Lieutenant Robert Baxter, USN
Representing U.S. Navy
Lieutenant Robert L. Baxter has dedicated his career to the national security of the United States of America. LT Baxter has distinguished himself through superior conduct both in civil and military service over the last fifteen years.
Since June 2022, LT Baxter has been serving in the Office of the Chief Prosecutor of Military Commissions, a joint, interagency organization responsible for prosecuting law of war violations against international terrorists under the Military Commissions Act. Specifically, LT Baxter is detailed to the trial team in United States v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad et al.—the prosecution of the five men accused of planning and perpetrating the September 11, 2001, attacks that killed 2,976 people. In support of this complex litigation, LT Baxter has reviewed hundreds of pages of highly classified documents to fulfill the government’s discovery obligations while safeguarding vital national security interests. He has researched complex legal issues and traveled to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to support military commission proceedings.
LT Baxter graduated from George Washington University in 2009, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs, concentrating in International Politics and Security Policy Studies. Prior to law school, LT Baxter was employed through the Honors Program at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with a focus in classified litigation. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from The George Washington Law School in 2015 with a focus in National Security and U.S. Foreign Relations Law. While in law school, LT Baxter was employed at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) with the Directorate for Operations. LT Baxter commissioned into the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps in 2014 while attending George Washington Law School. In 2016, LT Baxter came on active duty, completing Naval Justice School, and was certified by the Judge Advocate General of the Navy as a qualified and competent Judge Advocate. LT Baxter was then assigned to Region Legal Service Office (RLSO), Southwest, where he served as a First Tour Judge Advocate. He was the RLSO SW Officer of the Year for 2017. In 2018, LT Baxter was assigned to Region Legal Service Office, Southeast, where he served as a Command Judge Advocate, Legal Assistance Attorney, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. He was the RLSO SE Innovator of the Year for 2020 and Legal Assistance Attorney of the Year for 2019. In 2020, LT Baxter was assigned as the Chief of Operational Law for Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) and also served as the Staff Judge Advocate to the Joint Integration Coordination Cell and the Joint Operations Group, Europe. He was the SOCEUR 2021 Officer of the Year.
LT Baxter is admitted to the North Carolina State Bar, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. LT Baxter is the recipient of the U.S. Special Operations Col. Buford R. Nyquist Lifetime Achievement Award. His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal (2), Navy Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal (3), Navy Achievement Medal (2), and other unit and service awards.
