Air Force Judge Advocate General's School Podcast

This is the second of a two-part episode exploring some potential big changes in the role commanders play in the military justice system. We interview Professor David Schlueter, a subject matter expert in this topic, which is at the forefront of many legal practitioners' minds, as congress and senior government officials have endorsed removing commanders' authority to prosecute sexual assault and similar felony-level cases. Assuming these reforms take effect, this will be another large change in the practice of military justice. In this interview Professor Schlueter discusses the commanders' role in the military justice system, his analysis of some of the proposals in congress, and his forecast of how military justice may look with some of these changes.

This is part one of a two-part episode exploring some potential big changes in the role commanders play in the military justice system. We interview Professor Dave Schlueter, a subject matter expert in this topic, which is at the forefront of many legal practitioners’ minds, as congress and senior government officials have endorsed removing commanders’ authority to prosecute sexual assault and similar felony-level cases. Assuming these reforms take effect, this will be another large change in the practice of military justice. In this interview professor Schlueter discusses the commanders’ role in the military justice system, his analysis of some of the proposals in congress, and his forecast of how military justice may look with some of these changes.

This is part 2 of a two-part episode with Reserve Colonel Benjamin Bowden, in which we discuss best practices, challenges to be aware of, and even how local military trial counsel can counsel legal assistance clients with domestic issues. Colonel Bowden draws on his extensive experience as an Air Force JAG and also as a civilian Circuit Trial Judge in Covington County, Ala.

This is part 1 of a two-part episode with Reserve Colonel Benjamin Bowden, in which we discuss best practices, challenges to be aware of, and even how local military trial counsel can counsel legal assistance clients with domestic issues. Colonel Bowden draws on his extensive experience as an Air Force JAG and also as a civilian Circuit Trial Judge in Covington County, Ala.

this is part 2 of a two-part interview where we discuss the enlisted paralegal career field in the Air Reserve Component (ARC) with two guets, Chief Master Sergeant Lisa List and Master Sergeant Troy Tobaben. . This interview builds off of the interview conducted on the Air Force JAG Corps ARC in episodes 38 and 39 that focused more on the officer JAG opportunities. Chief Master Sergeant Lisa List is the Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) to the Senior Paralegal Manager to the Air Force Judge Advocate General (TJAG). In this position, she serves as the principal advisor to the Senior Paralegal Manager, The Judge Advocate General of the Air Force, and senior staff on all Reserve enlisted matters for paralegals within the JAG Corps worldwide. Chief List partners with senior leaders to review and manage the overall health of the Reserve paralegal program, to include quality of life, morale, and welfare issues. Chief List enlisted in the Air Force on active duty in 1994 where she performed 3 active duty assignments over 7 years including 2 assignments at a wing legal office and 1 at a numbered Air Force. In 2002, she left active duty and joined the Category A Reserves. Through her career she has held multiple senior enlisted positions at the wing, NAF, and MAJCOM levels to include an Active Guard-Reserve (AGR) tour at Robins AFB, Georgia. Master Sergeant Troy Tobaben is the Law Office Superintendent assigned to the 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. MSgt Tobaben oversees legal services for all military personnel and dependents assigned to 10th Air Force units and military retirees in the Texas area. MSgt Tobaben began his military career in the Navy on active duty assigned to the U.S.S. Constellation where he served as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Fuels for 5 years. He was next assigned to shore duty at Naval Air Station Barber’s Point, Hawaii, where he remained until he left active duty in 1999. After an 11-year break in service, he joined the Air Force Reserve as a Category A Knowledge Operations Specialist for the 336th Air Reserves at March Air Reserve Base, California. Then in 2012 MSgt Tobaben cross-trained into the paralegal career field and transferred to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, before moving into his current position.

This is part 1 of two-part interview where we discuss the enlisted paralegal career field in the Air Reserve Component (ARC) with two guests, Chief Master Sergeant Lisa List and Master Sergeant Troy Tobaben. This interview builds off of the interview conducted on the Air Force JAG Corps ARC in episodes 38 and 39 that focused more on the officer JAG opportunities.

Chief Master Sergeant Lisa List is the Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) to the Senior Paralegal Manager to the Air Force Judge Advocate General (TJAG). In this position, she serves as the principal advisor to the Senior Paralegal Manager, The Judge Advocate General of the Air Force, and senior staff on all Reserve enlisted matters for paralegals within the JAG Corps worldwide. Chief List partners with senior leaders to review and manage the overall health of the Reserve paralegal program, to include quality of life, morale, and welfare issues.

Chief List enlisted in the Air Force on active duty in 1994 where she performed 3 active duty assignments over 7 years including 2 assignments at a wing legal office and 1 at a numbered Air Force. In 2002, she left active duty and joined the Category A Reserves. Through her career she has held multiple senior enlisted positions at the wing, NAF, and MAJCOM levels to include an Active Guard-Reserve (AGR) tour at Robins AFB, Georgia.

Master Sergeant Troy Tobaben is the Law Office Superintendent assigned to the 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. MSgt Tobaben oversees legal services for all military personnel and dependents assigned to 10th Air Force units and military retirees in the Texas area.

MSgt Tobaben began his military career in the Navy on active duty assigned to the U.S.S. Constellation where he served as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Fuels for 5 years. He was next assigned to shore duty at Naval Air Station Barber’s Point, Hawaii, where he remained until he left active duty in 1999. After an 11-year break in service, he joined the Air Force Reserve as a Category A Knowledge Operations Specialist for the 336th Air Reserves at March Air Reserve Base, California. Then in 2012 MSgt Tobaben cross-trained into the paralegal career field and transferred to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, before moving into his current position.

In today’s interview, we have 2 guests to discuss a unique volunteer opportunity within the Air Force that many may not be aware of called the Air Force Barrier Analysis Working Group. And we take a closer look at one of the main action teams within this group called the Women’s Initiative Team (WIT). WIT played a key role in the updates to the new 2021 Air Force female hair standards.

This is also the first interview where we’ve specifically addressed the aspect of volunteering. It goes without saying that volunteering of one’s time, talent and/or treasure is not only good from a spiritual, religious, or emotional standpoint but also from a leadership development perspective. In fact, volunteering is often the only way that you may be able to get involved with certain activities like our 2 guests will be discussing today.

Major Alea Nadeem is Department of Defense Legislative Fellow assigned to the Secretary of the Air Force, Legislative Liaison, Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. She is assigned to Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski. She also chairs the Air Force Women’s Initiative Team (WIT) as part of the Air Force Barrier Analysis Working Group, which we’ll be talking about today.

Our second guest is Major Sam Sliney. She is a member of WIT and currently working on DoD policy to assist females within the military on the transport of breast milk while nursing their children and traveling for work. Major Sliney is currently the Area Defense Counsel at Pope Army Airfield, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where she is responsible for providing defense services to the 2,600 Airmen assigned to Pope Army Airfield and Fort Bragg. She previously was the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate at the same installation. Prior to that position, she was assigned as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina.

In this interview, we speak with Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force (CMSSF), Roger Towberman, on the new US Space Force, resiliency, and mindset.

CMSSF Towberman is the first to hold this position as the highest enlisted noncommissioned officer in the United States Space Force, effective as of April 2020. In this capacity, he acts as the personal senior enlisted advisor to the Chief of Space Operations and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, proper utilization and development of the U.S. Space Force.

Through his career spanning over 3 decades, Chief Towberman has held duties as a ground and airborne cryptologic language and intelligence analyst, in addition to a myriad of leadership roles at the squadron, group, wing, Numbered Air Force, Major Command and Combatant Command level. He has deployed multiple times including in support of Operations Joint Forge, Allied Force, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Unified Protector. As a Career Enlisted Aviator, he has logged more than 4,500 flying hours.

This is part 2 of a 2-part interview on the Air Force JAG Corps Air Reserve Component (ARC). We continue in discussion with our 3 guests including Brigadier General Mitch Neurock, Lieutenant Colonel Rebecca Otey, and Captain Amanda Wang who collectively share their stories and unique officer perspectives on serving in the ARC, how to balance part-time service with a civilian career, leverage their military training in professional development, and how to apply if interested.

Note: Since the recording and production of this interview, Brigadier General Neurock was appointed as Major General and will be the Mobilization Assistant to The Judge Advocate General. Captain Wang also recently promoted to Major. Congratulations to both on their achievements!

This is part 1 of a great 2-part interview for anyone who may have an interest in serving their country part-time through the Air Force JAG Corps Air Reserve Component, or ARC, which includes the Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard.

We have 3 guests on the show including Brigadier General Mitch Neurock, Lt Col Rebecca Otey, and Capt Amanda Wang who collectively share their stories and unique officer perspectives on serving in the Air Force JAG Corps ARC, how to balance part-time service with a civilian career, leverage their military training in professional development, and how to apply if interested.