Whiteman legal eagle earns Eighth Air Force’s Young JAG award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kayla White
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

Maj. Matt Thompson won the Eighth Air Force Outstanding Young Judge Advocate award for 2018.

Thompson serves as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing Legal Office at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.

He has served as the deputy SJA since June 2016 and backfilled the SJA position during the transition period before the current SJA arrived.

“He serves as a resident expert on all things military justice, operations law, civilian labor law and government ethics,” said Lt. Col. Gregory Thompson, the 509th Bomb Wing staff judge advocate. “He is simply an indispensable part of our team.”

Lt. Col. Thompson said the major has anchored their office’s ability to execute nine courts martial in 12 weeks, citing it as no small task.

“He is a great example to us at the legal office
of what a mission-minded Airman looks like,” said the SJA.

This level of determination and focus has helped the legal mind get to where he is today. Thompson said he had always dreamt of joining the military. He had every intention of joining the Army when he was 17 years old, but his father convinced him to pursue his college degree first.

Thompson graduated from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. During his third year, he served as a student apprentice at two separate district attorney offices.

“I really learned how to deal with people and organize cases,” he said. “Those experiences
set me up to be a better trial attorney and prosecutor.”

During law school, he participated in a study abroad program which took him to Cambridge, England. His international law instructor was retired Army JAG, Lt. Col. Geoffrey Corn. Corn pushed him to join the Air Force instead.

“He said the Army will specialize you, making you a stronger prosecutor or contracts attorney, but Air Force is going to make you a well-rounded lawyer,” said Thompson. “That guidance was really influential.”

He commissioned into the Air Force in October of 2007.

“It’s one of those profound experiences in your life that sticks with you,” said Thompson. He said it felt like a culmination of all his hard work through college and law school.

“I got to become a prosecutor and join the military,” said Thompson. “It was the start of this new chapter of my life where everything was coming together.”

Today, as the deputy SJA, Thompson said he views his role within the 509th BW Legal Office as twofold.

First, he functions as the office manager. He handles awards and appraisals, and he works to ensure his staff has what they need to do their jobs.

“Other times, it’s just keeping your door open and being willing to listen,” Thompson said. “Hopefully you become a trusted ally.”

Second, he works as a key resource and support for Lt. Col. Thompson, helping to advise base leadership on legal matters.

“It’s our job to ensure that commanders and leaders are having healthy, robust discussions
on these issues,” said Thompson. “We give them the advice and legal resources they need to make the best, most-informed decisions possible.”

His work does not stop with what is immediately tasked to him. He often rolls up his sleeves to assist his legal team.

“We have these internal databases we have to update, as well as metric and deadlines to meet,” said Thompson. “It’s doing whatever needs to be done for the Wing from the legal perspective.”

He has dedicated countless hours dedicated to supporting the people of this base and helping to ensure mission accomplishment.

“When our office heard 8th Air Force had selected him as the Outstanding Young Judge Advocate we were all extremely happy for him because we witnessed firsthand the hard work and dedication that earned him this recognition,” said Lt. Col. Thompson.

Maj. Thompson credits his wife with taking care of their children so he could be as present as he has been for the base. He said that while it was an honor to be recognized, it was more so a good reflection on his office as a whole.

“There are a lot of hardworking people who are devoted to this mission,” he said. “I’m very proud of this group of professional mission-minded folks.”