Dennis L. Hager II

Dennis L. Hager II is the Deputy General Counsel for International Affairs (IA) in the Office of the General Counsel of the Department of War (DoW) and supervises the General Counsels of the Defense Technology Security Administration, the Defense Cooperation Agency, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, and the White House Military Operations General Counsel. IA is responsible for legal advice and services in international and national security affairs. They advise the DoW General Counsel, the Secretary of War, the Under Secretary of Policy for War, senior Office of the Secretary of War officials, and, as appropriate, officials of other DoW Components.

Mr. Hager’s team handles an expansive array of legal issues, their principal practice areas include Major Combat Operations, Counterterrorism and Irregular Warfare, including activities conducted by U.S. special operations forces; Cyberspace, Space, and Information Operations; Support of Civil Authorities; International Agreements; International Law; DoW Law of War Manual; DoW’s Strategic Capabilities; Past Conflict Accounting through the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency; Plans and Orders; Use of U.S. military force and the War Powers Resolution; Security Assistance and Cooperation through the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the Defense Technology Security Administration, and the combatant commands with relevant regional responsibility. 

Mr. Hager has served in legal advisory roles in every clime and place from U.S. Indo-Pacific as an Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) for the 31^st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and the deputy at Marine Forces-Pacific, in Latin America, South America, and the Caribbean as the Marine Forces-South SJA, in U.S. Central Command as a deployed SJA and Civil Affairs Officer in Iraq, and in U.S. Africa Command and U.S. European Command as part of the Joint Staff representing DoW  in National Security Council legal advisor matters. He was selected for his first command tour as the Headquarters and Support Battalion Commander, School of Infantry West, in Camp Pendleton, CA as a LtCol and Command at the Marine Corps Westernmost fighting position, Camp Mujuk, South Korea as a Colonel. Mr. Hager was assigned to Marine Forces Command as the SJA providing legal advice for joint, naval and service requirements in support of Fleet Forces, U.S. Northern Command, and Security Forces in the U.S. and all of our Embassy’s around the World. He finished his military career as the first USMC Judge Advocate to hold the position of White House Military Office General Counsel.

Mr. Hager was born in Philadelphia, PA but grew up in Southern MD and El Paso, TX. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1989 and graduated from boot camp in 1990. While in college and law school he remained in the reserves earning the additional Military Operational Specialties of Scout Swimmer, Coxswain, and Civil Affairs Officer, he also held the billets of Latin American Intelligence Analyst and was the S4-A at II MEF Special Operations Training Group, Camp Lejeune NC. He graduated from the University of Maryland College Park (BA), the University of Baltimore School of Law (JD), and George Washington University School of Law (LLM). Mr. Hager was awarded a MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle PA and is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force War College Non-resident course. His personal decorations include the Combat Action Ribbon, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (x4), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (x4), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.