JAMES M. COYNE
Associate General Counsel, Logistics, Operations/Readiness, and
Chief Counsel, Overseas Operations, Defense Logistics Agency
James (Jim) Coyne joined the Office of General Counsel, Defense Logistics Agency, on March 1, 2010, after almost two years as the first Deputy Legal Counsel for U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany, where he assisted in the stand up of the Office of Legal Counsel in support of U.S. Africa Command achieving Unified Command Status. Prior to that he served 27 ½ years as an Army Judge Advocate, retiring in the rank of Colonel.
Mr. Coyne's military assignments included seven tours as a Staff Judge Advocate (senior legal advisor), three in operational deployments: U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), Hawaii; Multinational Force Iraq (MNF-I), OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF), Iraq; U.S. European Command (EUCOM), Germany, during which time he participated in OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF); U.S. V Corps, Germany; Stabilization Forces (SFOR), OPERATION JOINT FORGE, Bosnia-Herzegovina; 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One), Germany; and Task Force Eagle/Multinational Division North, OPERATION JOINT GUARD, Bosnia-Herzegovina. His staff positions include Legal Advisor in the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army; Chief, Military and Civil Law, U.S. Army Europe & 7th Army, Germany; and Executive Officer to the Judge Advocate for U.S. Army Europe & 7th Army, Germany. His other assignments include Chief of Claims for 1st Armored Division during OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM, two tours as an Officer in Charge of a Law Center in Germany (Grafenwoehr and Bamberg); Chief, Administrative Law, Germany; two tours as Chief, Criminal Law in Germany and Alaska; Chief, Legal Assistance, Alaska; and Trial Defense Counsel, Germany.
Mr. Coyne's military and civilian education includes: Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Criminal Justice, California State University, Sacramento, California; Juris Doctorate (JD), McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, Sacramento, California; Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course, Charlottesville, Virginia; Masters of Law (LL.M), The Judge Advocate General's School, Charlottesville, Virginia; resident and non-resident Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and Masters in Strategic Studies (MSS), U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Coyne's civilian awards include the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Medal and Joint Meritorious Unit Award. His military awards and decorations include two Defense Superior Service Medals, two Legion of Merits, Bronze Star, eight Meritorious Service Medals, two Joint Service Commendation Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, three Joint Meritorious Unit Commendations, Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, three Army Superior Unit Commendations, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal (one star), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (one star), Southwest Asia Service Ribbon (3 campaign stars), Iraqi Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal (one star), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with number 10, NATO Medal (one star), Saudi Arabia/Kuwait Liberation Medal, Kuwait/Kuwait Liberation Medal, Army Parachutist Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
Mr. Coyne is a member of the California Bar, the District of Columbia Bar, and the US Supreme Court. His writings include "Back to the Future: The Role of the Military in Enforcing the Rule of Law,” Strategy Research Paper, US Army War College, 2001; "From OSS to USSOCOM: Lessons Learned” Fall 2001 (vol 14, No 4) edition of Special Warfare magazine.
He is married to the former Sally E. Premo, an elementary school teacher, from Roseville, California.