Texas Tech Law Dean Emeritus Appointed to National Defense Board

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has appointed Walter Huffman, Texas Tech University School of Law dean emeritus and current Texas Tech law professor to the newly formed Defense Legal Policy Board. The 12-member board was created to address significant legal issues that have raised concern during the multiple missions U.S. Armed Forces have undertaken since 2001.

Huffman, a retired Major General, former Judge Advocate General of the Army, and Texas Tech law school dean from 2002 to 2009, also will co-chair the board subcommittee examining military justice in combat zones with Judith Miller, former General Counsel of the Department of Defense.

“Whether it was serving as the U.S. Army’s top attorney or the dean of Texas Tech’s law school, Walter has always been a leader and I know he will bring a wealth of knowledge to the Defense Legal Policy Board,” said Kent Hance, chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. “This is a huge accomplishment for Walter, and we congratulate him. It is also great for Texas Tech to have one of our own called to serve in such a distinguished capacity.”

In the letter appointing Huffman co-chair of the military justice subcommittee Panetta states, “For offenses that take place in a country in which we operate alongside the civilian population, it is critical that our system of military justice be efficient, fair, dependable and credible.”

To that end, he has appointed a group of “distinguished Americans to review and assess: military justice in cases of U.S. Service members alleged to have caused the death, injury, or abuse of non-combatants in Iraq or Afghanistan.” Panetta added, “The military justice system must also fully preserve the rights of accused [service members].”

Although not a member of the Policy Board, Texas Tech Law Professor and Director of the Center for Military Law and Policy Richard Rosen was also appointed to the military justice subcommittee along with retired Army General Pete Chiarelli and Marine Lieutenant General John Sattler.

“It is a great honor to be appointed to this important national defense policy board, and it is a privilege to serve with such a distinguished group of lawyers and national security experts,” Huffman said. “It is especially rewarding that my friend and Tech Law colleague Rick Rosen will serve with me on the military justice subcommittee – it is an extraordinary testament to the esteem in which the Texas Tech School of Law is held at the national level.”

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Contact: Celeste Villarreal, communications coordinator, Texas Tech School of Law, (806) 742-3990 ext. 249, or celeste.villarreal@ttu.edu.