NLOC/DIR - Academics

NLOC 2024 Academic Director

Lt Col John Orton, CAP, is the Academic Director for National Legal Officers College 2024.    

Lt Col Orton is a retired Air Force Judge Advocate with multiple assignments in the United States, Europe, and Southwest Asia. He is a graduate of Squadron Officer School, Air Command & Staff College, and Air War College at the U.S. Air Force’s Air University. His professional degrees are from the Lewis and Clark Law School (J.D.) in Portland, Oregon, and the George Washington University (LL.M.) in Washington, D.C. 

During his time as a senior CAP member, he has earned the Paul E. Garber Award with a gold star device for successfully completing the Level IV training requirements. He has also earned the Meritorious Service Award and numerous other awards relating to his CAP service and special activities. He has served as the Southwest Region Legal Officer since February 2022 and the Commander of the Las Cruces Composite Squadron since December 2021. He has attended and instructed at previous NLOCs.

Lt Col Orton resides in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and practices law in El Paso, Texas. He is a member of the Texas State Bar and is admitted to practice law in the Western District of Texas and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.