Major General Vaughn A. Ary
Major General Ary is the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps and Director, Judge Advocate Division.
Major General Ary was raised in Ada, Oklahoma and received his BA in economics and history from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in 1984 and his law degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1987.
Following the Basic School and Naval Justice School, Major General Ary reported to 3d Force Service Support Group in Okinawa, Japan where he served in trial, defense, and legal assistance billets. This tour included deployments to Korea, the Philippines, and Southwest Asia in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In the Philippines, he served as the Operations Officer, Combat Service Support Detachment 35, and during Desert Storm, he was assigned to G-3, 1st Force Service Support Group, and worked primarily on logistical support for enemy prisoner of war operations.
In July 1991, Major General Ary reported for duty as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, U.S. Marine Forces, Atlantic. In 1993, he was selected to attend George Washington University where he earned a Master of Laws degree in international law. Following school, he received orders to the Pentagon for duty as the Head of the Law of Armed Conflict Branch in the Office of the Judge Advocate General, Department of the Navy.
In 1996, Major General Ary was reassigned to serve as a Deputy Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this assignment, he was responsible for providing legal advice to the Chairman and the Joint Staff on the law of war, arms control, counter-drug operations, and counter-terrorism.
Major General Ary received a Masters of Military Studies from Marine Corps Command and Staff College in June 1998. He then reported to 1st Force Service Support Group where he served as the Office in Charge of Legal Team Delta and Legal Team Echo - the two trial teams responsible for prosecuting courts-martial for commands at Camp Pendleton, CA. From August 2001 until May 2004, he served as the Staff Judge Advocate for 1st Force Service Support Group and deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom I and II.
From June 2004 until June 2006, Major General Ary served as the Commanding officer, 2d Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA. Following command, he served as the Staff Judge Advocate for the Third Marine Aircraft Wing in Miramar, CA until June 2008 when he was assigned as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant and Deputy Directory of the Judge Advocate Division.
His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (5 Awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
Major General Ary is married to the former Jennifer Krage of Capistrano Beach, California. They have two daughters, Allison and Sophia.