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Deputy General Counsel (International Affairs)

Department of Defense
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Office of the Department of War General Counsel

Open & Closing Dates:  02/24/2026 to 03/10/2026
Summary
This position is located in the Office of General Counsel of the Department of War. The Deputy General Counsel (International Affairs), a career member of the Senior Executive Service, is principal assistant to the General Counsel and, subject to his or her authority, direction, and control, acts with the full authority of the General Counsel in all matters within the General Counsel's authority and responsibility.

Duties
Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• International Affairs. Personally, and through members of his/her professional staff, the incumbent provides the legal advice and assistance required in the development of policy, the implementation of programs, and the negotiation of agreements concerning or affecting Department of War (DoW) international activities and operations, including those pertaining to U.S. national security including homeland defense and defense support of civilian authorities.
• The incumbent serves as the focal point for legal advice to DoW and U.S. delegations to bilateral and multinational negotiations relating to matters affecting DoW. The incumbent provides legal analysis of suggested negotiating positions, inter alia, to ensure that the proposed agreements and arrangements will be legally sufficient under U.S. and international law.
• The incumbent is responsible for representing DoW's interests in litigation before international tribunals, such as the International Court of Justice and the Iran -U.S. Claims Tribunal, and for advising on national security and international law and homeland defense-related matters implicating DoW interests in litigation before U.S. Courts.
• The incumbent has legal responsibilities in connection with the administration of status of forces and similar agreements and arrangements applicable to DoW personnel and operations in foreign countries. These agreements cover such matters as the apportionment of civil and criminal jurisdiction between foreign and U.S. military courts, taxation, military procurement abroad, customs exemptions, passports, and foreign claims.
• The incumbent may be called upon to testify before Congress or to brief members of Congress or their staffs on any of the areas within the office's responsibilities.
• The incumbent serves as focal point for resolution of differences among the Military Departments, Defense Agencies, and Field Activities in the area of legal support for DoW operations and activities worldwide, and advises DoW components on relevant international programs, international agreements, and the requirements of national security and international law.
• The incumbent renders legal opinions on questions referred by Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and other Departmental officials on a wide range of matters within the incumbent's areas of responsibility, including but not limited to: legal problems arising out of the negotiations, drafting, and implementation of treaties and other international agreements and arrangements; DoW relationships with multilateral international organizations such as the United Nations and NATO; international tax, patent, procurement, logistics, and claims problems; foreign military sales and security assistance; agreements for industrial and scientific cooperation; humanitarian assistance and relief operations; laws and customs of war; law of the sea; space law; law pertaining to cyberspace; export controls; arms control and disarmament; nuclear matters; and other complex problems concerning worldwide Do W operations.
• The incumbent provides legal advice and assistance in the development of policy, the implementation of programs, and the negotiation of international agreements concerning DoW international assistance programs, including with countries in all global regions in the areas of Cooperative Threat Reduction; counterproliferation activities; and international cooperative defense, trade, technology, and research and development; and international cooperative personnel exchanges and security of information matters.
• The incumbent reviews papers referred by the Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and others for legal implications, including matters of international law, and suggests changes to eliminate legal deficiencies and better serve policy goals. The incumbent also serves as focal point for the responsibilities of the General Counsel under DoW Instruction 5530.3, International Agreements, and DoW Directive 5100.77, the DoW Law of War Program.

For more information, and how to apply:  https://www.usajobs.gov/job/858670000

Entry-Level Attorney Honors Program
 

The DoW OGC Honors Program provides highly qualified, entry-level attorneys with the opportunity to gain exposure to a broad variety of subject matter areas over a two-year period. The Program includes rotations in at least two different divisions within OGC, and more as time and mission permit. Participants complete complex legal assignments and provide advice in a variety of legal practice areas.

 

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Resumes limited to two pages
Federal agencies now only accept resumes up to two pages in length.