Albion Native Takes Command of Navy Defense Service Office

Photo By Natalie Morehouse | Capt. Bruce A. Gragert, right, salutes Rear Adm. John Hannink, commander, Naval Legal Service Command, during a change of command ceremony. Gragert relieved Capt. Eric C. Price as commanding officer of Defense Service Office North at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy on Aug. 4.  

DC, UNITED STATES

08.04.2017

Story by Natalie Morehouse 

U.S. Navy JAG Corps

Defense Service Office (DSO) North held a change of command ceremony at the National Museum of the United States Navy aboard the Washington Navy Yard, DC on Aug. 4.

Rear Adm. John Hannink, deputy judge advocate general and commander of Naval Legal Service Command, presided over the ceremony in which Capt. Bruce A. Gragert relieved Capt. Eric C. Price as commanding officer of DSO North.

“I'm truly humbled that Vice Adm. James Crawford and Rear Adm. Hannink have given me the opportunity to command,” said Gragert. “It is a privilege to lead such a great team that has a proven track record of success, and I certainly didn't get here based upon my record alone. I wouldn't be in this position if it weren't for the love and support of my family, particularly, my children, Kat and Nic; the work ethic instilled in me by my parents; the mentorship I have received over the years from numerous senior JAG Corps and line officers; and finally, the outstanding men and women with whom I've served over the past 21 years. To all of them, I would like to say thank you.”

Prior to taking command, Gragert served as the force judge advocate for Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic in Norfolk, Va., where he provided legal advice to the commander, staff, and over 100 waterfront commanding officers on a myriad of legal topics, including military justice, ethics, administrative law, operational law, fiscal law, and high profile command investigations.

“As commanding officer of DSO North, it is my responsibility to ensure the members of my command have the necessary training and resources to perform our mission of providing the highest quality legal representation for clients,” said Gragert.

Gragert, a native of Albion, Neb., earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He was commissioned through the JAG Corps Student Program and earned a juris doctor degree at Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Nebraska.

Gragert always knew he wanted to serve his country. He chose the Navy because his grandfather, Bill Thessen, served in the Navy as a Third Class Radioman during World War II and because he wanted to see the ocean.

“The Navy has helped me grow personally and professionally by providing me with the opportunity to live in several different places--California, Japan, Washington, Florida, Virginia, Washington, DC, and Iraq,” said Gragert. “If I hadn't joined the Navy, odds are I wouldn't have experienced different cultures by living overseas. Doing so has broadened my perspective from a more localized view to more of a world view. It also highlighted the many things we take for granted in the United States that others in the world don't have, and that we should be grateful for what we have. At the same time, we need to ensure we protect the freedoms we enjoy. Professionally, the varied jobs I've held in the JAG Corps have challenged me to continue developing my legal knowledge and skills, as no two jobs were the same and on any given day, a high profile incident could arise--but that is what I enjoy about the JAG Corps.

DSO North has offices in Washington, DC, Great Lakes, Ill., Groton, Conn., Annapolis, Md., Rota, Spain, Naples, Italy and Manama, Bahrain, where they provide legal representation to military service members at Administrative Separation Boards, Boards of Inquiry and Courts-Martial, in addition to providing advice to service members on defense-related topics such as nonjudicial punishment.

• Date Taken: 08.04.2017
• Date Posted: 08.21.2017 08:35
• Story ID: 245429
• Location: DC, US
• Hometown: ALBION, NE, US