DIILS is proud to announce that MAJ Nancy Lewis, Judge Advocate, US Army, is the recipient of the 2018 Ms. J.D. “Road Less Traveled" Award.  MAJ Lewis has demonstrated a lifelong dedication to service in her 23 year military career and she has also pursued other opportunities to help others. 

Ms. J.D. is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to the success of women in law school and the legal profession. The Ms. J.D. "Road Less Traveled" award honors a woman who has "used her J.D. in a unique, non-traditional way to pursue an issue or cause that she is passionate about." 

MAJ Lewis is assigned an International Operations Officer (IOO) at the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS).  She is responsible for planning and executing DIILS legal engagements around the world, notably including educational engagements on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.  During these security cooperation engagements, she works extensively with international military and civilian leaders to promote compliance with international norms in support of US foreign policy and security objectives.

MAJ Lewis’s military service includes enlisted time as a Military Police Office and an undercover narcotics investigator in the Criminal Investigations Division, and as an officer in the Judge Advocate General’s Corp, working in the areas of administrative law, contract and fiscal law, and international law, among others.  She served tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and in Haiti, where she assisted with relief efforts after the 2010 earthquake.

During her previous assignment at 8th Theater Sustainment Command (TSC) in Honolulu, Hawaii, MAJ Lewis traveled to the People’s Republic of China for the 12th Annual Disaster Management Exchange on the international response to humanitarian crises and natural disasters.  Participants shared lessons learned from real-world events to promote international cooperation in the Pacific region.  MAJ Lewis served as legal adviser to the US team, and as an official spokesperson for applicable US disaster response authorities. 

MAJ Lewis also served as the lead legal advisor and mentor for 8th TSC’s premier regional junior strategic leader development program, the Young Alaka’i (YA).  This is a rigorous, multi-phased course designed to develop promising young leaders from across the joint force in the Asia-Pacific theater.  As the YA legal advisor, MAJ Lewis traveled to Japan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.  While deployed to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, she started Volunteer Community Relations.  She and her team of almost 50 volunteers engaged with local Afghan communities, especially women and children. 

Nancy also volunteered with the nonprofit Cross-Cultural Solutions, in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, and in New Delhi, India for two weeks at a time.  There, she devoted time to child and community development, interacting with the children who joined their community projects.

While many would consider serving as a US Army JAG a road less traveled, MAJ Lewis’s selfless dedication to volunteerism clearly sets her apart from the crowd. Congratulations, Ms. J.D. 2018!!