The Republican-led House Select Committee investigating Benghazi has selected its lead legal official: a retired three-star general who, most recently, served as the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General under President Obama. That’s according to sources with information regarding the appointment.
38th U.S. Army Judge Advocate General
Lt. Gen. Dana Chipman, 55, attended West Point and received his law degree from Stanford Law School in 1986, according to public reports. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Strategic Studies. He will serve as Chief Counsel of the Select Committee.
Chipman retired from the military last year after 33 years of service. His retirement ceremony was hosted by Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, whose actions have come under scrutiny as part of the Congressional investigation into the limited military response to the Benghazi terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2012.
In a 2010 interview, Chipman stated that the last books he’d recently read included: The Unforgiving Minute, by Craig Mullaney, and Talent is Overrated, by Geoff Colvin. He also stated that he spent 33 months as a criminal prosecutor and “loved ‘crime’ – how/why people do what they do is fascinating!” His awards include the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal.
The Benghazi Select Committee, chaired by Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) has already begun some work behind the scenes and is expected to ramp up fully when Congress returns from its summer vacation in September.
