MG (Ret.) Tate, right, addresses nearly 200 celebrants at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the U.S. Army Legal Services Agency, May 25. Former and current USALSA Soldiers, Civilian employees, and friends gathered at USALSA headquarters for the notable occasion.

U.S. Army Legal Services Agency Celebrates a Half-Century of Legal Excellence

On May 25, 2023, the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps celebrated the U.S. Army Legal Services Agency’s 50th Anniversary.  USALSA alumni, current employees, and friends gathered to participate in a full day of events to commemorate the joyous occasion which included a fun run, a scavenger hunt award presentation, multiple receptions, and a keynote address delivered by MG (Ret.) Clyde “Butch” Tate, former USALSA Commander.  

 

The United States Army Legal Services Agency (USALSA) was established as a field operating agency of The Judge Advocate General in 1973.  USALSA is the largest legal organization in the Army.  Its original mission was to provide administrative support for the Army Judiciary, the various appellate counsel divisions, and the Contract Appeals Division.  The Army Judiciary, Trial Judiciary, Government Appellate Division, Defense Appellate Division and the Contract Appeals Division were the original organizations that existed at the time USALSA was founded.  Today, USALSA encompasses more than 20 different offices, divisions, and activities, while being engaged in worldwide missions, with close to 500 personnel, including both active duty and civilian. These include:

 

·         Office of the Commander, USALSA

·         Administrative and Operations Division

·         U. S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals

·         Clerk of Court

·         U.S. Army Trial Judiciary

·         Trial Counsel Assistance Program

·         Defense Appellate Division

·         U.S. Army Trial Defense Service

·         Government Appellate Division

·         Contract Litigation and Intellectual Property Division

·         Environmental Law Division

·         Litigation Division

 

·         Civilian Personnel Litigation Branch

·         General Litigation Branch

·         Military Personnel Litigation Branch

·         Tort Litigation Branch

·         Advocacy Center

·         e-Discovery

·         Information Technology Division

·         The Judge Advocate Recruiting Office

·         Office of Soldiers Counsel

·         Procurement Fraud Division

·         OTJAG Liaison to PERSCOM

·         The U.S. Army Claims Service

 

 

Thursday’s participants were honored to have former USALSA Commander MG (Ret.) Tate as the keynote speaker.  MG (Ret.) Tate is credited for establishing the USALSA building at its current location on 9275 Gunston Road, Fort Belvoir, VA.  Prior to USALSA’s relocation to Fort Belvoir in 2011, USALSA’s legal offices were scattered across Northern Virginia. The presiding officer for the 50th Anniversary was BG George Smawley, USALSA’s current Commander.

U.S. Army Legal Services Agency