Col. Joseph Treanor, ARPC Staff Judge Advocate

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ARPC Spotlight --  Col. Joseph Treanor, ARPC's Staff Judge Advocate, is the spotlight of the week. 

Colonel Treanor has been in the Air Force for 24 years, and is from Buffalo, N.Y. He is an avid Buffalo Bills, Sabres, and Notre Dame fan, and enjoys history and reading.

What is your most memorable Air Force experience?

I have had too many terrific experiences to narrow into "just one." Deeply gratifying professional experiences include: winning court-martial convictions against child molesters and other serious criminals; honoring World War II veterans by marching in Hawaii parades commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the end of World War II; helping my subordinates get promoted; serving as Bob Hope's escort officer for his TV Show commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Air Force; serving as a White House Social Aide where I met Lou Holtz, Joe Paterno and the Apollo 11 astronauts; deploying to the area of responsibility three times (the latest of which was in Iraq where I worked on gathering the evidence against Saddam Hussein and his henchmen, and supporting the training of the Iraqis who prosecuted him); and my most recent prior job where I served as a prosecutor in the Office of Military Commissions (our task was to prosecute the unlawful enemy combatants/terrorists detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba). In addition, the Air Force Thunderbirds gave me an incentive ride when I served as the Nellis Air Force Base Deputy SJA and their "ThunderJAG." 

There are many more great memories, but you don't have enough space to capture them all! 

Why did you join the Air Force?

My Dad, for whom I had great admiration and respect, enlisted in the Navy during World War II and served on a destroyer in the Pacific; even though he did not make the Navy a career, I grew up in a very patriotic family -- so it's fair to say, I always wanted to serve my country. When I was in law school, I heard about the JAG Corps, and I thought it would be an ideal way to serve, to gain immediate trial experience, and to see the world. Originally, I had planned to serve four years and then return home ... but I enjoyed the people, mission and sense of honorable commitment so much that I chose to make the Air Force a career. 

If you could change one thing about the Air Force what would it be?

The Air Force is truly a great way of life. That said, there are several areas where I believe it could be improved somewhat ... but given my position, hopefully you can appreciate that such counsel needs to be up-channeled quietly and confidentially. 

If you were not in the military, where would you be?

One never "knows," because it is hard for a career Airman with 20-plus years of service to envision himself doing anything other than what he's doing. Yet, if pressed to speculate, I suppose that I would be practicing law in Buffalo as a civilian -- or possibly teaching. 

What would you like to do when you retire?

I don't plan on "retiring" for many, many years -- even after my military career ends. It is hard to choose any one thing, because I have many interests and options. I could return to school for another advanced degree and possibly teach at a law school; or I could also see myself teaching at the high school or college level and perhaps coaching a high school football team on the side. Another possibility would be to work for a favorite sports team. Finally, even when I'm "completely retired," I suspect I'll spend considerable time volunteering.