Leadership
Vice Admiral Nanette M. DeRenzi
Judge Advocate General
Judge Advocate General’s Corps
Vice Adm. DeRenzi is the 42nd Judge Advocate General of the Navy. As the Judge Advocate General (JAG), DeRenzi is the principal military legal counsel to the Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations, and serves as the Department of Defense Representative for Ocean Policy Affairs (REPOPA). As the Judge Advocate General, she also leads the 2,300 attorneys, enlisted legalmen, and civilian employees of the worldwide Navy JAG Corps community.
DeRenzi was born in Philadelphia, and raised in Pennsauken, N. J. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Villanova University in 1983. She was commissioned through the JAG Corps Student Program and, in 1986, graduated from the Temple University School of Law. She later earned a Master of Laws degree (Environmental Law) from the George Washington University School of Law.
DeRenzi served from 2009-2012 as the Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy and Commander, Naval Legal Service Command. As Commander, Naval Legal Service Command, she led the judge advocates, enlisted legalmen, and civilian employees of 17 commands worldwide, providing prosecution and defense services, legal assistance services to individuals, and legal support to shore and afloat commands.
Before her appointment to flag rank, she served as the senior staff judge advocate for Commander, U.S. Southern Command; special assistant for Legal and Legislative Matters to the Secretary of the Navy; legislative counsel for Environmental Programs in the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs; and, executive assistant to the JAG. In command, she served as commanding officer, Naval Legal Service Office, North Central.
Afloat, DeRenzi served as the fleet judge advocate to Commander, U.S. 7th and 3rd Fleets, as well as staff judge advocate to Commander, Carrier Group Seven.
DeRenzi began her career as a litigator, first as a defense counsel and, later, as a trial counsel (prosecution) in Newport, R. I., followed by assignments in appellate defense and civil litigation in Washington, D.C.
DeRenzi is admitted to practice before the courts of the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She holds various decorations and awards, including the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (four awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards).
Updated: 20 July 2012
Rear Admiral James W. Crawford, III
Deputy Judge Advocate General
Commander, Naval Legal Service Command
Judge Advocate General’s Corps
Rear Admiral James W. Crawford, III is the Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy (DJAG) and Commander, Naval Legal Service Command (CNLSC). As the DJAG, he serves as the Deputy Department of Defense Representative for Ocean Policy Affairs. As CNLSC, he leads the attorneys, enlisted legalmen, and civilian employees of 17 commands, providing prosecution and defense services, legal services to individuals, and legal support to commands around the world.
Crawford was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He graduated from Belmont Abbey College in 1979. He was commissioned through the JAG Corps Student Program, and, in 1983, graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill. He later earned a Master of Laws degree (Ocean and Coastal Law) from the University of Miami (Florida) School of Law and a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.
Crawford served from 2007-2011 as Legal Counsel to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. From 2011-2012, he served as the Commander, NATO Rule of Law Field Support Mission/Rule of Law Field Force-Afghanistan.
Before his appointment to flag rank, he served as Special Counsel to the Chief of Naval Operations, the senior Staff Judge Advocate for Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, and as the Fleet Judge Advocate for U.S. Seventh Fleet. In command, he served as Commanding Officer, Region Legal Service Office Southeast.
Crawford also served at Navy Personnel Command, the Office of the Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Naval War College, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, the Naval Justice School, and Cruiser-Destroyer Group Eight. He began his legal career as a defense counsel at the Naval Legal Service Office, Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
Crawford's personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), the Legion of Merit (two awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
Updated: 20 July 2012
Rear Admiral Janet R. Donovan
Deputy Judge Advocate General for Reserve Affairs and Operations
Deputy Commander, Naval Legal Service Command
Judge Advocate General’s Corps
Rear Admiral Donovan is a native of Lakewood, Ohio. She is a 1983 graduate of The Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1980, she completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from The College of Wooster, in Wooster, Ohio.
During her initial period of active service, Donovan served as Counsel to the Regional Physical Evaluation Board, and Senior Trial Counsel at Naval Legal Service Office, Great Lakes, Il.; Assistant Staff Judge Advocate to Commander, Naval Surface Forces, U. S. Pacific Fleet; Legal Officer on board USS ACADIA (AD-42); and Staff Judge Advocate to Commander, Amphibious Group 3.
Donovan transitioned to the Reserve Component in 1991. Since then, she has commanded Navy Reserve Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic 206 and Navy Reserve Appellate Review/NAVJAG 113. She also served in a wide variety of commands including United States Forces Korea; Naval Legal Service Office, Washington D.C.; The U S. Naval Academy, and the Office of the Judge Advocate, General Litigation Division.
Among the many staffs with which she served on active duty for special work during her career were NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation; Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic; Commander, Naval Network Warfare Command; Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs; and the Department of Justice/Department of the Navy A-12 Litigation Team.
Donovan was nominated to Flag rank in January 2012 while serving as the Navy Reserve Law Program Manager and Operational Support Officer, and as Force Judge Advocate, Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command.
Donovan's personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (oak leaf cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (2 gold stars), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold star), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2 gold stars).
Updated: 3 December 2012
Master Chief Legalman (Surface Warfare / Air Warfare) PAUL ST. SAUVER
Command Master Chief, Naval Legal Service Command
Judge Advocate General’s Corps
Master Chief Paul St. Sauver is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. He joined the U.S. Navy in July 1987 and attended Recruit Training in Orlando, Florida. Following recruit training he reported to Yeoman "A" School in Meridian, Mississippi. Upon completing Yeoman "A" School, he reported to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron FORTY FIVE (HSL-45) located in San Diego, California.
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In July 1991, Master Chief St. Sauver was forward deployed to Helicopter Squadron TWELVE (HS-12) located in Atsugi, Japan. At the time, HS-12 was attached to Carrier Air Wing FIVE (CVW-5) on board USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62). In May of 1993, he was accepted for a lateral conversion to Legalman and reported for duty under instruction to Naval Justice School, Newport, Rhode Island. His first Legalman tour was at the Naval Legal Service Office Detachment, Port Hueneme, California. In May 1996, he reported to Antarctic Development Squadron SIX (VXE-6) as the Independent Duty Legalman. VXE-6 deployed to Antarctica in support of the National Science Foundation. In April 1999, he transferred to Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, located in Coronado, California, and served as the Force Legalman for the Naval Special Warfare Community throughout the world. In January 2002, he reported on board USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64), where he served as the Leading Chief Petty Officer for the Legal Department. Upon the decommissioning of USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64) in June 2003, he transferred to Navy Recruiting District San Antonio, Texas where he served as both the Legal Officer and as an Officer Recruiter.
In September 2006, Master Chief St. Sauver graduated from the Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island and was named to the Director's List of top academic performers. Upon graduation, he transferred to U.S. Region Legal Service Office Europe and Southwest Asia in Naples, Italy, where he served as the Command Master Chief. In July 2009, Master Chief St. Sauver reported for duty as the Command Master Chief for Region Legal Service Office Southwest in San Diego, California. In July 2012, Master Chief St. Sauver assumed the duties as the Senior Enlisted Leader to the Judge Advocate General of the Navy and Command Master Chief of Naval Legal Service Command.
Master Chief St. Sauver and his wife Veronica reside in Fairfax, Virginia with their son Joshua and daughter Isabel. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (eight awards), and numerous campaign medals and ribbons.
Updated: 2 July 2012
Legalman Master Chief Petty Officer Karen L. Colaiacovo
Command Master Chief, Reserve Component JAG Law Program
Judge Advocate General’s Corps
Legalman Master Chief Petty Officer Colaiacovo was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania and raised in Dunkirk, New York. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English with a concentration in Law and Justice from the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Fredonia in 1983.
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Master Chief Colaiacovo enlisted in the United States Navy as an Instrumentman (IM) in May 1984. She was assigned to Recruit Training Command, Orlando, Florida, IM "A" school in Great Lakes, Illinois, and completed her active duty tour on board the USS CAPE COD (AD-43) in San Diego, California. She received an Honorable Discharge in March 1988, returned to her home state of New York, and received a NYS Teacher's Certification in Secondary Education-English from SUNY College at Fredonia in 1990.
Master Chief Colaiacovo joined the Navy Reserve in December 1988 at Naval Reserve Center, Jamestown, New York, and held a variety of assignments in her IM rating. In 1994, she cross-rated to her present rating of Legalman, and was assigned to Office of Naval Intelligence 1805 at Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center, Buffalo, New York. She attended the Legal Clerk Course, Reserve Legalman Phase II, and Reserve Legalman Phase III at Naval Justice School, Newport, Rhode Island, and made her Legalman rate permanent in 1997.
For the period of August 2007 to November 2008, Master Chief Colaiacovo served as Admin Department Head for the Office of Naval Intelligence 1201 at Fort Dix, New Jersey. In December 2008, she was assigned as Senior Enlisted Leader for NR Admiralty Law, Navy Operational Support Center, Fort Dix, and served as the Legalman Senior Enlisted Leader for Mid-Altlantic and Navy District Washington Regions. In December 2012, Master Chief Colaiacovo was selected as the Command Master Chief of the Navy Reserve Law Program and Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Deputy Judge Advocate for Reserve Affairs and Operations.
For the period of May 2010 to May 2011, Master Chief Colaiacovo deployed in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan as Legal Officer for the THIRD Naval Construction Regiment.
Her awards include Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards), Navy Good Conduct Medal; Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal (seven awards), National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War OnTerrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 'M' device, and NATO NON-Article 5 ISAF Medal.
Updated: 3 December 2012
Past Leadership in the JAG Corps
- VADM Nanette M. DeRenzi
- 2012-Present
- VADM James W. Houck
- 2009-2012
- VADM Bruce E. MacDonald
- 2006-2009
- RADM James McPherson
- 2004-2006
- RADM Michael Franklin Lohr
- 2002-2004
- RADM Donald Joseph Guter
- 2000-2002
- RADM John Dudley Hutson
- 1997-2000
- RADM Harold Eric Grant
- 1993-1997
- RADM William Leon Schachte, Jr.
- 1992-1993
- RADM John Edward Gordon
- 1990-1992
- RADM Everett Don Stumbaugh
- 1988-1990
- RADM Hugh Don Campbell
- 1986-1988
- RADM Thomas Edward Flynn
- 1984-1986
- RADM James Joseph McHugh
- 1982-1984
- RADM John Smith Jenkins
- 1980-1982
- RADM Charles Eager McDowell
- 1978-1980
- RADM William Owen Miller
- 1976-1978
- RADM Horace Bascomb Robertson, Jr.
- 1975-1976
- RADM Merlin Howard Staring
- 1972-1975
- RADM Joseph Bryant McDevitt
- 1968-1972
- RADM Wilfred Asquith Hearn
- 1964-1968
- RADM William Chamberlain Mott
- 1960-1964
- RADM Chester Charles Ward
- 1956-1960
- RADM Ira Hudson Nunn
- 1952-1956
- RADM George Lucius Russell
- 1948-1952
- RADM Oswald Symister Colclough
- 1945-1948
- RADM Thomas Leigh Gatch
- 1943-1945
- RADM Walter Browne Woodson
- 1938-1943
- RADM Gilbert Jonathan Rowcliff
- 1936-1938
- RADM Claude Charles Block
- 1934-1936
- RADM Orin Gould Murfin
- 1931-1934
- RADM David Foote Sellers
- 1929-1931
- RADM Edward Hale Campbell
- 1925-1929
- RADM Julian Lane Latimer
- 1921-1925
- RADM George Ramsey Clark
- 1918-1921
- Captain William Carleton Watts
- 1917-1918
- Captain Ridley McLean
- 1913-1916
- Captain Robert Lee Rusell
- 1909-1913
- Captain Edward Hale Campbell
- 1907-1909
- Captain Samuel Willauer Black Diehl
- 1904-1907
- Captain Samuel Conrad Lemly
- 1892-1904
- Colonel William Butler Remey
- 1880-1892