Citizen Lawyers in Action Award 2025-26

Date: March 23, 2026

This year, IBRL awarded General Charles Pede, former Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army, with the Citizen Lawyers in Action award. General Pede’s career is a testament to Wythe’s vision of the "Citizen Lawyer", with over 36 years of service.

He began his legal career at the UVA School of Law, where he attended the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School. He served overseas in Operation Provide Comfort in Turkey, Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. In these military operations, the law of war isn't just a theoretical concept, it is a series of life-and-death decisions. General Pede ensured that even in the chaos of combat, the American military remained tethered to its moral and legal compass.

As his career progressed, so did the magnitude of his leadership. Prior to reaching the height of the JAG Corps, he served as the Chief Judge of the Army’s Court of Criminal Appeals, ensuring that justice was administered fairly and transparently within the military justice system.

In 2017, he was appointed as the 40th Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army. As the senior uniformed legal officer for the entire branch, he led nearly 10,000 attorneys and legal professionals. During a period of immense global shift, he advised the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff on the most complex legal issues facing our nation, from cybersecurity and international sovereignty to the ethical integration of emerging technologies in warfare.

Throughout his decades of service, General Pede has been a steadfast guardian of the rule of law. What truly makes him the ideal recipient of this award is his commitment to leadership and to the Constitution. Today, he continues his service in the classroom at George Washington University Law School. By teaching the law of armed conflict and foreign relations law, he is personally ensuring that the next generation of advocates understands that a lawyer’s primary duty is to the truth.