JAA President

MAJOR GENERAL JOHN D. ALTENBURG, JR., U.S. ARMY, RETIRED

A principal with the Washington D.C. office of the international law firm Greenberg Traurig (1750 lawyers in 31 offices) since 2002, General Altenburg  was a consultant to the President, World Bank Group before joining Greenberg Traurig in November 2002.  He took a leave of absence (March 2004-November 2006) to serve as the Appointing Authority for Military Commissions where he was reponsible for reviewing charges and evidence against individuals after the President determined them to be subject to the jurisdiction of military commissions.  Mr. Altenburg  supervised the Office of the Appointing Authority and coordinated on behalf of the Department of Defense proposed modifications with senior officials from the White House, Department of State, Department of Justice, and other government agencies.  His Greenberg Traurig practice focuses on corporate governance, investigations, and contract litigation, primarily in the national security and homeland defense sectors.

His experience in both Military Justice and Operations Law includes either service or legal oversight in Vietnam (1969-1970, 9th Infantry Division), Special Operations (1974-1978, 5th Special Forces Group), Operation Desert Storm-Kuwait/Iraq (1990-1991, 1st Armored Division), Operation Restore Hope-Somalia (1992-1993, XVIII Airborne Corps), Operation Uphold Democracy-Haiti (1994, Joint Task Force 180), Operations Joint Endeavor/Guard-Bosnia and Joint Guardian-Kosovo (1995-2001, Army Staff).   From 1997 through 2001, as The Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Army, he advised senior military and civilian leaders on critical legal and policy issues and directed the day to day operations of approximately 1,800 civilian and uniformed attorneys and 3,000 National Guard and Army Reserve attorneys providing full legal services to Army commanders, soldiers, and civilians worldwide.

His 17 years extensive contact with high level government and corporate officials from countries in Europe, Asia, and Latin America included addresses to conferences in Serbia Montenegro, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Korea, Japan, Belgium, and Germany.  He addressed an OSCE sponsored conference in Belgrade and an ICRC sponsored conference in Geneva.  For many years, he was the U.S. member of the panel of experts advising the International Institute for Humanitarian Law in San Remo, Italy.  

He has lectured frequently in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and numerous U.S. law schools on topics as diverse as leadership and mentoring, trial advocacy, legal aspects of peacekeeping and combat operations, and other national security issues.  He co-authored “Terrorism, State Responsibility, and the Uses of Military Force” in the Chicago Journal of International Law, Spring 2003, authored “Rhetoric or Reality:  Winning the Battle of Ideas” in the Barry Law Review, Fall 2006, and “Just Three Mistakes!” in the Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law, Winter 2009.

Mr. Altenburg earned a BA in English and International Studies from Wayne State University, a JD from the University Of Cincinnati College Of Law, and an MMAS in Military History from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC).  A graduate of the National War College, his decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (2), Bronze Star Medal (2), Master Parachutist Badge, Combat Diver’s Badge, and Special Forces Tab.