Navy JAG and Author Dave Grogan Sapphire Pavilion Ep. 218

Sapphire Pavilion by Dave Grogan

Previously a Navy Judge Advocate, Dave Grogan has had his fair share of court-martial cases for which he prosecuted and defended. He’d gone to many places and shook hands with people from all walks of life. Now, he weaves history, international intrigue, and military experiences into the Steve Stillwell legal thriller series published by Camel Press.

The Cohen Veterans Network, a not-for-profit philanthropic organization, was created to serve them by providing high-quality, accessible, and integrated mental health care.

“I got to do stuff that other attorneys can only dream about doing.” – Dave Grogan

Dave Grogan – The Beginnings of a JAG Journey

He was a CPA and on his second year in law school, bound for the corporate track, when Dave ran into a Navy student in a party. He remembers being regaled by stories of deployment in the Mediterranean as part of USS America, something that Dave has always wanted to do.

“I never thought you could be a lawyer and a naval officer at the same time.” – Dave Grogan

He changed courses and switched his background to apply to the Navy. His initial goal was to serve for three years, get back out, and go to corporate law. At the back of his head, he knew he’d continue his service as long as he enjoyed it, and enjoy it he did.

Dave got assigned to the naval base in Yokosuka, Japan, prosecuting and defending court-martials. He went back to the US and interviewed for companies. But he never cashed in on his initial plans.

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Committing to the Navy

During those days when he went back to the US, Dave remembers talking to his wife while he looked over Tokyo Bay. It was at that moment of being away from home and being treated with a cosmic view of where he stood in life that Dave decided to shelve the original game plan.

“I thought, ‘Why in the world would I get out and go back and sit in an office back in the States?’” – Dave Grogan

With his decision to stay in the army, he got deployed to Cuba and the Persian Gulf. He got sent back to the US to get a Master’s degree on international law, which opened a myriad of opportunities for his career. His exposure as the adviser of commanders, both on national and international level, contributed to a lot of the ideas that inspired his writing Sapphire Pavilion.

JAG Turned Writer

While he was on his last tour as part of the Pentagon, the idea for his second book occurred to Dave. Every Friday night when he would drive back home from work, he listened to a podcast on veterans.

“I remember listening to some stories, in particular about the Vietnam war and some Vietnam veterans… and I came up with the idea of writing a story that would attempt to honor Vietnam veterans and also wounded warriors.” – Dave Grogan

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Check out this link for Dave Grogan:

• Sapphire Pavilion
• Dave’s Website
• Facebook
• Twitter

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