Attorney Lawlor’s Service with the US Army

As noted in his biography, Attorney Lawlor has served in the Army National Guard for many years. Since joining the firm in 1999, Andy has served both in the Guard and on active duty. We are proud of Andy’s service and support his commitment to his country. We look forward to his return to work from each of his deployments.

Andy’s first significant stint of active duty was a 16 month deployment in Kosovo. Andy’s tour began in July 2006 when, holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and serving as the Brigade Judge Advocate for the 26th Brigade Combat Team which is located at the Devens Reserve Center in Ayer, he began his training for ultimate deployment to Kosovo. Andy’s unit was deployed overseas with the 29th Infantry Division in the fall of 2006.

Andy’s brigade joined US Forces that have worked to stabilize the Balkans region since 1999, helping to move the countries that emerged from the former Yugoslavia from ethnic violence to self government. Kosovo has been the subject of a long-running political and territorial dispute between the Serbian government and Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian population. Part of the peace keeping mission Andy was involved with was to provide a safe and secure environment for all people living in Kosovo. This involved conducting searches for illegal weapons, munitions, drugs and other contraband. US Forces also provide medical care to the population, help to rebuild Kosovo’s infrastructure with road and bridge projects, and generally help to improve the economic opportunities for citizens living in Kosovo.

While in Kosovo, Andy served as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer and successfully prosecuted a number of courts-martial and administrative hearings. He also learned to speak the Albanian language and taught English classes to Kosovon Albanian high school students and young adults. For his service, Andy was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Ribbon, the NATO Non-Article 5 Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Medal.

Andy returned home in November 2007, but remained on active duty through the end of November 2007. After some long deserved time off with his family, Andy rejoined the Firm in early December 2007.

Not long after his deployment to Kosovo, Andy was selected for a 10-month National Security Fellowship. Each year, the Army selects approximately 62 Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels from across the Regular Army, the National Guard and the Army Reserve to take post-graduate courses and conduct research on national security issues at the country’s leading universities. Universities with National Security Fellowship programs include Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Texas at Austin.

Officers are selected for the fellowship program based on their promise of rising to the most challenging leadership positions in the Army, the National Guard and the Army Reserves. The fellowship program is used by the Army as an alternative to attendance at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania; and its completion is the educational prerequisite for appointment to the rank of a General officer.

Andy completed his fellowship at Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 2009.

In August of 2011, Andy again answered the call for service. This time he was deployed to Afghanistan where he served as the principal legal advisor to the commanding general, subordinate commanders and staff of the 26th Yankee Brigade and as the senior supervisory attorney for the military lawyers and paralegals of the Office of the Command Judge Advocate for U.S. Forces in Kabul.

Andy received a Bronze Star Medal for his service in Afghanistan. The medal was awarded at a ceremony in Camp Phoenix, in Kabul, Afghanistan on January 6, 2012.

During his years of service Andy has received specialized training as a senior officer and has attended Senior Service College, Command & General Staff Officer College, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Mountain Warfare School, Officer Advanced Course, Officer Basic Course and Officer Candidate School.

Andy was promoted to full colonel in 2010.