Lance Sigmon
Encyclopedia
Lance Sigmon is a retired Lieutenant Colonel
in the United States Air Force
and a Civilian Defense Counsel for the United States Armed Forces
. He has worked on many key JAG
cases, including many high profile cases involving the scope and jusrisdiction of Military Law
. Sigmon lost his bid for United States House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 10th congressional district
on May 6, 2008 to incumbent Patrick McHenry in the Republican primary.
in 1977. In high school, he participated in the band, played basketball and was named All-Conference his senior year in baseball.
Having enlisted in the Air Force
through the Delayed Entry Program on his 18th birthday, Sigmon left home in July 1977 for basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. After graduating from basic training, Sigmon trained as a defensive aerial gunner on a B-52H bomber at Castle Air Force Base, California, and spent the next 3½ years stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base
, North Dakota. He was the only enlisted crewmember on a B-52H flight crew and was solely responsible for the defense of the aircraft while in flight. Most notably, as a member of one leg of our Nation's nuclear deterrent triad, Sigmon sat on "nuclear alert" for extended periods during the entire period of time he was assigned to Grand Forks.
After completing his Air Force
enlistment and being honorably discharged in 1981, Sigmon returned home and began attending Lenoir-Rhyne College
using the GI Bill benefits he had earned while enlisted. He then transferred to Western Carolina University
and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a double major in Accounting and Economics in May, 1985. He married Melissa, his high school sweetheart, in August 1985, and the next week, they moved to Winston-Salem so Sigmon could attend law school at Wake Forest University
School of Law.
During his third year of law school, while interviewing for jobs with various law firms, Sigmon felt the desire to return to military service. He and Melissa considered the options and decided that Sigmon would return to the Air Force and accept a commission in the Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG) as a 1st Lieutenant.
During the next 17 years, the Sigmon family experienced a variety of military assignments. They began their journey in Florida, traveled north to Alaska, returned to North Carolina (Fayetteville), crossed the Atlantic to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and finally returned to the states and spent the final five years in Washington, DC. During his time in the JAG Corps, Sigmon deployed to Kuwait as the Staff Judge Advocate (head legal advisor) in support of Operation Southern Watch, deployed as legal advisor in support of Operation Uphold Democracy, assisted in aircraft crash investigations in Honduras and Maryland, and routinely advised commanders and junior attorneys on the law of war.
Sigmon filled numerous positions while assigned to the JAG Corps. He worked multi-million dollar claims against the United States, including claims involving medical malpractice and aircraft crashes. He served as a prosecutor at four separate locations, providing commanders with the disciplinary tools necessary to maintain "good order and discipline" in the Air Force. While stationed in Germany, Sigmon served as the chief prosecutor for all Air Force bases in Europe and Southwest Asia. In that position, he also prosecuted the most serious military offenders. Because of his ability to understand the needs and concerns of those facing disciplinary actions, he was hand-picked to serve as sole defense counsel for two separate bases containing more than 10,000 airmen. Sigmon was also appointed as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in Florida and Alaska, where he prosecuted civilians in U.S. Magistrate's Court.
Because of his experience with military criminal issues, Sigmon was appointed as Chief Appellate Counsel for the Air Force. In that position, he was responsible for ensuring that criminal convictions were affirmed in the military appellate courts. After terrorists attacked America on September 11, 2001, Sigmon was personally selected to also serve as an Executive Officer to the Air Force Crisis Action Team which served as the 24-hour, 365-day nerve center of worldwide Air Force operations at the Pentagon. After three years as Chief Appellate Counsel, he was awarded with an appointment as a military judge. In that highly selective and responsible position, Sigmon presided over numerous trials, ensuring that the military courts-martial were conducted in a fair and orderly manner.
In 2005, Sigmon retired from the Air Force, and he and his family returned to Newton, remodeling the home his wife had grown up in. He opened a solo law practice specializing in defending military personnel facing trial by court-martial.
Sigmon is actively involved in his church, Abernethy Memorial United Methodist Church in Newton, NC. While serving in the military, he was also involved in a variety of positions at several levels of the Boy Scout
program. He served as a Cub Scout Den Leader, Cubmaster, assistant Scoutmaster and adult trainer.
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
and a Civilian Defense Counsel for the United States Armed Forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
. He has worked on many key JAG
Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...
cases, including many high profile cases involving the scope and jusrisdiction of Military Law
Military law
Military justice is the body of laws and procedures governing members of the armed forces. Many states have separate and distinct bodies of law that govern the conduct of members of their armed forces. Some states use special judicial and other arrangements to enforce those laws, while others use...
. Sigmon lost his bid for United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from North Carolina's 10th congressional district
North Carolina's 10th congressional district
The 10th Congressional District of North Carolina is a Congressional district in central and western North Carolina. It currently includes all of Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Lincoln and Mitchell counties, along with parts of Gaston, Iredell and Rutherford counties.The district is...
on May 6, 2008 to incumbent Patrick McHenry in the Republican primary.
Background
Lance Sigmon was born on November 10, 1958, in Newton, NC. His parents are Eddie P. and Boncella Killian Sigmon. He graduated from Newton-Conover High SchoolNewton-Conover High School
Newton-Conover High School is a public secondary school located in Newton, North Carolina. It is the larger of two high schools in the Newton-Conover City Schools system ....
in 1977. In high school, he participated in the band, played basketball and was named All-Conference his senior year in baseball.
Having enlisted in the Air Force
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
through the Delayed Entry Program on his 18th birthday, Sigmon left home in July 1977 for basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. After graduating from basic training, Sigmon trained as a defensive aerial gunner on a B-52H bomber at Castle Air Force Base, California, and spent the next 3½ years stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base
Grand Forks Air Force Base
Grand Forks Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located north of Emerado, North Dakota and approximately west of Grand Forks, North Dakota...
, North Dakota. He was the only enlisted crewmember on a B-52H flight crew and was solely responsible for the defense of the aircraft while in flight. Most notably, as a member of one leg of our Nation's nuclear deterrent triad, Sigmon sat on "nuclear alert" for extended periods during the entire period of time he was assigned to Grand Forks.
After completing his Air Force
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
enlistment and being honorably discharged in 1981, Sigmon returned home and began attending Lenoir-Rhyne College
Lenoir-Rhyne College
Lenoir–Rhyne University is a co-educational, private liberal arts university founded in 1891 and located in Hickory, North Carolina, USA. The university is affiliated with the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ....
using the GI Bill benefits he had earned while enlisted. He then transferred to Western Carolina University
Western Carolina University
Western Carolina University is a coeducational public university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, United States. The university is a constituent campus of the University of North Carolina system....
and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a double major in Accounting and Economics in May, 1985. He married Melissa, his high school sweetheart, in August 1985, and the next week, they moved to Winston-Salem so Sigmon could attend law school at Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
School of Law.
During his third year of law school, while interviewing for jobs with various law firms, Sigmon felt the desire to return to military service. He and Melissa considered the options and decided that Sigmon would return to the Air Force and accept a commission in the Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG) as a 1st Lieutenant.
During the next 17 years, the Sigmon family experienced a variety of military assignments. They began their journey in Florida, traveled north to Alaska, returned to North Carolina (Fayetteville), crossed the Atlantic to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and finally returned to the states and spent the final five years in Washington, DC. During his time in the JAG Corps, Sigmon deployed to Kuwait as the Staff Judge Advocate (head legal advisor) in support of Operation Southern Watch, deployed as legal advisor in support of Operation Uphold Democracy, assisted in aircraft crash investigations in Honduras and Maryland, and routinely advised commanders and junior attorneys on the law of war.
Sigmon filled numerous positions while assigned to the JAG Corps. He worked multi-million dollar claims against the United States, including claims involving medical malpractice and aircraft crashes. He served as a prosecutor at four separate locations, providing commanders with the disciplinary tools necessary to maintain "good order and discipline" in the Air Force. While stationed in Germany, Sigmon served as the chief prosecutor for all Air Force bases in Europe and Southwest Asia. In that position, he also prosecuted the most serious military offenders. Because of his ability to understand the needs and concerns of those facing disciplinary actions, he was hand-picked to serve as sole defense counsel for two separate bases containing more than 10,000 airmen. Sigmon was also appointed as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in Florida and Alaska, where he prosecuted civilians in U.S. Magistrate's Court.
Because of his experience with military criminal issues, Sigmon was appointed as Chief Appellate Counsel for the Air Force. In that position, he was responsible for ensuring that criminal convictions were affirmed in the military appellate courts. After terrorists attacked America on September 11, 2001, Sigmon was personally selected to also serve as an Executive Officer to the Air Force Crisis Action Team which served as the 24-hour, 365-day nerve center of worldwide Air Force operations at the Pentagon. After three years as Chief Appellate Counsel, he was awarded with an appointment as a military judge. In that highly selective and responsible position, Sigmon presided over numerous trials, ensuring that the military courts-martial were conducted in a fair and orderly manner.
In 2005, Sigmon retired from the Air Force, and he and his family returned to Newton, remodeling the home his wife had grown up in. He opened a solo law practice specializing in defending military personnel facing trial by court-martial.
Sigmon is actively involved in his church, Abernethy Memorial United Methodist Church in Newton, NC. While serving in the military, he was also involved in a variety of positions at several levels of the Boy Scout
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
program. He served as a Cub Scout Den Leader, Cubmaster, assistant Scoutmaster and adult trainer.