[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 99 (Monday, July 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7133-S7134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
                                  ____

               COMMENDING VICE ADMIRAL BRUCE E. MacDONALD

 Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, today I honor VADM Bruce E. 
MacDonald, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, who is retiring 
after more than 31 years of faithful service to our Nation, culminating 
in his service as the Judge Advocate General of the Navy.
  VADM Bruce MacDonald was born in 1956 in Cincinnati, OH. He graduated 
from the College of the Holy Cross in 1978 with a bachelor of arts 
degree in English, and entered the Navy in May of that year.
  Vice Admiral MacDonald was commissioned an ensign in the unrestricted 
line through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. Following 
surface warfare training, he reported to the USS Hepburn, FF 1055, in 
October 1979, where he served as the Main Propulsion Assistant and 
Navigator. After a 2-year tour at Fleet Combat Training Center, 
Pacific, where he served as Intermediate Combat Systems Team Training 
and Advanced Multi-Threat Team Training Course Director, he was 
selected for the Navy's Law Education Program in 1984. He received his 
degree of Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in 1987.
  In 1987, Vice Admiral MacDonald reported to Naval Legal Service 
Office, San Diego, where he served as Senior Defense Counsel, Trial 
Counsel, and Medical Care Recovery Act claims officer. In 1990, he 
reported aboard USS Independence, CV 62, as the Command Judge Advocate. 
After receiving a master of laws degree from Harvard Law School in 
1992, he was transferred to Seoul, Republic of Korea, where he served 
as Chief, Operational Law Division, on the staffs of United Nations 
Command, Combined Forces Command and United States Forces Korea. He 
also served as Staff Judge Advocate on the staff of U.S. Naval Forces 
Korea.
  In August 1994, Vice Admiral MacDonald reported aboard Naval Legal 
Service Office Northwest as its executive officer. In November 1996, he 
became the Officer-in-Charge of Trial

[[Page S7134]]

Service Office West Detachment, Bremerton, WA. In July 1997, he 
reported to Commander Seventh Fleet in Yokosuka, Japan, as the Fleet 
Judge Advocate. Vice Admiral MacDonald assumed command of Naval Legal 
Service Office, Northwest, in August 1999, serving as commanding 
officer until June 2002. He was assigned to the Pentagon as the Special 
Counsel to the Chief of Naval Operations from June 2002 through October 
2004. In November 2004, Vice Admiral MacDonald became the Deputy Judge 
Advocate General of the Navy and Commander, Naval Legal Service 
Command. In July 2006, Vice Admiral MacDonald assumed his current 
position as Judge Advocate General of the Navy.
  Vice Admiral MacDonald is admitted to practice before the courts of 
the State of California and the U.S. District Court for the Southern 
District of California. His military decorations include the Navy 
Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars, 
the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Meritorious Service 
Medal with Gold Star, the Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star, and 
the Navy Achievement Medal with Gold Star.
  It is through the commitment and sacrifice of Americans such as Vice 
Admiral MacDonald that our Nation is able to continue upon the path of 
democracy and strive for the betterment of mankind. I am proud to thank 
him, his wife Karen, and daughter Erin for his honorable service to our 
nation in the U.S. Navy. I wish him fair winds and following seas as he 
concludes a distinguished naval career.

                          ____________________