Sanford School of Public Policy
Duke University
Curriculum Vitae
Thomas W. Taylor
-
174 Rubenstein Hall
Durham, NC 27708(919) 613-9252 (office) 
(email)
- Education
Graduate of Industrial College of the Armed Forces (fulltime Senior Service College for senior executives and military officers) National Defense University 1987 Distinguished Graduate (first in class) in accredited fulltime graduate legal education program The Judge Advocate General's School 1979 J.D. (Honors); Morehead Fellow in Law; Order of the Coif; North Carolina Law Review University of North Carolina School of Law 1969 B.A. (High Honors); Departmental Honors (History) Guilford College 1966
- Professional Experience / Employment History
- Duke University
- Professor of the Practice of Public Policy, Sanford School of Public Policy, July 01, 2006 -- Present
- Teaches core course in public policy analysis and electives in public management, contemporary issues in national security, and leadership. Serves on various faculty committees. Mentors and advises MPP graduate students.
- The Judge Advocate General's School
- Academic Director (Army Reserve Position), 1994-1999
- As a Reserve Colonel during annual training, performed all the duties of the Academic Dean at the Army's law school, which trains new Army lawyers, provides CLE for Government lawyers, and confers the LL.M. degree. Conducted organizational, accreditation, and curricula studies.
- Department of the Army
- Senior Deputy General Counsel, 1979-2006
- Senior career civilian attorney for the Department of the Army in the Pentagon and acted as General Counsel for a year on two separate occasions; responsible for decisions on all legal matters for a Department with a budget of over $100 billion and employing over a million workers in worldwide operations.
Advised the Secretary of the Army on all legal and policy matters governing civilian and military personnel, including Army-wide investigations into claims of racial, gender, and other types of discrimination.
Guided the Secretary through crises involving operational military support to the Nation following the attacks of September 11, 2001; the Oklahoma City and Atlanta bombings; the Los Angeles riots; and disaster relief in major hurricanes and other natural disasters.
Oversaw intelligence operations worldwide and domestic military support to events of national importance, such as Los Angeles, Atlanta and Salt Lake City Olympics Games and six Presidential Inaugurals.
Advised on significant US Military Academy personnel, academic, and legal issues, such as dismissals, hazing, and sexual harassment.
Lectured at law schools and conferences on national security law topics.
Led legal teams to manage sensitive and controversial matters.
- Senior career civilian attorney for the Department of the Army in the Pentagon and acted as General Counsel for a year on two separate occasions; responsible for decisions on all legal matters for a Department with a budget of over $100 billion and employing over a million workers in worldwide operations.
- United States Military Academy
- Associate Professor, 1975-1978
- Taught courses in constitutional law and other subjects to juniors at West Point, managing the course for 1,000 cadets taught by a dozen professors and instructors during my last year on the faculty.
Provided legal advice to the Superintendent and Dean on academic and legal matters arising from the admission of the first women cadets and the largest cheating scandal in West Point history.
- Taught courses in constitutional law and other subjects to juniors at West Point, managing the course for 1,000 cadets taught by a dozen professors and instructors during my last year on the faculty.
- Alaska and Germany
- Manager and Trial Lawyer, 1969-1974
- Managed a law office with international, criminal, and civil practice providing legal services to communities of soldiers and civilians.
Tried felony and misdemeanor cases at all levels.
- Managed a law office with international, criminal, and civil practice providing legal services to communities of soldiers and civilians.
- Awards, Honors, and Distinctions
Richard A. Stubbing Teacher Mentor Award, "Recognizing outstanding contributions to the teaching mission of the graduate programs of theSanford Institute and deep commitment to the intellectual, profe, Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Duke University, May 2009
Army Decorations for Exceptional Civilian Service, 2006, 2001, 1998, 1992
Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Civilian Service, 2006
National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, 2006
Guilford College Alumni Award for Professional Excellence, 1998
Military Awards: Legion of Merit and Meritorious Service Medals, 1998
Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award, 1996
Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award, 2007, 2001, 1993
Student Body President, Guilford College, 1965-1966
Phi Alpha Theta, Guilford College, 1964-1966
Dana Scholar, Guilford College, 1962-1966
- Professional Service
- A&S Council
- Academic Council, January 2011-present
- University Committee
- Academic Council, April 2010 - present
- Dept Committee
- MPP Prospectus Committees, September 2011-present
- Chair, Sanford School Honor Board, November 2009-present
- Chair, National Security Studies Concentration Committee, February-March 2011
- MPP Admissions Committee, January 2011-present
- Sanford School Executive Committee, December 2011
- MPP Prospectus Committees, September 2010 - present
- Sanford School Honor Board, Chair, November 2009 - present
- Counsel to Dean and DGS, MPP, January 2010 - present
- MPP Admissions Committee, January 2010 - present
- Sanford School Executive Committee, August 2009 - present
- Member, Faculty Temporary Executive Committee, May 2009 - August 2009
- MPP Prospectus Committees, September 2006 - present
- MPP Admissions Committee, December 2006 - present
- Lectures
- Invited Lectures:
- "Command Leadership in High Profile Cases," Capstone Lectures to about 70 brigade and battalion commanders attending each Senior Officer Legal Orientation Course at The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School, Charlottesville, Virginia, January 28, June 17, & Sept. 2, 2011
- "Legal Advice in High Profile Cases," Lecture to Pentagon attorneys, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., March 10, 2011
- "Policy Making in the US Government: A System of Checks and Balances that Works Well Most of the Time," Lectures to visiting governmental officials from Kazakhstan and China, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC, April 1 and December 2, 2011
- "Command Leadership in High Profile Cases," Capstone Lecture to brigade and battalion commanders attending the Senior Officer Legal Orientation Course at The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School, Charlottesville, Virginia, October 22, 2010
- "International Humanitarian Law", Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC, October 18, 2010
- Clausen Leadership Lecture, "Leadership in High Profile Cases," Lecture to over a hundred graduating LL.M. candidates, faculty, staff, and invited guests at The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School, Charlottesville, Virginia, May 12, 2010
- "Policy Making in the US Government: A System of Checks and Balances that Works Well Most of the Time", Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC, February 26, 2010
- "Working for Federal and State Government," Addressed student group to inaugurate "Food for Thought: A Dialogue with Faculty," designed to increase student-faculty contacts, Sanford School of Public Policy,Durham, NC, September 2009
- "Remember that Words Matter," Faculty Speaker, MPP Hooding Ceremony, Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Durham, NC, May 2009
- "Practice Tips for Intelligence Lawyers", Keynote Address, Fourth Intelligence Law Course, The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School, Charlottesville, VA, June 25, 2008
- "National Security Decisionmaking: Interrogation Policy", Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Durham, NC, November 2007
- "International Humanitarian Law", Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Durham, NC, November 2007
- "MPP Leadership Program", Board of Visitors Fall Meeting, Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Durham, NC, November 2007
- "Making Mistakes in Your First Job", MPP Hooding Ceremony, Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Durham, NC, May 2007
- "International Humanitarian Law", Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Durham, North Carolina, November, 2006
- "Practice Tips for Handling High Profile Cases", Graduate Student Body and Faculty, The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School, Charlottesville, Virginia, May 2006
- "Practice Tips for Lawyers as Crisis Managers", Department of Law, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, May 2005
- "Practice Tips for Intelligence Lawyers", Intelligence Law Workshop, National Ground Intelligence Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, July 2005
- "The Investigation of Senior Officials", Investigations Division and Legal Staff, United States Army Inspector General Agency, Arlington, Virginia, August 2005
- "Legal Advice in High Profile Cases," Lecture to Pentagon attorneys, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., March 10, 2011
- Conferences:
- "The Investigation of High Profile Criminal Cases", Annual Conference, United States Army Criminal Investigation Command, Springfield, Virginia, April 2006
- Presentations:
- "Building and Maintaining Relationships with New Clients," Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC, January 31, 2011
- "Sanford Code of Professional Conduct," Presentation to MPP Class of 2013, Sanford School of Public Policy, Durham, NC, August 22, 2011
- "Leadership Lessons from the Response to 9/11 Attacks," Presentation to B.N. Duke Scholars, Sanford School of Public Policy, Durham, NC, September 8, 2011
- "Practical Lessons in Crisis Management" Presentation to Prospective Members of MPP Class of 2013, Open House, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC, March 25, 2011
- "Building and Maintaining Relationships with New Clients", Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC, February 17, 2010
- "Working for Federal and State Government," Luncheon Presentation to MPP Students, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC, November 4, 2010
- "Sanford Code of Professional Conduct," Presentation to MPP Class of 2012, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC, August 23, 2010
- "Introduction to Policy Analysis," Presentation to Prospective Members of MPP Class of 2012, Open House, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC, March 26, 2010
- "Transition Tips for Pentagon Lawyers," Presentations to senior executives/attorneys and general officers about providing legal advice to new political and military leaders during the transition of Adminsitrations, Pentagon, Washington, DC, May and December 2009
- "Sanford Code of Professional Conduct," Separate presentations to MPP Classes of 2010 and 2011 to discuss principles of professional conduct and their relationship to honor and integrity, including the key points of the new Code, Sanford School of Public Policy, August and September 2009
- "Sanford Code of Professional Conduct," Presentation to MPP Class of 2013, Sanford School of Public Policy, Durham, NC, August 22, 2011
- T.W. Taylor, Leadership in High Profile Cases, Military Law Review, vol. 204 (Summer, 2010), pp. 343-372, Department of the Army.
- T.W. Taylor, Plain English for Army Lawyers, Military Law Review (1987).
- T.W. Taylor, Enforceability of Marital Contracts, N.C. Law Review (1969).
- T.W. Taylor, Meeting of the Minds and UCC Sec. 2.204, N.C. Law Review (1969).
- T.W. Taylor, The New North Carolina Priest-Penitent Statute, N.C. Law Review (1968).
Publications
Journal Articles
Last modified: 2011/12/16