Attorney Profile

Bruce Lennard has a wealth of experience in criminal and military law following over five years as an Assistant District Attorney in Albany County, New York, and fourteen years in the Judge Advocate General Corps of the United States Air Force. He is a highly experienced trial lawyer who focuses his practice on military law worldwide and criminal defense in New York state and federal courts. Bruce has tried over 100 cases to verdict.

Bruce retired from the Air Force in 2003 with over twenty years of service. His career on continuous active duty spanned four decades from Jimmy Carter to George W. Bush, and included five overseas assignments and numerous important positions. Bruce enlisted in the Air Force in 1979 and was stationed in the Philippines in mobile communications. In 1980, he accepted an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, graduating in 1984. In 1986, he was one of seven officers Air Force-wide competitively selected for the prestigious Funded Legal Education Program, a full scholarship to law school. Graduating from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1989, Bruce spent the next 14 years as an active duty Judge Advocate.

In his first JAG assignment at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Bruce was selected to be Area Defense Counsel, defending service members facing court-martial charges and adverse administrative actions. Achieving three outright acquittals in less than a year, he was next assigned as Chief of Military Justice and lead trial counsel at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, where he was also nominated for the Albert M. Kuhfeld Award as Air Force Outstanding Judge Advocate of the Year. Continued success led to Bruce’s promotion to Chief of Military Justice at Headquarters, Fifteenth Air Force, where he advised and counseled the three-star General Court-Martial Convening Authority on military justice and disciplinary cases from a command encompassing six Air Force installations and tens of thousands of personnel.

Bruce next was assigned as Chief Circuit Trial Counsel for the Pacific Circuit of the Air Force Trial Judiciary. In this position, Bruce traveled throughout the Pacific and Alaska personally trying over 40 general courts-martial in a three-year period. Returning from the Pacific, Bruce was Chief of Military Personnel Litigation for the Air Force Legal Services Agency in Arlington, Virginia. In this assignment, Bruce defended federal and state court challenges to Air Force personnel programs, policies, and decisions. He was involved in the defense of cases involving challenges to the mandatory wear by servicewomen of Muslim garb in Saudi Arabia, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” actions, and promotion, retention, and early retirement board actions. He also defended individual personnel decisions made by the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records on behalf of the Air Force Secretariat.

Following his retirement from military service, Bruce joined the Albany County, New York, District Attorney’s Office. His trial acumen quickly led to his selection as the Chief of the Major Offenses Bureau, responsible for prosecuting all major violent felonies committed in the county. In over five years as an Assistant District Attorney, Bruce personally conducted over 100 grand jury proceedings and tried dozens of cases to jury verdict. His successes include cases involving murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, assault, robbery, burglary, and larceny. In one case, Bruce successfully prosecuted seven defendants for kidnapping for ransom and torture. In another case, Bruce convicted a defendant who falsely accused police of sexual assault. Bruce has handled numerous complex, multi-defendant cases. He is adept at handling and presenting forensic evidence including DNA, fingerprint, handwriting, and autopsy evidence.

Bruce now brings his experience and passion to work for the many clients who need smart, aggressive advocacy to protect their rights and ensure the best possible outcome when faced with criminal charges or other adverse consequences.

Contact The Lennard Law Office as soon as possible for a free consultation on your case.