Eugene R. Sullivan

He has authored two published novels, both political thrillers: The Majority Rules (2005) and The Report to the Judiciary (2008), and is the Chair of the Judging Panel for the annual International Impac Dublin Literary Award (100,000 Euros for a single work of fiction).

Sullivan has given many lectures on American law to visiting international judges and lawyers. For many years, he was the chair of three annual conferences: the International Judicial Conference (Criminal Law), the Great Debate (a debate on judicial reform) between the US and England, and the International Diplomatic Conference. During his career in promoting the rule of law, Judge Sullivan has been awarded the Medal of Justice from Romania, the First Class Medal of Defense from Hungary, the Defense Minister's Citation of Merit from the Republic of China, an honorary Doctor of Law degree from New England School of Law, the Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Medal, the Medal for Outstanding Public Service from the U.S. Department of Defense, and the 2001 Castle Award from the West Point Society (DC). The Castle Award is given to one West Point graduate each year. Sullivan is a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

From 1982 until 1986, Sullivan was the general counsel of the National Reconnaissance Office ("NRO"—a then secret US satellite intelligence agency). In addition, in 1984–1986, he served as the Governor of Wake Island (the U.S. possession in the Pacific). In 1988 and 1989, he served on the federal commission to review the West Point Honor Code. He is a Trustee Emeritus and the founding chair of the ethics committee of the West Point board of trustees and served on the first executive board of the Duke University Law School Center for Law, Ethics and National Security.

Sullivan served in the White House on the legal defense team of President Richard Nixon during the Watergate investigation in 1974. From 1974 to 1982, he was a trial attorney in the United States Department of Justice. From 1982 to 1986, Sullivan served in the Pentagon as the general counsel and the chief ethics officer of the U.S. Air Force after serving initially as the deputy general counsel.

After his time in the Army, Sullivan graduated from Georgetown University Law Center with a Juris Doctor in 1971, serving as an editor of the Georgetown Law Journal in his final year. After law school, Sullivan clerked for Chief Judge Marion Charles Matthes of the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit and worked for the Patton Boggs law firm in Washington, D.C.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Sullivan graduated from St. Louis University High School before matriculating to the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, where he was a member of the Cadet Honor Committee and the varsity lacrosse team. Following graduation with a B.S. degree in 1964, he served in the Army for five years and qualified as a tanker, an Airborne Ranger, a Ranger Instructor and a Jumpmaster. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Air Medal and other decorations in Vietnam. Sullivan has been inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame.

Eugene Raymond Sullivan (born August 2, 1941) is an American lawyer who serves as a Senior judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush named him the chief judge. When not recalled to active court service, Sullivan is a senior partner in the D.C. law firm of Freeh, Sporkin & Sullivan LLP.