2024 Summer Law Clerk Program: Judge Advocate Panel

Judge Advocates from the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, & Marines discuss what it is like to be a lawyer in the military and how to join the JAG Corps on Active Duty or in the Reserve.

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Speakers

CPT Jordan Green, Army Judge Advocate

Captain Jordan A. Green was born and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The son of two military retirees, he attended Hampton University on a 4-year scholarship through the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). Upon graduation, Jordan commissioned into the Army Reserves as a Second Lieutenant in the Adjutant General’s Corps. He obtained his law degree from The George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. At GW Law, he served as the National Vice Chair of the National Black Law Students Association, overseeing the programming and day-to-day governance of a 6000-member national non-profit organization. Jordan was accepted into the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGC) and accessed onto Active Duty in January 2019.

Captain Green currently serves as the Accessions Officer with the Army Judge Advocate Recruiting Office in Fort Belvoir, VA. In this role, he is directly responsible for the hiring and onboarding of all new JAGC attorneys on Active Duty. He most recently served as a Defense Counsel at Fort Liberty, NC, focusing primarily on defending Soldiers in federal court. His other legal assignments include: Military Justice Advisor, Special Assistant United States Attorney, and Legal Assistance Attorney with XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Liberty, NC.

Captain Green’s military awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal (2nd award), the Army Achievement Medal (3rd award), the Armed Forces Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. He also completed Airborne School and is entitled to wear the Parachutist Badge and the Canadian Parachutist Badge.

Captain Green is a member of the Bar of the District of Columbia. He is an active member of the National Bar Association and the ROCKS, Incorporated, a non-profit mentoring organization for Army officers. He earned a Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University in 2022 and currently serves on a field board for the Army JAGC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. He has guest lectured at Hampton University, Methodist University, and Texas Southern University. In 2023, he was recognized by the Virginia Beach City Public School System for his contributions to its annual high school African American Male Summit.

He is married to his college sweetheart DeKyan Green, who works in marketing.

Maj. Aneisha Bell, Air Force Judge Advocate

Major Aneisha T. Bell received her commission into the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps through the Direct Appointment Program and entered active duty in January 2018.  While in law school, she participated in the University of South Carolina School of Law Juvenile Justice Clinic.  She also interned at the City of Columbia City Attorney’s Office, Richland County Public Defender’s office, and the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina interning for the Honorable Judge Margaret B. Seymour.  Since entering the JAG corps, Major Bell has deployed in support of Operations Spartan Shield, Inherent Resolve, and Freedom’s Sentinel to Al Dhafra Air Base, Abu Dhabi.  She is admitted to practice law in the State of Alabama.

Major Bell previously served as a Victims’ Counsel for District 2 of the Victims’ Counsel Division.  She was assigned to Tinker Air Force Base, OK and provided victims’ legal counsel at McConnell Air Force Base, KS.  In this role, she was detailed to represent victims of crimes before military courts-martial as well as in administrative and civil legal matters. Major Bell serves as the Chief of Recruiting for the Air Force JAG Corps in the Professional Development Directorate, Office of the Judge Advocate General, at the Pentagon. She manages the judge advocate recruiting programs, including all recruiting communications and materials, policy guidance, oversight for recruitment visits to law schools and ROTC detachments, internships and externships, and scheduling and participation in regional and national conferences. She also provides technical assistance for all prospective judge advocate applicants.

Lt. Leena Blocker, Navy Judge Advocate

LT Blocker grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. She graduated from the University of Texas in May 2009 with a BBA in International Business. While an undergraduate, LT Blocker studied the European Union and lived in Germany for four months. In August 2009, LT Blocker moved to Houston to attend law school at South Texas College of Law, where she graduated with her JD in May 2012.

She then went on to private practice in Houston for four years. During her civilian career, LT Blocker practiced in the areas of personal injury, medical malpractice, and commercial civil defense.

LT Blocker joined RLSO Hawaii in December 2016 and completed the FTJA program in March 2019. While completing her trial rotation, LT Blocker also served as the Navy Special Assistant US Attorney as well as the acting Professional Development Officer for RLSO Hawaii.

LT Blocker joined Cryptologic Warfare Group SIX as their SJA from April 2019 to March 2022. She is now in charge of the Accessions, Retention, and Awards programs at OJAG Total Force Management.

Lt. Nedley Peyton, Coast Guard Judge Advocate

Lieutenant Peyton Nedley serves as the Accessions & Resource Program Manager for the Coast Guard Legal Program (CGJAG), overseeing the Coast Guard’s legal recruiting and judge advocate accessions. She also holds a collateral duty as Military Aide to the Judge Advocate General and Chief Counsel of the Coast Guard.

She previously served as a staff attorney in the Office of Claims and Litigation, where she was responsible for representing the Coast Guard in federal civil litigation nationwide in coordination with the Department of
Justice.

Lieutenant Nedley joined the Coast Guard as a Direct Commission Lawyer in 2021. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Political Science and History and received her J.D. and LL.M. in International and Comparative Law from Duke University School of Law.

Lieutenant Nedley’s individual military awards include the Coast Guard Achievement Medal and the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon (2) with Operational Distinguishing Device.

She is a Tar Heel from Wilmington, North Carolina, and currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband.

Maj. Shannon Hillery, Marine Corps Judge Advocate

Major Hillery graduated cum laude from the College of William and Mary with her Bachelor of Arts in English and Government in May 2012.  She started law school in August 2012 at American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C.  During the summer of 2013 she attended Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia, and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant via the Platoon Leaders Course law program in August 2013.

Major Hillery graduated law school cum laude in May 2015.  In the fall of 2015 she was admitted to the Virginia bar.  She delayed accession to active-duty orders to serve from September 2015 to September 2016 as a clerk for Chief Judge Lawrence B. Hagel at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

In October 2016 Major Hillery attended The Basic School and graduated in April 2017 on the Commanding General’s Honor Roll.  From April to August 2017 she was assigned to the Trial Services Office in Quantico, Virginia.  From August to October 2017 she attended the Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island, and was the honor graduate of her Basic Lawyer Course.

In October 2017 Major Hillery began an assignment as a Trial Counsel at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.  In the summer of 2018 she served as the Staff Judge Advocate in support of 3d Marine Regiment during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise.  Upon completion of that exercise, she continued serving as a Trial Counsel until August 2019.  In May 2019 she completed Expeditionary Warfare School through the distance education program.

In September and October 2019 Major Hillery served as a Staff Judge Advocate in support of 3d Marine Regiment during Integrated Training Exercise 1-20 in Twentynine Palms, California.  In November 2019 she was assigned as a Defense Counsel at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.  She served in that billet through December 2020 when she took over as the Headquarters Company Commander for Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

In May 2021 Major Hillery executed orders to Judge Advocate Division, Headquarters Marine Corps, within the Pentagon.  There she served as a Community Manager / Occupational Field Sponsor for company grade judge advocates in the Plans and Innovation Branch.  In May 2022 she completed Command and Staff College through the distance education program.  In summer 2022 she was the Marine Corps’ recipient of the American Bar Association’s Outstanding Young Military Lawyer Award.  In September 2022 Major Hillery began a part-time Masters of Law (LL.M.) in National Security and Cybersecurity Law at George Washington University with a forecasted completion in December 2025.  In September 2023 Major Hillery moved within Judge Advocate Division to the International and Operational Law Branch where she served as the Operational Law attorney.  In July 2024 Maj Hillery executed orders to Marine Forces Cyber Command where she currently serves as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate.

Major Hillery is married to Kevin Hillery, a civilian attorney for the Department of Defense, and they have two children (Rowen and Keira).

Allison Starnes-Anglea (Moderator)

 

Presented by: Younger Lawyers Division

Thank you to our Sponsor

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Registration

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Registration Fees

• Complimentary for FBA Members & Non-Members