Each year, the Military Law Section of the State Bar of Texas recognizes two outstanding military judge advocates at its Annual Meeting, held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the State Bar of Texas. The 2007 meeting was held in San Antonio, Texas on 22 June 2007.  This year, the awards went to two very deserving military lawyers: 

• U.S. Navy Lieutenant Heather L. Cassidy, winner of the 2007 Colonel Thomas J. Krauska Award for the Outstanding Young Active Duty Military lawyer in Texas.  Lieutenant Cassidy served as Officer in Charge of the Navy
  Legal Service Office (NLSO) Central in Corpus Christi.  In that role, she coordinated and provided exemplary legal assistance and defense services to all Naval personnel in South Texas -- including their families, retirees in South Texas -- along with numerous members deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan.

• Texas Army National Guard Captain John S. Green, winner of the 2007 Colonel Ted E. Bailey, Jr. Award for the Outstanding Reserve Component Judge Advocate in Texas.  Captain Green is currently assigned to Army Headquarters, Texas Army National Guard in Austin.  He previously deployed to Iraq with the 56th Brigade, 36th Infantry Division, Texas Army National Guard in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 
  

After being nominated for the respective awards, Lieutenant Cassidy and Captain Green were selected from a pool of excellent nominees. 

In addition to recognizing Lieutenant Cassidy's and Captain Green's contributions, the Selection Committees appreciate the accomplishments of all nominees, as well as the efforts of the nominating officials who took the time to recognize their truly outstanding personnel.

The Military Law Section has created these annual awards to recognize the many accomplishments of our military lawyers, and to honor two of the Section's early leaders.  Here is a bit of background concerning the awards, the objectives behind them, and the lawyers they are intended to honor:

1.     Colonel Tom Krauska Award:  From the active-component forces, the Military Law Section presents "The Colonel Tom Krauska Award for Outstanding Service As An Active Duty Military Lawyer Stationed in Texas."  The nominee may be a licensed attorney from any state, as long as he or she is stationed in Texas.  Lawyers stationed in Texas, but temporarily deployed outside the state, are eligible. 

2.    Colonel Ted E. Bailey, Jr. Award:  From the reserve-component forces (i.e., reserve units and the National Guard), the Military Law Section presents the "The Colonel Ted E. Bailey, Jr. Award for Outstanding Service as a Military Lawyer in Texas" to an outstanding reserve-component judge advocate who is a member of the Texas Bar.  Eligible candidates may be assigned to a reserve component unit at any location.  

Who are Col Krauska and Col Bailey?

Colonel Tom Krauska (USAF Ret.) (1919-2006) and Colonel Ted E. Bailey, Jr. (USAR Ret.) are two of the early leaders of the Military Law Section.   The Section was formed in 1958 to serve the active, reserve, and retired military judge advocates of the Bar and to focus on meeting the needs of military members in Texas. It is very appropriate that these two awards, presented annually by the Military Law Section, are named after these outstanding leaders in the military and legal communities.

What do these awards recognize?

Both awards recognize judge advocates' outstanding achievement and service to the civilian, military, and professional communities. The selected officers receive a beautiful plaque in recognition of their respective achievements.

Award Criteria

THE COLONEL TOM KRAUSKA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AS A MILITARY LAWYER IN TEXAS:

• Active component Judge Advocate
• Grade O-2 to O-4
• Stationed in Texas, even if temporarily deployed outside the state
• Based on service to the military, military community, and/or civilian community
  

THE COLONEL TED E. BAILEY, JR. AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AS A MILITARY LAWYER IN TEXAS:

• Texas Judge Advocate
• Grade O-2 to O-4
• Member of State Bar of Texas
• Assigned to any reserve component unit of any branch of the service or member of the National Guard (if IRR, must have performed at least 14 days drill or active duty during the preceding calendar year)

COMMON NOMINATION CRITERIA:

• No specific format is required.
  
• No minimum or maximum length.
  
• The nomination should befit the officer nominated for this award. 
  
• The nominee/recipient must be serving in a Judge Advocate billet/assignment.
  
• The award selection committees will consider military performance, military duties, professional publications, awards and activities, and community/professional service.
  
• Nominations should be made by the supervisor or Staff Judge Advocate, and should describe in detail why the individual is an outstanding military attorney.
  
• Please include specific examples of outstanding performance of military duties.
  
• The nomination may include professional publications, awards, activities, community service, and service to the State Bar.
  
• If the nominating official previously nominated an officer who was not selected, the selection committees still have your earlier nomination on file. Simply send a letter nominating the officer again and give an update on his/her duties/performance since the earlier nomination.