[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16896-16897]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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              COMMENDING LIEUTENANT GENERAL SCOTT C. BLACK

 Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and pay 
tribute to LTG Scott C. Black for his many years of loyal and 
exceptionally meritorious service to our Nation culminating in his 
steadfast devotion, stewardship, and leadership of the Army Judge 
Advocate General's Corps as the 37th and first 3-Star Judge Advocate 
General. Lieutenant General Black will retire from the Army on 1 
October 2009 having completed a distinguished military

[[Page 16897]]

career of over 35 years. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his many 
contributions to our Nation and the legal profession, particularly 
during operations in support of the global war on terror.
  Born on September 1, 1952, in Camp Cook, CA, this great patriot grew 
up traveling around the world in a military family but always 
considered California his home and is a resident to this day. He 
graduated in 1974 from California Polytechnic State University with a 
bachelor of arts in political science. While attending Cal Poly, 
Lieutenant General Black was enrolled in the Reserve Officers' Training 
Corps. Upon graduation, he began his military career as a commissioned 
armor officer. After completing the armor officer basic course and 
Airborne and Ranger schools, he returned to California for his first 
duty assignment and served at Fort Ord from 1974-1977. In 1977, the 
Army selected him to attend law school through the Funded Legal 
Education Program. He remained on the west coast and graduated in 1980 
with his juris doctor degree from the California Western School of Law.
  He then attended the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course in 
Charlottesville, VA, before heading to Fort Bliss, TX, where he honed 
his legal skills serving as the chief of legal assistance; trial 
counsel; chief, criminal law; and as a contracts attorney. In 1984, he 
returned to Charlottesville to attend the judge advocate officer 
graduate course. In the short time he was a judge advocate before 
attending the graduate course, Lieutenant General Black quickly 
distinguished himself from his peers as possessing the legal acumen and 
interpersonal skills to serve in the Judge Advocate General's Corps' 
most visible and challenging positions. From 1985-1989 he served in the 
general law branch, administrative law division, Office of The Judge 
Advocate General. During this time period, he received the high honor 
and rare distinction of being selected to serve as an assistant counsel 
to the President of the United States. After leaving the White House, 
his stellar performance led to his selection to attend the U.S. Army 
Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS. In 1990, he 
returned to Fort Ord, CA, where he served as the deputy staff judge 
advocate for the 7th Infantry Division, Light, until 1993. After 
leaving Fort Ord, Lieutenant General Black continued to expertly fill 
and excel in challenging positions.
  In 1993, Lieutenant General Black and his family moved to Europe 
where he was the chief, military and civil law division, Office of the 
Judge Advocate, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany. In 1994 he 
became the staff judge Advocate, 3d Infantry Division, later 
redesignated 1st Infantry Division, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army, 
Germany. In 1996, he returned to Washington, DC, where he served as the 
legislative counsel and chief, investigations and legislative division, 
Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of 
the Army, until 1998. From 1998-1999, Lieutenant General Black attended 
the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. In 1999 he returned to the 
Office of The Judge Advocate General to serve as the chief, personnel, 
plans, and training office. In 2000, Lieutenant General Black returned 
to Germany as the staff judge advocate, V Corps, U.S. Army Europe and 
Seventh Army, Germany.
  In 2001 Lieutenant General Black was selected for promotion to 
brigadier general, and so he returned to Washington, DC, to serve as 
the assistant judge advocate general for military law and operations. 
In 2003 he was assigned as the first commanding general of the U.S. 
Army Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School. In 2005 he 
became the 37th The judge advocate general of the Army. He was promoted 
to lieutenant general on 8 December 2008 to become the Army's first 3-
star the judge advocate general.
  As the judge advocate general of the Army, Lieutenant General Black 
served as the principal staff officer responsible for the largest legal 
services corps within the Department of Defense, with over 9,000 
uniformed and civilian attorneys, paralegal noncommissioned officers, 
and civilian support staff across 651 offices in 19 countries. 
Lieutenant General Black expertly advised the Secretary of the Army and 
the Army Staff on sensitive issues affecting the Army and the 
Department of Defense during a tumultuous and difficult time in our 
Nation's history. Along with the judge advocate generals of the other 
services he was the conscious of the nation as he provided counsel on 
novel legal issues in international law and the ethical values 
fundamental to the United States.
  Under his leadership the Judge Advocate General's Corps transitioned 
along with the rest of the Army so that judge advocates were more 
accessible and effective to the commanders who rely on their advice. 
Lieutenant General Black's awards include the Legion of Merit with Oak 
Leaf Cluster, Army Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf 
Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army 
Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. He has earned the Ranger Tab 
and the Parachutist Badge.
  Lieutenant General Black and his wonderful wife Kim have been married 
for 33 years. They have four children and one grandchild.
  I know all my colleagues join me in saluting LTG Scott C. Black and 
his family for their many years of truly outstanding service to the 
Judge Advocate General's Corps, the U.S. Army, and our great 
Nation.

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