Purpose
African American JAG Biographies is an ongoing project by former JAG Officer Calvin L. Lewis, the purpose of which is to create an anthology of African American Judge Advocates, past and present.
Upon completion, this website will contain the biographies of African American Judge Advocates, past and present, as well as a forum to bring current and former African American JAGs into contact with one another. This website will also provide an online survey for African American JAGs who may use it to submit their service information for the creation of their biographies.
Soliciting Your Biography
I am soliciting information of all kinds pertaining to African American lawyers who served currently or previously in the Army JAG Corps. Please send information to Calvin L. Lewis at Texas Tech University School of Law at 1802 Hartford Avenue, Lubbock, Texas 79409-0004 or call (806) 742-3990, ext 274.
Biography Sample: Calvin Lionel Lewis
Colonel Calvin Lewis served on active duty in the US Army JAG Corps from October 1978 to October 2003. Born on September 26, 1953, in Franklin, VA, he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work in 1975 from Norfolk State College (now University) in Norfolk, Virginia, a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1978, and a Masters of Strategic Studies in 2000 from the US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA.
Colonel Lewis was commissioned a Captain in the JAG Corps on September 25, 1978. He graduated from the 88th Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course in December 1978, and was assigned to the US Army Training Center at Fort Dix, NJ. At Fort Dix he served as Chief of Legal Assistance and Trial Counsel from 1978-82. Then he was assigned to Korea from 1982-83, first as Chief of Civil Law at 2d Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea, then as Administrative Law Attorney at 8th Army in Seoul, Korea. From 1983-84 Colonel Lewis attended the 32d Graduate Course in Charlottesville, Virginia, and was assigned thereafter as a JAG Recruiter with the Office of the Judge Advocate General, Washington, D.C., from 1984-86. Colonel Lewis then became Associate Professor of Law at the JAG School in Charlottesville, VA from 1986-89. He was next assigned as the Officer-in-Charge of the Augsburg Legal Center, VII Corps, Augsburg, Germany, from 1989-91, during which he deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Storm. While deployed, Colonel Lewis served concurrently as Chief of Military Justice for VII Corps and as Command Judge Advocate for VII Corps Artillery. Following his tour at VII Corps, Colonel Lewis was assigned to the US Army Air Defense Artillery Center at Fort Bliss, TX as the Deputy SJA from 1991-93. From 1993-94, he was a student at CGSC at the Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, KS. Colonel Lewis then served as the Command Judge Advocate for Human Resources Command (previously known as PERSCOM) in Alexandria, VA from 1994-97. From 1997-99 he served as the SJA for the 21st Theater Support Command in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Colonel Lewis then attended the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA, as a student from 1999-2000. After completion of the Army War College, Colonel Lewis was assigned as Chief Judge for the Far East, located in Seoul, Korea, from 2000-2001. Colonel Lewis’s last assignment was as Deputy Commandant of the Army JAG School in Charlottesville, VA from 2001-03. He retired from active duty in October 2003.
During his military career, COL Lewis received numerous awards, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal. Colonel Lewis was the first African-American Deputy Commandant (now called the Dean) of the Army JAG School. Since retirement, Colonel Lewis has been living in Lubbock, TX where he serves as Associate Dean for Student Affairs & Diversity at Texas Tech University School of Law; he previously served as Associate Professor of Law at the same school. He is a member of the State Bar of Virginia.