hmolinengo, Neighbor

Hank Molinengo was born in Washington, DC and graduated from St. John's College High School in 1974. He commissioned in the U.S. Navy under the JAG Corps Student Program in 1980. A graduate of both Catholic University and Catholic University Law School, he was awarded an LL.M. in Military Law (subspecialty Criminal Law) from The Judge Advocate General’s School of the Army in 1992.

His career with the Navy began as an active duty judge advocate in 1982 as a defense counsel and Command Services Department Head at Naval Legal Service Office, Norfolk. In 1986, he moved to Commander Amphibious Group TWO / Commander Amphibious Striking Force (NATO) where as Staff Judge Advocate he deployed on numerous deterrent national and NATO taskings in the North Atlantic and Caribbean. In 1988, he was assigned as Staff Judge Advocate, Commander Patrol Wings Atlantic, Brunswick, Maine, where he served as the legal advisor to the Atlantic VP Community.

Upon completion of postgraduate school, he was assigned to the Office of Judge Advocate General, additional duty to the Bureau of Naval Personnel, where he served as both Lieutenant Commander and Senior Officer Detailer. In 1994, he assumed command of Naval Legal Service Office Guam. He was awarded the "Ancient Order of the Chamorri" by the Governor of Guam, The Honorable Carl Gutierrez, for his extensive involvement in community outreach programs. Between December 1995 and April 1998, he served as Force Judge Advocate, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. In April 1998, he reported as the Deputy Assistant Judge Advocate General (Military Personnel) and the JAG Corps Community Manager (OPNAV N131J) until June 2001. He served as the Executive Assistant to the Judge Advocate General, RADM D.J. Guter, JAGC, USN, until July 2002 whereupon he reported as Legal Counsel to the Chief of Naval Personnel. As Legal Counsel to the Chief of Naval Personnel, he was involved in numerous legislative and force shaping initiatives. In September 2005 he reported as the first Chief of Staff, Naval Legal Service Command. In June 2006, he was selected for promotion to Admiral and to serve as the Assistant Judge Advocate General of the Navy (Operations and Management) / Vice Commander, Naval Legal Service Command, the third ranking officer in the Navy JAG Corps. He left active service in September 2008, was promoted to Rear Admiral (Lower Half), and retired on 1 November 08.

Upon retirement, he served with the Office of the General Counsel of the Navy until August 2009 as an Assistant to the Associate General Counsel (Management), where he was responsible for operations, strategic planning, information technology development and sustainment, and training. In August 2009, he became the Associate Dean for Administrative Affairs with The George Washington University Law School, where he is responsible for day-to-day operations involving planning, budget, facilities, academic integrity, communications, alumni, IT, career development, and other matters so assigned by the Dean.

Hank is a member of the Bars of the U.S. Supreme Court, District of Columbia, and U.S. Court of Criminal Appeals for the Armed Forces. He is married to the former Frances Light of Petersburg, Virginia, has one daughter, a son-in-law, and 2 grandchildren.