An Inside Perspective from the former General Counsels of the Department of the Army, Navy and Air Force

Analytical Paper Required:All enrolled students complete a research paper of at least 20-25 pages, with faculty and peer review of a substantially complete draft. This paper can be used to satisfy the analytical paper requirement for J.D. students.

Prerequisite: None

Exam Type: No Exam

This course will offer students practical, real-world insights into the legal issues that command the attention of the general counsels of the three military departments at the Pentagon. The mission of these military departments is to organize, train and equip forces for the warfighters. The general counsels are responsible, under Title 10, to provide advice to senior civilian and military leaders in carrying out that mission.

The course will cover ten topics: (1) civilian control of the military; (2) the acquisition of major weapon systems like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter; (3) the sprawling National Defense Authorization Act and the process for submitting legislative proposals; (4) legal and policy considerations governing autonomous weapons; (5) fiscal laws applicable to the provision of military support to Ukraine and cost overruns within the nuclear enterprise; (6) security reviews and international matters; (7) environmental laws and the military’s plans for remediating the fuel leak at the Red Hill facility in Hawaii; (8) the build out of the Space Force, the first new military service in nearly 75 years, amidst a rapidly-changing threat environment; (9) ethics, employment and personnel matters; and (10) the President’s “Golden Dome” Executive Order to create a Next-Generation Homeland Missile Defense.

Given the size and complexity of the Pentagon, strong project management and interpersonal skills are essential to advance large-scale initiatives. The course will seek to foster these skills, which are transferable across career paths, by having students work in small teams to make oral presentations during the semester.