Rear Admiral Frederick J. Kenney, Jr. and Commander Luke M. Reid.

Commander Luke M. Reid, cast off into retirement from the U. S. Coast Guard JAG Corps on December 1, 2011.  The ceremony was conducted at The Naval Justice School, Newport, Rhode Island before family, friends, former colleagues and co-workers from the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS). 

Rear Admiral Frederick J. Kenney, Jr., Judge Advocate General and Chief Counsel of the Coast Guard, offered many highlights of CDR Reid’s 20 year career – successfully prosecuting felony environmental crimes, building partner capacity to protect fisheries and maritime exclusive economic zones in West Africa, advising nations on the development and implementation of a Model Maritime Service Code during his tour with DIILS, and consistently providing leadership and mentorship to other Coast Guard lawyers coming up the ranks.  RADM Kenney lauded CDR Reid’s passion, commitment and exceptional sense of justice, the latter of which often prompted CDR Reid to serve as defense counsel for colleagues.

Captain Robert A. Sanders, JAGC, USN and Director of DIILS thanked the Coast Guard for assigning CDR Reid as liaison to DIILS, and congratulated CDR Reid on his service and numerous achievements, in particular at DIILS, where he made a substantive and lasting contribution to achieving U.S. security cooperation objectives in the area of maritime security, which is so critical to free trade in our global economy.

CDR Reid thanked his supporters, in particular his wife, Susan, and their three children, as well as his parents and brothers – all of whom were in attendance.  He is looking forward to the next chapter of his legal career, and we look forward to hearing where the currents carry him.  His shipmates at DIILS will miss him and wish him “Fair winds and following seas.”