Kirk Warner to Serve as Staff Judge Advocate, 108th Training Command in Charlotte, NC

Smith Anderson Partner and Army Reserve Officer, Kirk Warner, was selected by The Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army to serve beginning in July 2008 as Staff Judge Advocate of the 108th Training Command in Charlotte. The 108th Training Command, formerly the 108th Airborne Division, commands over 7,000 soldiers in two divisions and eight brigades with units spanning the United States. As the Staff Judge Advocate, Colonel Warner will serve as the principal legal advisor to the Command and Commanding General and will supervise over 35 Army Judge Advocates and Paralegals.

As an Army Reserve Officer, Colonel Warner currently serves as Deputy Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. He previously served in a variety of roles in the Judge Advocate and Medical Services Corps. Colonel Warner has a long and distinguished military career which includes Commander of the 12th JAG Detachment in Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003 on the march to Baghdad; serving as the Forward Staff Judge Advocate of the Coalition Forces Land Component Command (U.S. Third Army); and serving as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for Combined Joint Task Force - 7 (Coalition Provisional Authority) in Baghdad. He is a graduate of the prestigious U.S. Army War College.

As head of Smith Anderson's Products Liability practice, Mr. Warner has significant experience in products liability litigation and has litigated cases throughout the United States in all levels of trial and appellate courts. He has represented all major automotive manufacturers as well as many Fortune 500 companies in complex litigation matters in over twenty states and Guam. He also represents a variety of government contractors with issues involving overseas war operations and contracts. His trial experience also includes asbestos, commercial, construction, insurance and arson matters.

In addition to receiving a Masters of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, Mr. Warner received his J.D. from Duke University and The University of Toledo; an M.A. from North Carolina State University; and a B.S. from The Ohio State University.