[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16837-16838]
[From the U.S. 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

[[Page 16838]]

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 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.

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