The Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps has provided legal support to the Navy and their families for many years. Now that support will be provided in an additional way, as the Navy announced its first JAG Navy Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer.

Capt. Karen Hill, Navy JAG Corps and a member of the Navy Installations Command, Reserve Component has been designated as the first NEPLO JAG by the Navy.

The NEPLO program, managed by NIC, was established to coordinate mutual service and Department of Defense support for national security emergency preparedness, response to natural or man-made disasters, and other domestic emergencies. They provide DoD support inside the United States, acting as a direct liaison to civil and federal authorities to plan, prepare for, coordinate and execute DoD civil disaster assistance programs.

Hill, an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) in the Navy Reserve, was previously a private practicing attorney who spent the past two years preparing and taking the required training necessary to become qualified as a NEPLO.

"The Navy needed a legal subject-matter expert in this area and that is how the billet was created," said Hill. "I not only had to become qualified as a NEPLO, I had to get my subject-matter expertise up on Domestic Operations Law."

"Our Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA)/NEPLO JAG subject-matter expert brings an invaluable level of knowledge and expertise to our operation and the way we aid civilian authorities in times of disaster," said Capt. Jess Umphenour, commander, Navy Reserve NIC NEPLO.

"Our 100-plus senior Navy Reserve officers are represented in every state and major DoD [Continental U.S.] commands as well as all [Federal Emergency Management Agency] regions," said Umphenour. "When DoD takes action in these situations, we are always in support of civilian authorities to save lives, prevent human suffering and mitigate great property damage."

Part of Hill's training included required FEMA training such as Incident Command System and National Incident Management System Training. She also had joint service training from the Army and Air Force, where she was the first member from another service to complete the National Security Emergency Preparedness Directorate HQ/AF North (NSP/AF North) Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (EPLO) course.

"The importance of the Air Force training was that the NEPLO program is modeled after this program and I was able to learn joint service DSCA capabilities, expand my DSCA knowledge, and a valuable opportunity to network with the Air Force DSCA legal team," said Hill.

Hill had to participate in NIC exercises to become completely qualified. At times she said they would inject legal issues into the scenario to see how they would be handled within the drill.

"I saw the need for the Navy to develop an environmental component so we could support the Navy on environmental issues," said Hill.

Once on station, NEPLOs provide on-scene, real time situational awareness to Navy commanders about potential requirements and the environment in which forces may have to operate.

To prepare for this new role Hill had to study Defense Support to Civil Authority for Domestic Operations law to help her learn environmental law.

The Atlanta native and 30-year veteran who currently calls San Diego home had previously closed two law offices in order to be mobilized by the Navy and said she has no plans to retire.

"I love what I am doing and besides taking care of my shipmates this is probably been one of the most satisfying and rewarding jobs. It is a culmination of all my years of experience that I am able to bring to my new job," said Hill.

Hill said, if you have a goal in mind like she did, then stay focused on it.

"Take control of your destiny and the Navy will work with you because they have with me," she said.

Navy Installations Command is comprised of approximately 52,000 military and civilian personnel worldwide responsible for the operations, maintenance and quality of life programs to support the Navy's fleet, Sailors and their families.

For more about the Navy's shore enterprise, visit: http://www.cnic.navy.mil

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For more news from Commander, Navy Installations Command, visit www.navy.mil/.