Bruce MacDonald (American lawyer)

Bruce E. MacDonald
Vice Admiral Bruce MacDonald, USN 40th Judge Advocate General of the Navy
Born	1955 (age 62–63) Cincinnati, Ohio
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1978–2009
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands held	Judge Advocate General of the Navy Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy
Battles/wars	Gulf War
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (2)

Bruce E. MacDonald (born 1955 in Cincinnati, Ohio) is a retired United States Navy vice admiral who last served as the 40th Judge Advocate General of the Navy from July 2006 to August 2009. Prior to that, MacDonald served as the Navy's Deputy Judge Advocate General from November 2004 to July 2006. On July 2, 2008, then Rear Admiral MacDonald was nominated for appointment to the grade of vice admiral while serving as the Navy's Judge Advocate General. He was confirmed by the Senate on August 1, 2008 and was promoted to grade on August 4, 2008 becoming the first JAG to be a three-star flag officer.

Vice Admiral MacDonald graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and entered the Navy in May of that year.

VADM MacDonald was commissioned an ensign in the unrestricted line through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. Following the normal Surface Warfare pipeline, he reported to the USS Hepburn (FF 1055) in October 1979 where he served as Main Propulsion Assistant and Navigator.

After a two-year tour at Fleet Combat Training Center, Pacific where he served as Intermediate Combat Systems Team Training and Advanced Multi-Threat Team Training course director, he was selected for the Law Education Program in 1984. He received his degree of Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in 1987.

In 1987, VADM MacDonald reported to Naval Legal Service Office San Diego where he served as Senior Defense Counsel, Trial Counsel, and Medical Care Recovery Act Claims Officer. In 1990, he reported aboard USS Independence (CV 62) as the Command Judge Advocate. After receiving a Master of Laws degree from Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Mass., in 1992, he was transferred to Seoul, Korea, where he served as Chief, Operational Law Division, on the staffs of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea. He also served as Staff Judge Advocate on the staff of United States Naval Forces Korea.