Moira Modzelewski


Moira Dempsey Modzelewski is an American lawyer and former Captain in the United States Navy. Until her retirement in 2018, she served as Chief Judge of the Navy and one of four assistant judge advocates general. Modzelewski is notable for her appointment to serve as the
Presiding Officer
over Noor Uthman Muhammaed's Guantanamo military commission.

Education

B.A.1980University of VirginiaChinese Studies
J.D.1985University of VirginiaLaw
1985Naval Justice SchoolLaw

Teaching career

Modzelewski taught English at Szechuan University after earning her bachelor's degree, in 1980.
This was shortly after China and the United States re-opened diplomatic relations.
In 1989 Modzelewski was an assistant professor at the United States Naval Academy.
In 1995–96 Modzelewski opened the detachment of the Naval Justice School in Norfolk.

Legal career

All of Modzelewski's legal career has been in the United States Navy.
In addition to her teaching postings she has served as a lawyer or administrator of legal services in
over a half dozen posts.
In 2009 she presided over the courts-martial of Navy SEALs from SEAL Team 10 who were charged with beating an Iraqi captive.
She was subsequently appointed was to serve as a Presiding Officer in Guantanamo.
In April 2010 she predicted she would require a year to review the secret evidence against Noor Uthman Muhammaed.
Modzelewski joined the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals in 2011 and became its Chief Judge on 6 August 2013. She was appointed Chief Judge of the Navy after the retirement of Christian L. Reismeier on 1 July 2015.
Modzelewski retired from active duty on 12 July 2018. She was succeeded as Chief Judge of the Navy by Charles N. Purnell II.

Personal

Modzelewski is the daughter of Navy physician John Joseph "Jack" Dempsey and retired Navy nurse Joan Louise Barron Dempsey. She has three sisters and one brother.
Modzelewski is married to retired Navy officer Stephen Anthony Modzelewski. They have three sons and one daughter.