cuts across all disciplines of law,” he said.

Cpt. Lauren Owens ’11

Lauren Owens ’11, a U.S. Army captain and lawyer, pursued a parallel career in military justice joining the U.S. Army Reserves in 2017 at the behest of a senior partner and mentor at Dreyer Boyajian LLP.
“It was never initially on my radar. I didn’t realize it could be done on a reserve basis or, how interesting it was going to be,” she said.
 

Since then, Owens has counseled survivors of sexual assault, guided servicemembers on wills and estates before deployment, and confronted general consumer issues.

In turn she has become a better civilian lawyer. At Dreyer Boyajian, she specializes in criminal defense and personal injury.

“I went to law school to help people, and that’s what I feel like I’m doing now. With defense work, people are coming to you because they’re at a very, very difficult point in their lives and they don’t know what else to do. They’re coming to an attorney for help. Sometimes the subject matter isn’t easy. Sometimes the cases are very difficult, but they’re coming to you for advice and direction on something that could very well be one of the most significant things in their lives,” she said. “They’re trusting you to help them and give them advice and guidance. Even if I’m doing something straightforward, like drafting a will for someone. I’m doing a will for someone because they’re about to deploy and they’re trying to get things organized for their family in case they don’t come back.”

Maj. Natalia Helmsing ’14

Natalia Helmsing ’14 finished college during  the Great Recession and was unsure about the shaky employment landscape.

After trying to find work in this economically challenging environment and after hearing about an opportunity from a friend, she applied to work as an Education Counselor in Afghanistan. She was accepted and ended up at Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Bagram Airfield, and Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan as a civilian worker  helping service members pursue secondary education while deployed.

 As an immigrant who moved to the United States with her mom at the age of 7, this experience exposed Helmsing to the possibility of a career path in the  military that allowed for job security and a safety net  that she didn’t otherwise have, all while giving back to the country she grew up in and considered her home.
“I was doing my best to get a bite of the American Dream after graduating,” she said. “That job was my first introduction to the military, particularly the lifestyle and structure. I left thinking, ‘I really think this would be good for me’ especially if I wanted to keep progressing professionally and even personally.”

She decided to attend law school first to combine the structure of a military career with the academic rigor of a legal professional.

While at Albany Law she helped the Veterans Rights Pro Bono Project where she worked with volunteer attorneys providing legal assistance to veterans. Overall, the project allows students to interact with attorneys, gain career opportunities, and network with professionals in the field and continues today. Beyond that, she was active in the Student Bar Association and was President of her class in her graduating year.

“SBA was the most formative thing I did. It was a really great way to get to know my class, get to start learning about leadership and what that looks like to me,” she said. “SBA was great about teaching me what kind of leader I wanted to be.”
 

But, she always wanted to be a military lawyer.
After graduation, Helmsing commissioned directly into the U.S. Army at the Direct Commission Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, followed by the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she studied military law. She started her military career stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, learning, and adapting to her responsibilities.

“You’re coming in, and you’re immediately a leader.  Just by virtue of your rank—it doesn’t matter what career field you’re in, your uniform says “Captain.” You have to start to learn how to be that because everybody is going to perceive you that way,” she said.
 Now, she is a Senior Defense Counsel within the Army Reserve JAG Corps after transitioning from active duty last year following a seven-year career that included prosecuting felonies, advising on national security law and COVID response, handling investigations and advising sexual assault victims.

Cpt. Justin Reyes ’18

Intrigued by intense teamwork, being part of something bigger, and working with like-minded individuals, Justin Reyes ’18 decided to join the Army JAG Corps while working in private practice. He en-joyed his job, but felt a strong pull to public service, though not necessarily litigation or courtroom work.

After catching up with a family member at West Point,  Reyes thought “maybe that’s it.” Before he knew it, he was in a preliminary interview with a captain. He realized the  JAG Corps was the right fit.

“It was a similar mindset. I walked out of that interview inspired. I was energized and really excited,” he said.

He went to Hawaii in December 2020 as an administrative law attorney. He conducted line-of-duty investigations about benefit eligibility in cases of service member injuries or deaths. He also conducted financial liability investigations to assess accountability for lost equipment and property.

 After six months he transitioned to military justice—the army’s version of criminal law. He provided legal advice to law enforcement agencies during investigations and ensured the proper collection of evidence. He worked closely with commanders to determine if cases should proceed to court-martial or be resolved alternatively. He also advised on the appropriate disciplinary actions, including non-judicial punishment or separation from the army.
 Beyond that work he also completed courses in national security law and fiscal law.

“The army has a range of exciting professional development courses, in the legal field and outside. It’s one of the most ex-citing parts,” he said. “I did get to do some pretty cool soldier stuff as well. I completed air assault school. It’s physically rigorous, getting up at 4 in the morning, going through all sorts of intense workouts, and then you’re in a hangar classroom for about 10 hours. You learn how to inspect helicopters under time constraints, repel out of helicopters, stuff you can’t just learn from a book. You have to get out there and do it.”

Colonel Richard Pregent ’79

Retired U.S. Army Colonel Richard Pregent ’79—now a  national security legal advisor—has remained a longtime friend to his alma mater throughout his storied career.
 In 2017, he was invited back as an Alumnus in Residence and delivered the public lecture “Reflexive Service: Life and Times of a Career in the Military.” He also met with students during a luncheon at the Career and Professional Development Center and in former Professor Donna Young’s Criminal Law class.  

In 2022, he arranged for President and Dean Emeritus Alicia Ouellette ’94 to take an exclusive visit of the Pentagon during a visit to Washington D.C.

Colonel Pregent served as a Judge Advocate for nearly 30 years. He was posted to a variety of operational billets in Central America, Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia. These tours included Rwanda in 1994; NATO LEGAD for Kosovo  Forces, 2001-2002; NATO LEGAD for Allied Forces South, 2002-2004; Deputy General Counsel for the Coalition Provisional Authority during the occupation of Iraq; and a second tour in Iraq as the Director of the Law and Order Task Force as well as the Interagency Rule of Law Coordinating Center, 2008-2009. His last active duty position was as the Chief of the International and Operational Law Division at the U.S. Army Office of The Judge Advocate General. From 2011 to 2016 he served as the legal advisor to NATO’s Allied Command Counter-intelligence. He is now serving in a Defense Senior Intelligence Leader post as the National Security Legal Advisor at the Army’s Office of The Judge Advocate General.

He received his Bachelor of Arts from Williams College (1976), his JD from Albany Law School (1979), and his Master of Laws from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s School (1990). 

Cpt. Harrison Fu ’18

Born in China, Harrison Fu ’18 came to the United States when he was 17. He earned an accounting degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton but always wanted
to do something service minded. Law school helped him find the career; his military service helped him find the community to serve.

During a brief on-campus interview during his 3L year with the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps he decided to join.

“I had a mindset for public interest work, and I remembered the advice from an Albany Law alum: ‘Never  self-select out without trying first. Let them reject you.’ With that in mind, I thought, ‘why not apply?’ Ultimately, the decision to join the JAG Corps was influenced by my desire to serve the public and my respect for law enforcement,” he said.

His legal military service strengthened his identity as an American which he is extremely proud of.

“The United States is very different than any other country in the world, the legal system dates back to the country’s early days and is now the most robust. In China, it’s a very different environment. There is true judicial independence here in the United States,” he said. “Everyone can have their day in court, because the system is designed for that. Generally speaking, everyone can have the same opportunity to have their case argued.”

 Fu completed his Officer Basic Course in May 2019, and then became a certified Judge Advocate as a First Lieutenant. He worked in the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, until he was activated from the U.S. Army Reserve in September 2019. Fu was stationed at Fort Hood in Texas for a year and initially worked as a legal assistance attorney, helping soldiers, families, and retirees.

“My days were busy, starting with physical  training followed by seeing clients in the office. I practiced different areas of law, including family law, consumer law, military law, and estate planning. It was a fulfilling experience, knowing that I was making a difference in the lives of service members and their families,” he said.
 

In May 2020, he was promoted to Captain and appointed as a Special Victims’ Counsel, where he represented victims of sexual assault in criminal cases under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. His subsequent active duty assignments include an overseas tour in South Korea as a Defense Counsel, followed by an Administrative Law Attorney position at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

“I’ve had the opportunity to explore different areas of law and serve both as an attorney in the civilian sector and as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army. It’s been a rewarding experience, and I’m grateful for the opportunities that have come my way,” he said.

Cpt. Mara Afzali ’17

For Mara Afzali, commissioning into the military made perfect sense for her family. Her husband, Javid, completed the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course and was assigned to the Army reserve unit in Schenectady.

She naturally started to connect with some of the other service-members through family events. Eventually, she spoke with the unit’s commander about the importance of a strong JAG Corps and decided to put in her own application.

“Once I better understood the important role that Reserve Judge Advocates play in supporting the Army as a whole, my decision was easy. We make up about half of the Army’s JAG officers. The Army relies on this group of attorneys to backfill positions or step into mobilizations to support active duty components,” she said.

Now she’s balancing two careers, a Captain in the JAG Corps and a litigation associate at Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC.

“Both require a certain level of understanding. Other attorneys in the JAG Corps get it because they’re facing the same challenges. You’ve got this whole group of people trying to balance two career paths. There is a mindset of, ‘How can we work together? How can we get things done and support one another to accomplish the  mission while also succeeding in our civilian careers?’” she said.

But it is worth it, she says, especially after taking a calculated risk to pursue a legal career later in life. Afzali earned her bachelor’s degree from Siena and her JD from Albany Law School through the 4+3 Program after more than a decade working in alternative elementary education. After the birth of their fourth child, she and Javid discussed new career paths to support their family and both decided to pursue careers in law. Javid returned to school that fall and Mara enrolled at Siena once their youngest child started kindergarten.

Beyond her military service and private practice, Afzali serves on Albany Law’s Dean’s Leadership Council and returns to 80 New Scotland Avenue to judge competitions in the Anthony V. Cardona ’70 Moot Court Program.

“I love working with the students through Moot Court to build their confidence. Maybe they think an argument isn’t a great one or are unsure about their position, but we talk it through, and in doing so they gain a little bit more confidence in their ability to identify and articulate legal issues,” she said. “My hope is that they walk away from those interactions feeling inspired and more confident  in their ability to navigate legal problems. It’s a special part of the community here.”

Cpt. Javid Afzali ’12

After considering military service earlier in life, but putting it off for family reasons, Javid Afzali learned how his law degree could provide him another opportunity to serve in the military later in life and decided to pursue a career in the JAG Corps.
“It’s some of the most fulfilling work I have done,” he said. “As an Army JAG Corp Officer, I am able to use my legal education to help our nation’s soldiers’ and support our armed forces in its mission to protect and defend the country,” he said.

After he and his wife, Mara, moved to Albany in the early 2000s he finished his bachelor’s degree at Siena College in 2009 and enrolled in law school. Now, Afzali is a partner at Harris Beach practicing in the area of Environmental,  Energy, and Land Use

Litigation, as well as Business and Commercial Litigation, assisting companies, property owners, municipalities, and others around New York with permitting and litigation as they build, develop, and improve properties.

He also makes time to give back to his alma mater by attending alumni events, mentoring students through the Career and Professional Development Center, and volunteering as a judge for moot court competitions. In 2018, he was presented with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Albany Law School.

“When I was in law school, I definitely remember how valuable it was to learn from all the alumni who came in to meet with students. After directly benefiting from the advice of alumni who participated in events and made time to connect with students, it just makes sense for to me to pay that forward,” he said.

 

 

Maj. Robert G. Conway, Jr. ’76

Robert Conway ’76 served his country as a Marine Corps judge advocate from 1976 to 1996 and then as the civilian general counsel for the NYS Division of Military and Naval Affairs (DMNA) from 1996 to 2021. As a Marine lawyer he spent the  early years prosecuting or defending Marines at courts-martial.

As a special assistant to the US attorney for Eastern North Carolina, a concurrent appointment, he also prosecuted in federal court civilians charged with committing crimes on Marine Corps installations.

Later in his Marine Corps service, he was responsible for Marine Corps regulatory compliance in the eastern US regarding airspace and land use including real estate acquisition for new training areas.

“We dealt with exceptionally large and complex property acquisitions, environmental mitigation challenges, endangered species protection, and resolution of jurisdictional issues. I traveled regularly for meetings and hearings in Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia. I learned a lot along the way,” he said.
 A former Marine colonel encouraged him as he neared retirement to work with the state executive agency responsible for the 16,000-member New York Army and Air National Guard.

“My state service, well, being DMNA counsel, was great work. For  an attorney looking to still help and make a difference, it was really an excellent place to be,” he said.

The COVID pandemic hit just before his retirement. The state agency had to mobilize quickly to set up test sites and later, vaccination centers.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to oversee. I’m proud of the work we did and though challenging, it was a very satisfying way to  complete a legal career in government service,” he said.

Richard Henry ’23

Richard Henry ’23 always knew he wanted to serve in the military. Inspired by his grandfather’s service during the Vietnam War, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served as a  motor transport operator stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, from 2012 to 2016.
But after several years, he decided he wanted to pursue higher education, knowing he could always go back to the Marines if he wanted. He attended SUNY Brockport for his undergraduate studies. While there, he worked as a case manager with the Veterans Defense Program (VDP), which trains attorneys defending veterans and service members in the family and criminal court systems with a treatment-oriented mitigation approach leading to family restoration and reintegration into society.

 As he saw the continued need for lawyers with knowledge of the issues many service members face, he decided to become one of those lawyers and enrolled at Albany Law School.

“I didn’t really have any initial desire to go to law school. And then once I started working there for a while, I thought, ‘This is pretty awesome.’ I get to work with other vets. And I actually enjoyed the law and working through it,” he said. “That’s really what got me interested.”

During his time as a law student, he completed an internship at the Albany District Attorney’s office and a semester in practice at the New York City Department of Veteran Services. Both helped him gain valuable research and advocacy skills, he said. He was also an instrumental part of expanding and supporting the Veterans Pro Bono Service Project (founded by Benjamin Pomerance ’13), which now offers resources and aid year-round, in addition to the annual on-campus day for veterans to receive free legal help. Henry said he owes a huge thank you to Pomerance for laying the Project’s groundwork.
 In summer 2023, he started as an assistant district attorney at the Ontario County Public Defender’s Office.

“I’m excited to kind of jump in. At a public defender’s  office, you’re going to get thrown into a trial pretty quick. I’m really excited to get some trial experience under my belt right off the bat,” he said. “In the long run, New York State has a great diversion program for vets, through the veterans treatment courts that many counties have. Ontario County has a great veterans treatment court. So long-term goal, I would love to get into the diversion program side of things in the office and work with vets again.”
 

 

James Ferguson ’13

James Ferguson ’13 was working for a private law practice when he acknowledged his longing for something more out of his career.

His law school mentors, Hon. Richard E. Sise ’82 and Lt. Col. Jeff A. Nagel ’91 helped guide and support him until he was finally able to find a purpose that his personal and professional values aligned with.

The answer was with the United States Coast Guard. He currently defends the Coast Guard in federal civil litigation across all Coast Guard missions areas, and alongside the Department of Justice, prosecuting oil pollution and water discharge cases. Additionally, he assists members in disability matters and defends  members facing separation.

“I think the advantage the Coast Guard has, a uniqueness compared to our other branches is our mission, is this mentality of being the shield…we’re defending the United States. That’s something that I sincerely love.”

While he never expected to pursue this path, he’s found it to be a fulfilling career and with a clear track for advancement.

“The Coast Guard offers an opportunity to keep chasing, to never settle, and I am enjoying every moment of it. I would say that if you want that kind of experience, there is an opportunity for it with the Coast Guard, and of course, you’re doing it in a way that serves our country,” he said.

Peter Glennon ’04

Peter Glennon ’04 joined the U.S. Air Force at 17 and served full-time for about 10 years before law school. Initially, he was enlisted, working on electronics for aircraft navigation and weapons systems.
Later he graduated officer school, and was selected to pilot the C-5 Galaxy aircraft. However, influenced by his educator parents and with experiences volunteering in a city court as a community mediator, he decided to put further pilot training on hold and continue pursuing his JD.
 He wasn’t sure what to expect as a slightly older student, but felt at home right away. “I thoroughly enjoyed law school, every class. The professors, staff, and my classmates were all so great and supportive; and they still are. Being a non-traditional student, I truly appreciated that,” he said.

“We’re more than 20 years out from our first day of law school and I am happy that I remain close with many of my classmates; and the best part of law school is that I met my wife, Kimberly Glennon (Nichols) ’04.”

After law school, he turned down a clerkship at the Second Circuit in Manhattan and instead clerked at the Fourth Department in Rochester. Having remained in the traditional Air National Guard throughout law school, he eventually transferred to the Niagara Falls Air Guard Base, where he served as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate (JAG). He advised commanders, reviewed policies and rules, discharged military members, and provided legal advice to military members. Peter retired in 2015 at the rank of Major, with more than 24 years of service.

In his civilian career, following the Fourth Department, he joined Nixon Peabody LLP where he litigated business and employment matters, prior to starting his own statewide firm, The Glennon Law Firm, P.C., almost 10 years ago.

Beyond the law, in 2008, he cofounded Honor Flight Rochester, Inc., an affiliate of the national non-profit Honor Flight Network that trans-ports military veterans to see the memorials in Washington, D.C., at no cost. He is now the Board Chair.

“We have now flown 77 missions and over 3,800 veterans,” he said. “Of the veterans in New York, more than 50% live upstate. We have so many upstate that after we flew nearly all World War II veterans; we continued flying veterans from subsequent eras. Korean veterans were never forgotten; not here. We continued with Cold War and Vietnam veterans. Our very supportive community shows up with over 1,500 people at our Rochester airport when we return. We’re still doing it and will keep going for as long as the community supports us.”

Maj. Gen. Arthur E. Jackman, Jr. ’86

Maj. Gen. Arthur E. Jackman, Jr. ’86 had a number of roles throughout his years serving as a member of the Air Force JAG Corps.

In 2015, he was nominated by President Barack Obama, and then confirmed by the U.S. Senate, to serve as a Brigadier General, and in 2017, he was nominated by President Donald Trump, and then confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as a Major General.

With these roles he became the Mobilization Assistant to the Deputy Judge Advocate General and then The Judge Advocate General, and as such he assisted in the supervision of more than 2,200 judge advocates, 350 civilian attorneys, 1,400 enlisted paralegals and 500 civilians assigned to the Air Force JAG Corps.
 

“It was an honor to help lead such a talented group of attorneys, paralegals, and civilians who contributed to the tactical, operational, and strategic success of the Air Force. Taking care of our people was the most important responsibility I had as we pushed to organize, train, and equip the very best forces to meet our national security objectives,” he said.
 

Jackman’s very first assignment after law school was at the George Air Force Base in Victorville, California. In the middle of the Mojave Desert, the assignment was a dramatic shift from his civilian life in New York and Indiana.

He learned a lot in that first assignment—including dealing with desert wildlife— and he moved on to the Lowry Base in Colorado. As a Circuit Defense Counsel, he continuously travelled a 12-state region that included the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska. He then separated from active duty to earn his LL.M., but remained in the A.F. Reserve.

“The people, travel, and opportunities were extraordinary. I have had the privilege of crossing paths with truly exceptional men and women who serve with great wisdom, honor, kindness, and generosity of spirit and heart. I have been blessed to share friendships many of which will last a lifetime,” he said.

After 9/11, he was recalled to active duty for more than seven years, and he had a number of assignments including MacDill, Fla., Robins, GA, and then the Pentagon. Upon his release from active duty, Jackman remained in the A.F. Reserve, and returned to his civilian career as a prosecutor and his position as a Felony Division Chief for the State Attorney’s Office in Florida, where he has been for 27 years. He’s prosecuted some of the state’s most serious criminal cases. Many of his prosecution skills, he said, were developed during his Air Force service.

His discipline and focus to balance two demanding career paths. He credits the military for that too, but also his time at Albany Law School.

“I learned to be very disciplined and focused and to be thoroughly prepared which proved to be invaluable on my future path in life as a lawyer and leader,” he said. “I developed my skills through experience, discipline, and training. I learned how to prioritize my responsibilities and communicate effectively. I had to engage with senior leaders at the highest levels in the military and government. Those interactions have shaped me in so many ways as I continue to train prosecutors in the office, interact with defense counsel and the Courts, and serve my community,” he said.

Ambassador Bonnie Denise Jenkins ’88

While at Albany Law, Ambassador Bonnie Denise Jenkins ’88 enlisted in the Air Force Reserves.  She served as a paralegal at bases in Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. until 1992 when she received a direct officer commission into the U.S. Naval Reserve. She rose to the rank of lieutenant commander and received numerous commendations before retiring in 2008.

Now, she is the current Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, a position she assumed in July 2021. She is the first African American to serve as an Under Secretary of State at the U.S. Department of State. Previously, she served in the Obama Administration from 2009-2017 as Special Envoy and Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programs in the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation. In that role, she coordinated American efforts on threat reduction globally and U.S. government programs in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) security and was the State Department lead for the 2010 and 2016 Nuclear Security Summits. She was the U.S. Representative to the G7 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction.

“In my years as a student to the department of state’s first African American undersecretary, I have always wanted to work in public service,” Ambassador Jenkins told the Class of 2022 during her Commencement address. “What led me to my decision for law school? Well, quite simply, I wanted to learn how to think like a lawyer and to analyze problems with a legal mind. I also wanted to be sure to learn how I could protect the rights of my family and my friends.”

Col. Christine L. Fernandez ’92

Col. Christine L. Fernandez ’92’s  storied military career began at  Albany Law School. During her second year, the Navy and Air Force were recruiting at the law school. With a family tree branching back to the American Revolution, she thought it would be a good fit.
While Washington and Fernandez’s relatives didn’t have air support in the late-1770s,  Fernandez was drawn to the Air Force.
 

She was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps the same year she graduated from law school. She served on active duty in Mississippi and California.

“I learned a ton there. You hit the ground running in the military. You go right into it. You are a prosecutor. You are supporting commanders who need to keep good order and discipline. You are immediately into general counsel mode. So, you’re answering ethics questions. You’re answering employment questions. You are processing people for discharge.,” she said. “You’re immediately talking with commanders and managers and providing them the counsel that they need.”

With a growing family at home, she went into the reserves in 1997 and served as a judge advocate at the 374th Airlift Wing and Head-quarters in Japan. She transferred to Air Force Legal Services in Arlington, Virginia working on major torts cases. In 2000, she and her family moved back to New York as she transferred to the Air National Guard at the 109th Airlift Wing Force Support Squadron at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, where service members train to fly air support missions to some of the world’s most desolate locations. She stayed there until her retirement in 2020.

Reflecting on her career, Fernandez said encouragement to learn and gain practical skills is one aspect of military service—especially in the JAG Corps—that stuck with her.

As an attorney adviser for the National Guard Bureau’s Office of Chief Counsel in the Special Victims Counsel Branch, she worked with survivors of sexual as-sault. Neurobiology of trauma was just beginning to be recognized. Research from experts like Dr. Rebecca Campbell are now commonplace in advocacy work, but then, it was in its early stages.

“It was cutting edge, and it was changing our perspectives and the way we understood how victims of trauma, how their brains actually functioned, and as a consequence, we were also training our investigators on trauma-informed inves-tigation techniques. Now, it’s a standard,” she said. “I learned so much about how to have a different perspective.”

Fernandez now works with the New York State Police on strategic planning. She still taps into skills she gained serving the country and at Albany Law School.

“I really was looking for an adventure to be part of something way bigger than myself. I wanted to be surrounded with a group that was all for a [shared] purpose. I just loved [my time with] the military,” she said.

 

 

Mark Jordan ’22

Mark Jordan ’22 is guided by a strong compass. Definitely a moral one and previ-ously, a gyrocompass on a submarine. Working in the New York State Inspector Gen-eral’s office, his team investigates fraud and corruption.

“I love it, because we conduct investigations into government agencies specifically, things like bribery, people not following the rules,” he said.

Jordan pursued a law degree after more than a dozen years serving in the U.S. Navy and was ready to dive into a new career path, rather than pursue higher military ranks. The Navy’s encouragement of continuing education and ability to work under pressure made the transition back to student life fairly smooth, he said.

“On a submarine, there’s not always enough people to hand off responsibilities. You’re under pressure and have to think on your feet sometimes,” he said. “You really learn from the people around you, especially when you have 150 people down there under the ocean for a few months. You learn about everyone else, and their faults and their problems, and what they’re good at. And they learn the same about you. There’s a lot of clarity in that and it prepares you to take on new challenges.”

 “The difference was that you know, in the military, you’re studying an engine room, and it’s either really hot or it’s really cold, so studying in the law library was a nice change,” he said.
 The Navy’s emphasis on integrity spoke to him. His role with the Inspector General speaks to him the same way, he said.
 “Most of the [people we are investigating] work for the State already. So, they already have a job, then they are taking money away from the taxpayers. So even though they are making money and have a career, they still decide to steal? It’s a population not always talked about but it has implications on all of us,” he said.

During the COVID pandemic, when unemployment benefits were in high demand—but also easier to obtain— fraud increased. The IG’s office is looking into many of those cases now, he said.

“What we’re seeing right now is—and not just in New York but around the country—millions of dollars have been stolen. So, you have you have a ton of the money that’s supposed to be going to the taxpayers and supposed to be helping out those minority communities and possibly helping people keep their housing etc.,” he said.

Judge Matthew Doran ’93

Judge Matthew Doran ’93 has served the people of Onondaga County and the United States of America for his entire career.

Currently a county court and a military judge in the U.S. Navy, Doran joined the Navy right out of law school and has made his way to Captain. He served on  active duty for six years, mainly in San Diego, California, as a  claims attorney in the JAG Corps.
 “My two careers have inter-twined, in a good way, and my time with the JAG Corps is where I learned I enjoy criminal law,” he said.
 In 1998, he left active duty for the reserves and the Onondaga County District Attorney’s  Office. He served as chief assistant district attorney and oversaw the DWI and Vehicular Crimes Bureau, Special Crimes Bureau, and Homicide Bureau. He prosecuted tough cases including domestic violence, child abuse, and sex crimes.
 

In addition, he helped launch the Combat Veterans Diversion Program. The program helps  veterans struggling with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries that are entangled in the criminal justice system.
 In the early 2000s, he noticed a case where a vet—dealing with trauma from a tour in Iraq—had several serious traffic offenses. Driving was triggering a trauma response and this veteran sometimes drove the same way he did while at war. Doran knew there must be other vets like this one, which led to the start of the program. Many veterans are not open about struggles during court proceedings.
 Overall, the program follows a similar model to youth diversion programs or drug diversion programs by connecting people with resources to deal with the root cause and allows prosecutors, defenders, and judges to collaborate on logical solutions to cases.

“At the time the criminal justice system was not really equipped to deal with being more analytical,” he said. “Now, we can get more detail about someone who might be going through the system and what their charges are and what might have led them there. We trained our local defense bar about how to recognize some of the red flags. We also did a lot of training with local judges, and the judges were very perceptive.  It is a good program because so often veterans do not self-identify.”

Online Grad student’s interest in field began during Navy service
Cari Daniels ’22 MS/CSDP became interested in information technology while serving in the Navy, and after leaving active duty, she majored in computer information technology at East Carolina University.

Now, she’s using the skills she gained in Albany Law School’s Online Graduate Program in Cybersecurity and Data Privacy to advance her career.

In her role as Information Security Analyst at UNC Health, she works to protect patient
and institutional data. Much of this work includes risk analysis, information security expertise, and troubleshooting.

Her Albany Law School degree has helped her feel more confident in her career, especially with writing about the complex topics that are involved in her particular role. The most exciting part of the cybersecurity field, Daniels said, is the constant evolution and change.

“There are so many areas that you could go to. It’s a lot of fun. It’s never boring and you can never get stagnant,” she said.

VETERAN PRO BONO EFFORTS NOW HONOR LATE STUDENT

Joseph Gentile III ’23H, a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army, in the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment (Rakkasans), a regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, passed away September 6, 2020. Just a few weeks into his 1L year at Albany Law School.

His wife, Jillian Gentile ’24, is honoring him by completing the couple’s dream of earning law degrees. They had planned to stagger their start dates and once they were licensed attorneys, practice together to help people— particularly veterans and their  families—navigate the law.

Joe is remembered as a kind, stoic, and sometimes blunt guy. He was  disciplined and passionate about his studies, she said.

He had severe scarring and tissue damage from burn pit exposure during his time in Iraq. That was difficult enough, but surviving stage four lymphoma on top of that caused him to have a very weak immune system, Jillian said. The Friday before Labor Day 2020, he was exceptionally tired and struggling to stay awake through his Zoom class, she said. He finally agreed to see a doctor but an infection had spread to his organs and became septic. He fought his hardest until the very end, Jillian said.

“He was so kind and patient from the moment I met him. The things he said were just so thoughtful,” she said. “He was such a genuine person. He did have a ‘matter-of-fact’ type way, probably from his military training. But even in his time as a deputy sheriff right after the army, he was the guy that would be stopping to change people’s tires.”

Later in 2020, The Veterans Pro Bono Project was officially dedicated to honor Joe. Now,  the effort hosts an annual  on-campus day for veterans  and their families and offers resources year-round.

At the 2023 Commencement ceremony, Joe was posthumously  welcomed as a member of the National Alumni Association along with his classmates.

After graduation, Jillian hopes to do some form of advocacy. She is really enjoying her internship in the criminal litigation department at the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office. Navigating spousal benefits and processes following Joe’s death also inspired her to possibly help other people through the process.

“Joe would want me to challenge myself and push myself,” she said. “He saw when I was comfortable doing something and encouraged me to strive for more.”