Military Law Attorney
Former Senior Department of Defense Attorney, Army Judge Advocate, Legal Advisor to the Office of Military Commissions, and Commander of a U.S. Army Legal Operations Detachment
For more than two decades, Alyssa Adams has advised military commanders, senior government officials, and Department of Defense leaders on some of the most consequential legal, personnel, investigative, and national security matters facing the federal government.
Alyssa currently serves as a Colonel in the United States Army Reserve and commands a Legal Operations Detachment consisting of more than 45 legal professionals. Throughout her military and civilian government career, she has held numerous senior legal leadership positions, advising decision-makers on military justice, administrative investigations, federal employment matters, ethics issues, operational law, national security concerns, and complex personnel actions affecting service members and federal employees.
Her experience includes serving as Senior Associate General Counsel for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and as a Legal Advisor to the Office of Military Commissions, where she advised on high-profile litigation, Guantanamo Bay military commission proceedings, Freedom of Information Act matters, administrative investigations, ethics issues, and federal employment law. She has also represented government agencies before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), and federal courts, providing her with extensive experience navigating the legal and administrative systems that affect military personnel, federal employees, and government agencies.
During a year-long deployment to Iraq, Alyssa served as the senior attorney for a Brigade Combat Team, advising military leadership on operational, investigative, and legal matters in a combat environment. She worked directly with military commanders, judicial officials, law enforcement personnel, and government leaders on issues involving military operations, detention practices, investigations, and the rule of law.
Alyssa’s experience gives clients a unique understanding of how government leaders evaluate allegations, assess risk, conduct investigations, make personnel decisions, and resolve complex legal issues. Having spent years advising senior decision-makers across the Department of Defense, she understands not only the law, but also the practical considerations that often influence government action.
Today, Alyssa represents service members, veterans, federal employees, and contractors facing military justice matters, administrative investigations, adverse personnel actions, federal employment disputes, security clearance concerns, and other high-stakes matters involving military and government decision-making.
Jurisdictions Admitted: New York. Represents clients nationwide in federal administrative, military, federal employment, security clearance, and national security matters.
Education: LL.M., Military Law (International and Operational Law), The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School; Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College; J.D., Vermont Law School; B.A., Colby College.