Formation July 29, 1775 Website Official Website | First holder LTC William Tudor | |
 | ||
The Judge Advocate General of the United States Army (TJAG) is the commanding officer of the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the United States Army. Under Title 10 of the United States Code, the TJAG is appointed by the President of the United States. Suitable candidates are recommended by the Secretary of the Army. Title 10 requires the TJAG to hold the rank of lieutenant general and sets the term of office to four years per 10 U.S.C. ยง 3037.
Creation
The position of Judge Advocate General was the brainchild and creation of General George Washington. In a letter to the Continental Congress he wrote, "I would humbly propose that some provision should be made for a judge advocate, and provost-marshal. The necessity of the first appointment was so great that I was obliged to nominate a Mr. Tudor, who was well recommended to me, and now executes the office under an expectation of receiving captain's pay--an allowance (in my opinion) scarcely adequate to the service, in new raised troops, where there are court-martials every day." Congress agreed with Washington and Tudor was formally commissioned as a lieutenant colonel.