Experience

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  U.s. navy jag corps

  Dec 2007 - Jul 2012

  * Advised an Air Wing Commodore and four Squadron leadership teams on ethics, investigations, disciplinary and criminal actions, fiscal law, and domestic operational law* Led 20 officer and senior enlisted watch standers, ensuring enforcement of Task Force regulations, prompt reporting of incidents to higher headquarters, and safeguarding of personal and public property * Defended the rights of Service members facing criminal prosecution or administrative discharge* Administered Command Managed Equal Opportunity program, creating an inclusive command climate where employees could work and advance based on merit and free from harassment and discrimination* Drafted estate plans and advised on consumer law, family law, and immigration law issues

  • Staff Judge Advocate, Task Force 124/Strategic Communications Wing 1

    Jan 2010 - Jul 2012

  • Legal Assistance and Defense Attorney, Naval Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic

    Dec 2007 - Jan 2010
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  U.s. navy jag corps

  Oct 2012 - Feb 2019

  * Led 40 Italian, Spanish, British, Greek, American, and Bahraini lawyers and paralegals across six offices and five countries in provision of legal services throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East* Initiated novel "Innovation Challenge," resulting in development of 24 groundbreaking customer service modernization concepts and the American Bar Association awarding the 2017 Distinguished Service Award* Restructed the civil law organization and established novel remote legal assistance program to overcome significant manning shortfalls, ensuring same-week attorney appointments and consistent attorney caseloads* Oversaw provision of legal services to 8,249 personnel, adjudication of $184,270 in claims, $975,327 in personal tax refunds, and processing of 1,190 host-nation visa applications Show less * Organized first-ever "Integrated Legal Services for Victims of Crime" Symposium, successfully managing a $250,000 budget and enhancing U.S. military's multi-disciplinary approach to assisting victims* Served on team advising four-star Admiral on ethical and disciplinary investigation of senior naval officers accused of corruption* Represented wounded, ill, and injured Service members at Physical Evaluation Boards and advocated for changes to disability policies, ensuring long-term access to required medical care and successful transitions to civilian life Show less

  • Civil Law Department Head, U.S. Region Legal Service Office Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia

    Jul 2016 - Feb 2019

  • Legal Assistance & Disability Evaluation System Attorney, Office of the Judge Advocate General

    Jul 2013 - Jul 2016

  • Rule of Law Field Support Officer, NATO Rule of Law Command

    Oct 2012 - Jul 2013
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  U.s. navy jag corps

  Apr 2019 - Nov 2020

  * Advised Commanding General on ethics, leadership, international agreements, rules of engagement, authorities, command relationships, investigations, disciplinary actions, and courts-martial* Mentored operational planning teams for foreign humanitarian aid and disaster relief, non-combatant evacuations, kinetic military responses, and multi-state military cooperation exercises and operations* Conducted legal review of concepts of operations in contentious international straits, ensuring commercial shipping security and international legitimacy of operations Show less

  • Officer

    Jul 2007 - Nov 2020

  • Staff Judge Advocate, Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade

    Apr 2019 - Jul 2020
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  U.s. navy reserve

  Nov 2020 - now

  Officer/judge advocate
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  Inter-movement impact project

  Dec 2021 - now

  Co-founder

  * Promoting preparedness for collective impact by convening cross-field strategic conversations and incubating key synergy projects to build meaningful, trust-based relationships and to facilitate inter-movement infrastructure and capability co-development.* Helping catalyze "local democracy hubs" of diverse organizations that partner with their communities to identify local democracy and civic health needs + priorities and work together to solve them.* Writing an Op-Ed series on "Organizing for Collective Impact" for The Fulcrum digital publication (https://thefulcrum.us/u/calebchristen). Show less

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  Better together america

  May 2024 - now

  Co-founder and head of local democracy + civic hubs support

  Creating a network of support for the local democracy + civic hubs emerging in communities across the country.