Just in from the Gitmo war court: The retired Navy rear admiral who had served as both Convening Authority and Director of the Pentagon Office of Military Commissions, Christian Reismeier, has been replaced in the first role -- and is retaining the director's job. 
Col. Jeff D. Wood, shown here at his Arkansas National Guard promotion 9/26/18 at the Supreme Court in Little Rock, was made Convening Authority for all cases last week. His is now overseer of the 9/11, USSCole, Hadi al Iraqi and Majid Khan cases, plus any others in the pipeline.
Mr. Reismeier had already ceded the CA role in the Cole case because of his behind-the-scenes advice to the chief war crimes prosecutor, Army Brig. Gen. Mark Martins -- and was being challenged in the other cases. The two men also served together on an Obama era Gitmo task force.
Although Defense Secretary Mark Esper signed the leadership shakeup order on Friday, word just reached people in the Office of Military Commissions today.
Pity. It would've fit in nicely with Reason No. 10, Revolving Personnel. nytimes.com/2020/04/17/us/…
Pity. It would've fit in nicely with Reason No. 10, Revolving Personnel. nytimes.com/2020/04/17/us/…
Here's the appointment letter.
Note, the Arkansas National Guard colonel's first name is Jeffrey, although he apparently goes by Jeff. (Or sir, probably.)
Note, the Arkansas National Guard colonel's first name is Jeffrey, although he apparently goes by Jeff. (Or sir, probably.)
More on the new Convening Authority for military commissions, the first uniformed officer in the job.
--He enlisted in the Arkansas National Guard in 2000.
--He served in Iraq in 2008 as the Trial Counsel/Operational Law JAG for the Arkansas NG 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
--He enlisted in the Arkansas National Guard in 2000.
--He served in Iraq in 2008 as the Trial Counsel/Operational Law JAG for the Arkansas NG 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
--He obtained his bachelor's, MBA and law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1993, 1996 and 2004.
--He served three terms as a State Representative in the Arkansas House of Representatives.
Here is his biography: bit.ly/ColJeffreyWood…
--He served three terms as a State Representative in the Arkansas House of Representatives.
Here is his biography: bit.ly/ColJeffreyWood…
More on this: No decision yet on whether this will be a commuter job -- or whether the colonel will relocate from Central Time Zone Little Rock to the Office of Military Commissions outside DC.
(One former CA was based in the West Coast, had a satellite office set up out there.)
(One former CA was based in the West Coast, had a satellite office set up out there.)
Here's a link to the Pentagon announcement of the weekend shakeup: bit.ly/DODOMCCA
