Fowler School of Law’s Class of 2025 boasts a remarkable cohort of recent graduates, including a group of four graduates who have chosen to dedicate themselves to serving their country through roles in the JAG Corps of the various branches of our military.

Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law routinely hosts JAG representatives from all branches of the military, not only for their recruitment drives but also to support student organizations and panel discussions hosted by student-led groups like the National Security and Intelligence Law Society and the Veteran Advocacy Law Society.

Christian Sutphin, already an Army veteran, joins the US Navy JAG after graduation and describes his trajectory from law school to the JAG Corps as, “the natural culmination of two long-standing threads in my life: a commitment to public service and a passion for national security and international law.”

Citing the structure, teamwork, and deep sense of mission that military service fostered in him while in the Army, Sutphin looks forward to extending his understanding of how legal frameworks shape military operations in a rapidly shifting global theater while serving as a lawyer in the Navy. What started as an intellectual curiosity in the Army was nurtured and refined during Sutphin’s time at Chapman as he sought out courses and mentors with a focus on international and national security law. He applied to the International Law Emphasis Program offered at the school and tailored his electives to allow him to explore these particular avenues of law. Through the school, Sutphin had the opportunity to study international criminal law abroad, travelling to institutions like the International Criminal Court and Nuremberg–site of the Nuremberg Trials following WWII, all of which shaped his understanding of legal work in this field.

“JAG appealed to me because it combines everything I value,” adds Sutphin, “complex legal work, the responsibility of military leadership, and the chance to serve my country. The Navy, in particular, spoke to me on a personal level. My grandfather served in the Pacific Theatre during WWII, and his service left a lasting impression on me. In many ways, I see my path as continuing his legacy.”

Fellow graduate, Rebekah Heath, had considered military service prior ot law school but it was only in her 1L year, she says, “when something just clicked: Here was a way to combine law, discipline, structure and a clear sense of purpose, all in service to something larger than myself,” she says.

Heath actively began to pursue the instincts, shepherding her towards a career as a Judge Advocate.

“I sought out opportunities that aligned with public service and military law, and each one deepened my respect for what Judge Advocates do.” She adds. “Working with the Military and Veterans Law Institute, I saw firsthand how legal work can change lives. During my externship with the Air Force and internship with the Army, I realized this wasn’t just a good fit, it was the kind of legal work I felt proud to do every day. I appreciated the high expectations, the meaningful responsibility, and the unwavering focus on ethics and mission-readiness.”

Heath’s choice of the US Army embraced not only its rigorous structure but also its culture. Her internship introduced her to people who were, as she says, “sharp, driven and grounded,” adding that in the Army, she could already see the kind of advocate I wanted to become… Where service, integrity and growth are central to my career.”

Heath’s classmate, Trevor Kiefer, entered law school with the understanding that he wanted to work in public service, serving his community–possibly in criminal justice– but lacked definition and direction as to what that meant as a career choice.

During the spring of his 1L year, Kiefer attended an informational event at Naval Base San Diego with an eye to understanding more about the practice of law in the military.

“What struck me immediately was how much these JAG officers genuinely loved their jobs,” he says, adding jokingly, “I thought to myself… What? Lawyers aren’t supposed to be happy!”

His summer internship that same year found Kiefer interning with the US Attorney’s Office in Orange County, where he met more and more Assistant U.S. Attorneys who had previously served as JAG officers, deciding then and there to pursue a JAG internship.

Kiefer’s 2L summer saw him interning at Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington, with the US Navy JAG Corps. One Friday afternoon, he saw a stressed JAG officer racing the clock with multiple motions due. Kiefer was particularly impressed when a senior officer approached the junior JAG advocate, saying, “Your motions are our top priority. You have the whole team. What do you need?”

For Kiefer, “It was the most mission-driven, team-oriented environment I had ever worked in. It was a stark contrast to some of the law firm environments where some of my classmates had spent their summers. That’s when I was sure that the Navy was going to be a place where I could fulfill my desire to serve the public while also joining a team-centered professional environment.”

For Fowler graduate Nicholas Tsai, taking his law degree into military service was a fait accompli.

“From the moment I stepped into uniform in 2013, I knew that military service was more than a duty; it was where I belonged. That clarity guided every decision I’ve made since,” Tsai shares.

Eight years in the US Navy reserve exposed Tsai to the honor of service and also to the unspoken legal struggles faced by many enlisted members, he adds, “I saw firsthand how a lack of timely legal support could weigh heavily on service members, compromising their ability to focus and perform. I was once in their position, and that experience made one thing clear: I had to return, this time with the tools to advocate for them.”

Transitioning from the Navy Reserve to the Fowler School of Law in 2021, Tsai arrived with a focused mission: To return to uniform as an officer in the US Army JAG Corps, “I knew I could serve again, this time not only with empathy but also with legal knowledge—someone who speaks their language, shares their values, and understands their sacrifices,” Tsai offers.

Still, balancing law school, family life, and the demands of ongoing service wasn’t easy for Tsai. It required late nights, arduous commutes and moments of daunting uncertainty if this was the right path. However, every challenge he bested seemed to reaffirm that Tsai had made the right choice and, he adds, Chapman University Fowler School of Law was instrumental in that journey.

“The faculty and curriculum didn’t just equip me with legal knowledge—they sharpened my ability to lead, deepened my understanding of professional responsibility, and affirmed my desire to serve… Being accepted into the U.S. Army JAG Reserve is not the culmination of that path; rather, it is the beginning of a new chapter in service for me. I am profoundly honored, ready and committed to serving those who serve.”

We wish these exceptional, JAG-bound graduates from the Class of 2025 everything of the best for the years of service ahead of them.