PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
* ***** ******* ************** *** case tracking experience, providing support to staff attorneys by performing legal research and assembling information and files and prepares packets for use by attorneys. Unquestioned integrity and exhaustive work ethic and over 20 years of military and public servant administrative assistant experience.
Team-Player with leadership experience. Current USAR Chief Paralegal Noncommission Officer (NCO), Federal Civilian Paralegal Specialist
Active Clearance - Secret
Engaged in partnership building efforts with AC/RC integration by collaborating with attorneys and paralegals within the Pacific Command and the JAG Corps.
Proven ability to manage and preserve case law files and documents, conducts legal research of statues, regulations, court and administrative precedents, using applicable laws databases and various other governing policies. \
Customer Service Experience in assisting clients and Soldiers with legal services to include military civilian family member’s active duty service members and connecting them with resources in the legal community.
SKILLS
Proficient with Microsoft Office products, including Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, Adobe Pro, SharePoint and One Note
Proficient and experienced user of Adobe Pro; scanned documents and file redaction
Experienced and skilled in using legal research tools such as WestLaw, Lexis Nexis, the Army Publishing Directorate, and DoD publication databases
Proficient with Army and JAG Corps digital applications; Administrative Law Case System (ALCS), files share systems and repositories, Army and Command portals
ATAAPS certifier for Civilian personnel (Timesheets / Payroll entry)
CIVILIAN WORK EXPERIENCE:
Civil Law Paralegal (Labor/Environmental) 2020- current
Administrative Law
Paralegal Specialist, (June 2015 – 2020)
25TH Infantry Division Headquarters/ U.S. Army
Garrison Building 580, Kolekole Avenue
Schofield Barracks, HI 96857
Hrs. per week: 40
Serves as Paralegal Specialist in the Administrative and Civil Law Division of the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, 25ID & U.S. Army Hawaii. Provides direct legal support to military and Civilian attorneys in Labor and Employment Law, Environmental Law, Contract and Fiscal Law, and Administrative Law.
Responsible for intake of all legal actions. Assists the Chief of Administrative Law in assigning cases while balancing case load for 9 attorneys, ensuring legal actions are processed quickly, without unnecessary delay.
Manages and preserves case files and all legal records, ensuring compliance with applicable policies and regulations.
Tracks and manages all cases using online JAG Corps application. Created and maintains analogue backup system to ensure continuity for case tracking.
Conducts legal research and prepares legal documents. Researches policies, case law, state and federal statutes, and other sources applicable to the topic or issue. Prepares legal opinions, notifications, motions, and other documents for review by supervising attorney. Regularly prepares written and digital correspondence on behalf of supervising attorney and Staff Judge Advocate.
Prepares case files for administrative separation boards and hearings; provides paralegal support to boards and hearings.
Conducts witness interviews with supervising attorney and provides summarized transcription when needed.
Provides weekly case reports to Chief of Administrative Law and Staff Judge Advocate. Prepares quarterly reports for Garrison Commander and Commanding General.
Responsible for reviewing files and preparing responses to FOIA requests. Reviews and redacts documents including 15-6 and Line of Duty investigations.
Provides legal support to ethics attorney and manages system for 450 and 278 filers.
Liaisons with 25th Infantry Division staff primaries and Directorate chiefs for USAG-HI, maintaining productive working relationships and regularly updating them on pending legal actions.
Maintains shared drive, organizing and properly filing hundreds of thousands of documents in the OSJA database.
Prepares investigative packets, organizes files into archive share drive portal for retrieval and submission of large files to AHRC CAC via SAFE depository system.
Ensures compliance with all Federal, State, Department of Defense and Department of the Army requirements for information management.
Paralegal Specialist, USARPAC OSJA (October 2012 - June 2015) Ft. Shafter, HI
Supervisor: Mrs. Coral Peisch / Mr. Mike Lawlor Pay grade: GS-09
Hours per week: 40
Oversees a variety of tasks related to general administrative functions and Paralegal support procedures.
Works directly with all the full time support personnel relating to personnel records, correspondence, maintenance of files, records disposition in accordance with regulations and other personnel actions.
Reviews incoming regulations and directives relating to administration and military personnel programs, functions and procedures and also reviews policies and instructions that affects overall readiness.
Provides advice, assistance and coordination. Administrative and Paralegal services and functions including correspondence, records and filing, forms, data case tracking reports management.
Participates in staff meetings, conference and trainings on updates to daily functions or any areas of concern.
Attends Lexis Nexis training and other related areas of Administrative and legal subject.
Provides input and guidance and advice on Administrative priorities of effort. Assist attorneys on any related matters require administrative attention.
Maintains calendar and briefs staff and higher ups as needed.
Answers phone, refers legal inquiries, takes messages, and reviews documents for completion. Conducts routine administrative task such as coordinating with other agency representatives scheduling meetings, making copies, preparing and mailing correspondence.
Manages and tracks office supplies for staff; prepares itemized order as needed; assist with purchases from GSA vendor.
Keeps files and records; organizes and maintains case files for attorneys, keep record archives, calendars and office action trackers.
Emergency Action Controller, Installation Operations Center (IOC) (Oct 2009 – Jun 2012) United States Army Garrison (USAG-HI), DPTMS
Wheeler Army Airfield (WAAF) Schofield Barracks, HI Supervisor: Mr. John Aquino
Hours per week: 48
Responsible for implementing actions required in compliance with instructions contained in Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA), United States Army Pacific Command, (USARPAC), Pacific Command (PACOM), National Military Command Center (NMCC), and 25th Infantry Division (ID) and United States Army, Hawaii (USARHAW) Emergency Action Procedures (EAP, Vol I), Alert Systems, and Crisis Actions for general and limited war situations. Serves as lead Action Controller during shift assignments, monitor all on-going situations in a 2 person integrity (TPI) team in a secure facility within the Installation Operations Center. Follows established procedures for receipt, authentication, interpretation, and dissemination of classified, unclassified messages and time sensitive classified precedence coded Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Emergency Action Messages (EAMs). Manage Commander Critical Information Requirements (CCIR) and Serious Incident Reports (SIR’s) in accordance with 25th ID, 8th Theatre Support Command (TSC) and USAG-HI CCIR implementation instructions, regulations, local Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Command Guidance. Support the USARPAC, and the 25th ID and USARHAW Crisis Action Staff.
Represent the Command Group during non-duty hours. Execute Emergency Action Procedures, subjected to scheduled random EA test and exercises conducted by higher headquarters. Initiate alert notification system as required. Throughout shift maintains logs of significant shift events for continuity of operations. Maintain and operate the Global Command Control System- Joint (GCC-J), Defense Switched Network (DSN), Pacific Mobile Emergency Radio System (PACMERS), Single-Channel Ground-Air Radio System (SINGARS), Tactical Satellite Radio (TACSAT), Defense Message System (DMS), Personnel Alerting System (PAS) and other systems. Track and maintain key/recall procedures REVERSE 911 Interaction Community Notification System.
Responsible for the receipt, editing and taking appropriate action on incidents covers in AR 190-45 concerning 25th ID (L) and USARHAW forces. Processes information received from the Casualty assistance Center on deaths and or accident related issues, responsible for the Installation SIR’s, Incident Reporting (IR), Fire Buckets, Hot Loops, Lightning Strike Net, DRB/OSB procedures, Emergency Evacuation and Emergency Destruction procedures (EE/ED), Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) assistance, Bomb Threats, Military Assistance to Safety Traffic (MAST) missions, weather related incidents, FOD program, Communication Security, and other significant activities.
Establishes and maintains communication with higher headquarters via TACSAT using key inscription devices KOI-18, KYK-15, and/or ANCYZ-10, receives and relays time critical messages for the 25th ID, 8th TSC and USAG-HI Commanders and his staff via SIPR / NIPR net, monitors all current event activities locally and globally. Currently EA Certified and possess a secret clearance.
MILITARY EXPERIENCE:
USAR, Theater Support Group-Pacific (09/2015- present)
Chief Paralegal NCOIC
1557 Suehiro Rd, Ft. Shafter
Supervisor: LTC Charles Djou
438-1600 x 3117
Serves as the Chief Paralegal NCO responsible for the coordination and administration of military justice support and services to the TSG Chief of Adlaw and the judge advocates within the command. Coordinates legal actions, provides notary services, powers of attorneys and general legal inquires, safeguards attorney and client privileged information records. Compiles case reports into the Military Justice and Administrative Law data base, summarizes memorandum of transcripts, serves as Board Recorder for Administrative Separations, Board of Inquiries, Article 32’s and Commanders inquiries. Conducts legal research using other tools identified by supervising attorneys and OSJA leaders. Draft legal memoranda and briefs in support of pending claims or court actions. Prepares legal opinions, notifications, motions, and other documents for review. Assist with interviews of witnesses to prepare for trial. Assigns case numbers, open and close tracking and status of pending cases. Reports and briefs JAG officers on myriad of legal issues pertaining to soldiers in the command. Prepares and submits reports to 9th MSC JAG office, trained and utilized the MPDV (mobilization processing data viewer) data base during Soldier Readiness Processing. Special emphasis serves as the NCOIC during SRP missions. Prepares RFO’s DTS, submits voucher for travel processing, 1380’s, provides notaries to Soldiers and families, input CIS for clients serviced by attorneys for wills and powers of attorneys or legal opines.
Attends IPR’s and system access training with relations to SRP MPDV data entries in RLAS.
9TH MSC OSJA (09/2015- 12/2016)
Senior Paralegal NCO
1557 Suehiro Rd, Ft. Shafter
ADOS (Active Duty Operational Support)
Provides administrative and civil law support. Advise installation officials on administrative law (i.e., command authority, international law and operational law, ethics, etc.) and civil law (i.e., environmental law, contract and fiscal law, labor and employment law, environmental, and administrative law hearings, including legal matters required to be filed or presented in civilian courts, etc.). Responsible for researching varied and complex civil law issues in the course of drafting government motions and responses; participating and assisting in preparation for trial by compiling, organizing, and indexing various evidentiary authorities; reviewing investigative reports, files, and documents to identify pertinent material for the trial attorney; assisting in the preparation of government and expert witnesses for trial, preparing drafts on a variety of legal documents; performing legal research through the use of legal databases and other available technologies as well as traditional research sources; shepardizes, proofreads and verifies citations and statutory references against original, sources such as legal texts, etc.; and participates in witness interviews, taking notes and providing summary transcript when required. Develops and executes an electronic and hard copy file management system for civil law support ensuring the ability to easily access information documenting command decisions and staff action relevant for potential or existing civil litigation. Provide military justice support: Conduct courts martial. Prosecute courts martial. Provide statutorily required victim and witness assistance. Provide commanders and law enforcement agencies responsive, correct, legal advice. Conduct prosecution research and investigations. Conduct U.S. District Court and U.S. Magistrate Court prosecutions. Provide client services: Assist eligible individuals and address personal legal issues Provide client services, assist eligible individuals and address personal legal issues responsively and professionally. Provide claims support: Investigate, process and settle meritorious tort, personnel, Article 139, and other claims arising from military operations and activities. Completes reports, secures documents for quarterly reports to the Administrative Officer. Prepares legal opinions, notifications, motions, action memos for signature and other documents for review by supervising attorney, and makes required edits as directed.
Assist Attorneys in preparation of Administrative Separation Boards, Board of Inquiry’s and Special Court Martials. Performs various duties involving different and unrelated processes such as case analysis, legal research, interviewing witnesses, summarizing and explaining case files, dispositions or interrogatories. Analyzes the task to be accomplished identifies discrepancies or any missing information. Identifies appropriate guide and develops a plan to complete the assignment. Ensures mobilization preparedness during SRP’s, reviews wide range of action documents submitted by subordinate companies and detachments. Assist the units in attaining documents to create Soldier Readiness Processing Packets ensuring 2760’s and Checklist for legal is maintained. Serves as the liaison between the Companies, unit’s higher echelon to acquire successful readiness. Provide assistance with travel authorizations in the Defense Travel System and ensure processing of orders are complete for paralegals needing to be present for boards or court details.
Prepare slides for attorney’s mandatory legal briefs, train paralegals in preparation for the various SRP missions at down trace units and remote sites in Oahu, American Samoa, Hilo, Alaska, Korea, Guam and Saipan. Advise staff on administrative matters in formulating a variety of correspondence. Attends IPR’s, Sync Meeting, Pride Team Update Brief and the Master Event Calendar meetings. Establish internal auditing controls to ensure all programmed funds are expended, and request more funds for un-resourced requirements, assist unit preparation for Command and staff visits, inspections, and similar visits. Advise the SJA and staff on policy matters on all phases of the Army Reserve Program, maintain liaison with higher headquarters and other commands within USARPAC relating to the command and the reserve program, review incoming directives, policies, and instructions from higher headquarters, review status of organizations training programs and activities, effect minor disciplinary measures, identify training needs of employees to assure the conduct of such training, direct, assign and assist with distributing and balancing the workload, and personally performs such duties.
All daily duties are accomplished by utilizing the different programs of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access Lexis Nexis, One note, JAGCNET, AIPP, MILSUITE and other research engines to JAG database entries and tracking using internet, government and traditional research sources. Currently trained on and/or utilize the following systems: Regional Level Application Software (RLAS), Reserve Component Automation System (RCAS), ATAAPS as timekeeper and certifier Integrated Web Services (IWS), Personnel Electronic Records Management System (iPERMS), Defense Travel System (DTS) CitiDirect Card Management System, Tour of Duty (TOD), Evaluation Entry System (EES),Tour of Duty (TOD/MOBCOP) and Army G1 Website.
303d MEB (Maneuver Enhancement Brigade) Paralegal NCO
Bldg. 1555, Ft. Shafter, HI (08/2010 – 09/2015) Supervisor: MAJ O’ Grady / 1LT Valencia- 808-***-****
Serves as the Paralegal NCOIC, 303rd MEB under the Supervision of the 9th MSC JAG directly supports two Attorneys. Compiles and conducts research on assigned areas and preparation of all pretrial actions to include UCMJ action and court martial referrals, administrative separations and memoranda of reprimand. Process all post-trail actions to include Staff Judge Advocate recommendation, CG actions, promulgating orders, and final records of trial. Performs other leadership and Paralegal duties as required. Assist full time personnel with separation packets and other legal action. Investigates documents provided as part of case files, reviewing for accuracy and confirming details as required by the case. Conducts legal research using other tools identified by supervising attorneys and OSJA leaders. Assist Attorneys in preparation of Administrative Separation Boards, Board of Inquiry’s and Special Court Martials. Performs various duties involving different and unrelated processes such as case analysis, legal research, interviewing witnesses, summarizing and explaining case files, dispositions or interrogatories. Analyzes the task to be accomplished identifies discrepancies or any missing information. Identifies appropriate guide and develops a plan to complete the assignment.
Performs a variety of tasks related to general administrative functions and procedures. Directly works with all the full time support personnel relating to personnel records, correspondence, maintenance of files, records disposition in accordance with regulations and other personnel actions. Handles all Legal Administrative matters for the office.
1101st Garrison Support Unit – Human Resources NCOIC Directorate of Human Resources (DHR)
Bldg. 750, Schofield Barracks, HI
Supervisor: Mr. Arthur Neff
Hours per week: 40
Serves as the NCOIC at Directorate of Human Resources (DHR), provides direct supervision and mentorship to Solders; works as a team leader in the in/out processing during deployment/redeployment of the 25ID (L) units, to include the Hawaii Army National Guard (HIARNG), Guam Army National Guard (GUANG) and the Army Reserve (USAR) units in accordance with (IAW) Army Regulations, 25ID and USARHAW Policies and Procedures.
Responsible in directing /briefing Soldiers at readiness stations at Conroy Bowl Schofield Barracks by chalks using Readiness Deployment Checklist and the DCS Tracking Checklist; verifies overall readiness status. Validate Soldiers deployments. Responsible to orally brief or write delay reports to senior officials/civilians in meetings, which require extensive preparation of briefing materials.
Responsible to communicate any changes to Civilian and Military Leaders via email or telephonically as situation arises. Possesses thorough knowledge of the execution of Operational plans (OPLANs), Contingency plans (CONPLANS), Fragmentary Orders (FRAGO’s); and tasking orders.
Analyzes the mobilization mission, basic concepts within this framework additional guidance and instructions for staff and counterparts at subordinate headquarters. Handles enormous information flow. Skill in operating equipment, personal computers, word processor, or computer terminal with additional electronic typewriter style keyboard, power point, Word, Excel, Microsoft Office, Windows10, and Access formats to perform a variety of operations and functions using a standard typewriter style keyboard with additional function keys knowledge of grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation commonly used in office settings to prepare material correctly, from drafts or brief slides presentations. Skilled in entering data into computer database ability to read and follow written instructions. Qualified typist – able to type over 40 wpm.
322d Civil Affairs Brigade, Finance NCOIC (Apr 2005-May 2006) 1555 Ft. Shafter, HI
Deployed Baghdad, Iraq Supervisor – LTC Miriam Cruz
Involuntary Activated for Operation Iraq Freedom for Service in Iraq. Supported G8 Section in a 3 team personnel office. Under the guidance of senior officers Budget Analyst.
Administratively supported the mission of the civil affairs brigade in support of finance management and OHDACA programs and other funding’s required for support of fiscal contracts, and services used to enhance readiness, and ensuring that contract requirements are met according to the guidelines and regulations. Keeps track of funds, procurement of specialty items in support of the humanitarian assistance and track any future requirements. Adhere to administration and military personnel programs, functions and procedures and also reviews finance policies and instructions that affects overall readiness. Prepares correspondence, file keeping, records management, validated, accounted for and, maintained tracking of government spent dollars. Assist section with data spreadsheet entry updates. Called, made contacts, and e-mailed commands/units to collect information on behalf of directorate and, or as a reminder of actions due. Gathered and researched information for the Chief of G8 and the Assistant Budget Officer. Participated in gathering and reviewing data. Responsible for review and analysis of data reports of incoming and outgoing correspondence. Occasionally assigns and distributes, and review work of subordinate units / sections within the command. Attended meetings ensuring all paperwork is distributed which received high praise from general officers. Data and report tracking for higher echelon situational awareness and reporting requirements.
Facilitated trip planning and preparation as well as attended Staff Assisted Visits throughout Iraq. Served as a key point of contact in regarding contracts and finance inquiries related to OHDACA. Participated in preparation of recommendation of awards and periodic evaluation NCOER. Maintained Section Library. Maintained occasional liaison with higher headquarters when reports and assorted suspense's are due.
EDUCATION:
College/University High School Diploma
John F. Kennedy High (May 1981)
University of Guam Mangilao, Guam (Public Administration)
Guam Community College (May 89-Jun 90)
(Criminal Law)
Technical School (Apr 82-Jun
83) International Business College (Secretarial / Executive Assistant)
Columbia Southern University (2019-current) (Criminal Law)
Military Education:
Senior Paralegal Specialist Course (Apr –Jun 2010) – Ft. Jackson South Carolina
University of Virginia
Financial Management Tech and Accounting Specialist (Jul 1997) - Ft. Riley
Kansas
Primary Leadership (Jun 90) Development Course (PLDC) 4960TH (AAFB, Guam)
Continental Air (Passenger Service Agent Course (Jun
89) Guam (WonPat) Intl Air Terminal
Automated Logistics Specialist (Jun-Aug 84) Ft. Lee, Virginia
Emergency Action Controller (WAAF), Schofield Barracks
ATAAPS (Army Time keepers System)
Advance Law for Paralegals
Advance Non-Commissioned Officer Course (Phase II)
Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course (BNCOC) Equal Opportunity Course
MRT
FEMA/DSCA
Completed Courses:
IS 00022
IS-00200.FWa
IS-00546 / 00547a IS-00700.a
IS-0800.b
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Chief Paralegal NCO, USAR, TSG-Pacific Senior Paralegal NCO 9th MSC OSJA
Acting 1SG USAR, TSG (as needed during battle assembly)
Emergency Action Controller / NCO in the IOC (Installation Operations Center) G8 NCOIC, Operation Iraqi Freedom (Camp Slayer)
Human Resources Sergeant Finance NCO
HONORS. AWARDS. AND SPECIAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Global War on Terrorism Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal w/Campaign Star
Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (2d Award) National Defense Service Medal w/2 ICM-CS
Meritorious Service Medal Army Service Ribbon Overseas Service Ribbon Army Commendation Medal Army Achievement Medal Army Good Conduct Medal
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (5th award) Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/M Device
Armed Forces Reserve Medal Achievement Medal for Civilian Service
1992 Employee of the Quarter (1st Qtr.), Guam Power Authority 1992 and 1993 Employee of the Year Award (Guam Power Authority) Soldier of the Month, 1986 for most outstanding Soldier
295th Supply Company, U.S. Army (Ft. Lewis Washington)