Joseph Smiga Email & Phone Number

Glastonbury, Ct, Us

Office Of General Counsel, Farmington, Ct

• Represents and advises the University of Connecticut Health Center’s administration, faculty, clinicians and researchers on the broad range of clinical, contractual, regulatory, personnel, and state agency legal issues that confront an academic medical center, including its clinical risk management activities. UConn Health is comprised of the John Dempsey Hospital, the Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine and other graduate programs, clinical practice groups, and a vibrant research enterprise.

Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Afb, La

• Supports the Staff Judge Advocate in providing legal advice and counsel to the Commander and headquarters staff at Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, two numbered air forces, and 11 wings. • Performs the duties of Reserve Coordinator to over 250 legal professionals providing legal services to more than 33,700 personnel. • The command is responsible for organizing, training, equipping, and maintaining the nation’s Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, UH-1 helicopters, and the B-1, B-2, and B-52 bomber fleets, providing combatant commanders with combat ready forces to conduct strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations.

62 Aw/Ja, Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord, Wa

• Provided legal services to the 62d Airlift Wing Commander, command staff, and 25 other McChord Field commanders, including the 627th Air Base Group Commander and the 1st Air Support Operations Group Commander, supporting over 7,000 Total Force Airmen.• Lead in place of the Staff Judge Advocate for a 22-person staff during incumbents' absence.• Senior reserve leader and mentor to 8 JAGs and 9 Paralegals.• Key discipline advisor on the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) for the 62d Airlift Wing Commander, 45 Group and Squadron Commanders, first sergeants & investigators at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. • Researched & wrote legal opinions on the UCMJ, adverse actions, operations law, ethics, labor, and a wide-range of Air Force policy issues.• Reviewed solicitation and pre-award contract documents for several government contracts including the construction of a Main Gate Inspection Facility, a Paint Booth, and the repair of a Community Center.• Served as the Preliminary Hearing Officer for three Article 32 hearings for UCMJ offenses including sexual assault, child pornography, and drug offenses. • Wrote multiple ethics opinions for the 62d Airlift Wing Commander to ensure Joint Ethics Regulation compliance. • Identified regulatory issue regarding reserve performance reports and teamed with the Air Force Reserve Personnel Center to create a new policy for 69,000 reservists. • Led a 10-person reserve team, advising multiple flag officers in the review of over 2,800 Religious Accommodation Requests, in response to COVID-19 and the Secretary of Defense’s vaccination order.• Consistently ranked #1 among assigned Field Grade Officers by numerous supervisors and commanders.

Pentagon, Washington Dc

• Executive Officer to the 2-star Mobilization Assistant to The Judge Advocate General (MA to TJAG). • Developed policy issues affecting the professional oversight of 850 reserve Judge Advocates and paralegals.• Planned, organized, and ran weekly meetings for the JAG Corps’ core leadership team along with monthly meetings for 35 senior JAG Corps leaders.

Hq Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley Afb, Co

• Administered the adverse actions program designed to discharge service members unfit for military service and punish criminal offenders administratively.• Prosecuted a multi-specification drug court-martial and a discharge board for drug use and breaking and entering. • Advised the Commander and several directors on ethics and military justice issues, the applicability of Air Force Instructions to Center issues, and Reserve/Guard personnel issues. • Teamed with the Secretary of the Air Force’s office to develop procedures for recouping funds expended for the education of discharged service members. • Utilized continuous process improvement to create new guidance for transitioning active-duty service members to the reserves. • Advised commanders on the application of Air Force policies to the Reserve Component.• Streamlined resignation process for chaplain candidates who lost their ecclesiastical endorsements.

15 Wg/Ja, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hi

• Provided legal advice to base commanders on wide-ranging issues including government contracts, memoranda of agreement, military employment discrimination, liability for damage to government property, post-government employment, ethics, and Freedom of Information and Privacy Act requests. • Counseled service members on various personal legal issues to include wills and estate planning, citizenship and immigration, consumer affairs, landlord/tenant rights, and divorce.• Acted as legal advisor in a contested administrative discharge board, ruling on objections and administering the hearing in accordance with Air Force Instructions. • Administered the military justice program designed to punish criminal offenders administratively and discharge service members unfit for military service.• Awarded 2016 Outstanding Judge Advocate of the Year for the Air Force’s Pacific Major Command.

Air Force Court Of Criminal Appeals, Joint Base Andrews, Md

• Served as the Reserve Honors Law Clerk for 10 appellate military judges.• Identified cases for expedited review, researched issues using manual and computer assisted legal research methods, and independently studyed records of trial and appellate briefs.• Prepared bench memoranda on cases receiving oral argument and provided extensive analysis of specific legal issues requested by the judges.• Prepared and edited proposed opinions and orders for individual cases which provided legal precedent for the Air Force legal community.

Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Joint Base Andrews, Md

• Represented the Air Force against diverse challenges in federal court to official actions taken pursuant to far-ranging agency regulations and federal law. • Litigated cases involving collateral attacks on military justice actions and administrative personnel actions in Federal District Courts, Federal Circuit Courts, and the Court of Federal Claims (generally under the Tucker Act, Little Tucker Act and Administrative Procedures Act). • Defended the Air Force against petitions for writ of habeas corpus. • Supervised two paralegals responsible for various administrative tasks including certifying records, managing databases used to track cases, and organizing over one million pages of records for a class action lawsuit. • Significant Case: Represent the interests of the Air Force in a class action litigation involving disability ratings for over 2,000 service members discharged with post-traumatic stress disorder.

8 Fw/Ja, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea

• Advised base commanders on all criminal justice and disciplinary related matters on base. • Served as lead counsel in several courts-martial ranging from assault and battery to larceny, rape and sodomy. • Advised base commanders on risk mitigation and compliance as part of Operational Readiness Inspections. • Administered the military justice program designed to punish criminal offenders administratively and discharge service members unfit for military service. • Counseled service members on various personal legal issues to include wills and estate planning, citizenship and immigration, consumer affairs, landlord/tenant rights, and divorce. • Supervised four paralegals who provided legal research support and court-martial administration.

15 Wg/Ja, Hickam Afb, Hi

• Provided legal advice to base commanders on wide-ranging issues including government contracts, memoranda of agreement, military employment discrimination, liability for damage to government property, post-government employment, ethics, and FOIA requests. • Agency Ethics Advisor: Responsible for ensuring compliance with federally-required ethics rules/regulations for military and civilian employees. Spearheaded installation ethics training and leadership’s financial disclosures, guaranteed compliance with high visibility Air Force level requirements. Provided ethics and standards of conduct advice in accordance with the Joint Ethics Regulation and other applicable ethics guidelines. • Appointed as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, prosecuting civilian criminal offenders in U.S. Magistrate Court for offenses ranging from DUIs to theft of government property and drug offenses. • Served as lead counsel on several complex courts-martial and administrative discharge boards ranging from drug abuse to sexual assault of minor children. • Counseled service members and dependents on personal civil matters including wills and estate planning, divorce, child custody, adoption, real estate, immigration, and consumer affairs. • Negotiated settlements for clients with landlord/tenant, loan contract, and other civil disputes. • Managed the Hickam Air Force base tax center supervising over 25 volunteers.

Office Of Legal Counsel, Hartford, Ct

• Advised the Department regarding the use and disclosure of client information, supports the Business Intelligence & Analytics unit in developing a data governance structure, and counsels program managers on data sharing initiatives. • Drafted business associate agreements and data sharing agreements between the Department and its contractors and other state agencies to comply with HIPAA, Connecticut confidentiality laws, and other federal regulations regarding the disclosure of client information and protected health information.• Prepared the annual “Client Data Disclosures and Protections” training, required for all employees, to ensure continued compliance with state and federal laws. • Conducted comprehensive investigations regarding employment discrimination complaints. Represented the Department before the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and state and federal courts, to defend the Department against employment discrimination allegations.• Analyzed prospective clients' trusts and annuities to determine the availability of assets for Medicaid eligibility in accordance state and federal laws.• Negotiated and drafted contracts, contract amendments, memoranda of agreement, and memoranda of understanding with contractors and other State agencies. • Advised the Quality Assurance Division on its fraud investigations and audits to ensure compliance with applicable statutes and regulations.• Served as counsel for the Quality Assurance Division before audit review appeals and hearings when providers appeal an audit.• Reviewed and drafted regulations and policies for the Department.• Advised the Department's Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) unit on all issues relating to NEMT.• Reviewed and Responded to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests ensuring compliance with all applicable FOIA exemptions.• Ensured appropriate handling of data breaches.

Juris Doctor, Law

Activities and Societies: • Juris Doctor, with honors • Journal: Associate Editor, Connecticut Law Review • Awards and Honors: CALI.

Ba, American Studies

Activities and Societies: • Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, American Studies • Awards and Honors: Dean’s Scholar. • Activities: Segment.