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Sharon A. Shaffer
NationalityUSA
Occupation(s)USAF officer, lawyer
Known forDefending a Guantanamo captive

Sharon A. Shaffer is a military officer, and lawyer.[1][2][3][4] She served as a defense attorney for Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al Qosi, one of the first nine Guantanamo captives to face charges before a Guantanamo military commissions, as was the Commission Deputy Chief Counsel from 2003 through 2005. She was promoted to Colonel in May 2007.

Education

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education[2]
degree date institution
B.A. 1985 Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan.
J.D. 1989 Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Mich.
1992 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1998 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2003 Air War College (correspondence)

Military career

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She joined the Air Force in February 1990, through a direct commission.[2] She is currently the senior legal advisor for the Air Force Reserve.[5]

Shaffer was one of the first five defense counsels to appear before a Guantanamo military commission.[6]

In 2006 Shaffer, Charlie Swift and Bunnatine Greenhouse were awarded the Joe A. Callaway Award for Civic Courage.[7] Like Shaffer Swift was a military officer who vigorously defended Guantanamo captives before Guantanamo military commissions.

A written statement that accompanied the award cited

“...their willingness to risk allegations of traitorous behavior by colleagues and disciplinary actions for defying orders from their Commander-in-Chief, their bold challenges to unjust, unfair and arbitrary rules that have led them beyond the military justice system to the U.S. Supreme Court; and their heroic struggle to uphold the Constitution and zealously defend their clients."

References

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  1. ^ "Two Guantanamo Detainees Assigned Legal Counsel". US State Department. 2004-02-06. {{cite news}}: Text "author" ignored (help)
  2. ^ a b c "Colonel Sharon A. Shaffer". United States Air Force. 2009-12-15. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  3. ^ Nick Simeone (2004-08-27). "Week of Hearings for Accused Terrorists Wraps Up in Guantanamo". Voice of America. Retrieved 2010-08-29. After Friday's hearing, Lieutenant Colonel Sharon Shaffer told reporters the Pentagon has denied her some of what she says she needs, including access to witnesses, to mount a full defense.
  4. ^ John Altenburg, Jr. (2004-08-17). "Defense Department Briefing on Military Commission Hearings". United States Department of Defense. Retrieved 2010-08-29. I am not sure of what Sharon Shaffer's status is. As of 20 minutes before I came over here I wasn't sure of what her status is. The defense -- mirror
  5. ^ "HQ AFRC Command and Staff". United States Air Force Reserve. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  6. ^ Steve Sheppard (2009). "I Do Solemnly Swear: The Moral Obligations of Legal Officials". Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521513685. Retrieved 2015-05-05. The first five defense counsel to appear before the commissions were Lieutenant Colonel Mark A. Bridges, Major Michael D. Mori, Lieutenant Colonel Sharon A. Shaffer, Lieutenant Commander Philip Sundel, and Lieutenant Commander Charles D. Swift; all were honored by the American Civil Liberties Union for challenging policies before the commissions.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "Lawyers for Guantanamo prisoners lauded". Nieman Marcus. 2006-03-08. Retrieved 2010-09-04. mirror
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