Albert Allen Reynolds, Jr., is the first of two sons and third of four children born to Albert Allen Reynolds and Pearl (Crabtree) Reynolds. He was born on 27 July 1943 in Texarkana, Miller County, Arkansas. Known to family and friends as Allen, he grew up in the deep woods of rural Southwestern Arkansas near the small town of Fouke, and he graduated from Fouke High School in 1961.

After high school, Allen enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he trained and worked as an electronics technician for the Strategic Air Command’s B-52 long-range bomber and Minuteman ballistic missile weapons systems. After serving 8 years (2 four-year enlistments) in the Air Force, during which time he completed almost 3 years of college work part time, he received his second honorable discharge in 1969 as a staff sergeant.

Allen then started college full-time at the University of Wyoming and in 1970 he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree (BA), majoring in U.S. diplomatic history. Then, in 1972, he received the Juris Doctorate Degree (JD), also from the University of Wyoming.

After law school, he was admitted to practice law in the state of Wyoming, and his first job was as a law clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Judicial Circuit, Denver, Colorado, 1972-1973.

In 1973, Allen returned to military service, accepting a commission with the US Navy as a member of the Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps. His initial assignments included Officer Indoctrination and Naval Justice School, Newport, Rhode Island, 1973; Naval Legal Service Office, Corpus Christi, Texas, as a claims officer and defense counsel, 1973-1975; Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas, as the Station Legal Officer, 1975-1977; and the USS Constellation (CV-64), an aircraft carrier home-ported at San Diego, as the ship's Legal Officer, 1977-1979.

Allen then continued his education when the Navy sent him to Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, 1979-1980, where he earned his Master of Laws Degree (LLM, Comparative and International Law).

Thereafter, his assignments were: Naval Legal Service Office, San Diego, as a department head, 1980-1982; Naval Legal Service Office Detachment North Island, San Diego, as Officer-in-Charge, 1982-1983; Naval Air Station, Keflavik, Iceland, as Station Legal Officer, 1983-1984; Staff, Commander, Iceland Defense Forces, Keflavik, Iceland, as Force Judge Advocate, 1984-1985; Staff, Commander, Carrier Strike Force 7th Fleet, home-ported at Naval Air Station, Cubi Point, Philippines, flagship USS Midway (CV-41), as Group Judge Advocate, 1985-1986; Staff, Commander, Anti-Submarine Warfare Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, San Diego, as Staff Judge Advocate, 1986-1988; and Naval Legal Service Office, San Diego, as Executive Officer, 1988-1990.

From 1990-1993, Allen was assigned as senior legal advisor to Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, a three star admiral. In his capacity as Force Judge Advocate, he provided legal advice to the commander and his staff, and professional oversight of all legal affairs within the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s naval air force, including 50 Navy lawyers and their support staffs assigned to 38 naval air stations, 8 aircraft carriers, 4 carrier battle groups, 6 functional wings, and 120 air squadrons, operating over 1700 aircraft.

From 1993-1995, he was assigned as senior legal advisor for the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, a four star admiral (Admiral Chester Nimitz’s command during World War II). In his capacity as Fleet Judge Advocate, he provided legal advice to the commander and his staff, and professional oversight of all legal affairs within the Pacific Fleet, which included 105 Navy lawyers and support staffs assigned to naval commands, both ashore and afloat, throughout the Pacific Fleet. This included all air forces, mentioned above, and all surface and sub-surface forces (a total of over 100 ships and submarines) operating from the East Coast of Africa to the Rocky Mountains, from the North to South poles.

In 1995, Allen was assigned to Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary, Northwest Judicial Circuit, Naval Station Treasure Island, San Francisco, as Circuit Military Judge, 1995-1996. The Northwest Judicial Circuit covers Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, and Central and Northern California.

In 1996, he was assigned to the Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary, Southwest Judicial Circuit, Naval Station, San Diego, as the Circuit Military Judge, 1996-1998. The Southwest Judicial Circuit covers Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado.

Allen’s last duty assignment prior to retirement was as the senior legal advisor for Commander, Navy Region Southwest, San Diego, from 1998-2003. The Southwest Region covers all naval shore activities located in California, Nevada, and Arizona.

When he retired on 1 July 2003, Allen had served over 38 years total military service, and was the senior captain in the Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corp.

His military decorations include 3 Legion of Merit Medals, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, 5 Meritorious Service Medals, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, 2 National Defense Service Medals, 2 Air Force Good Conduct Medals, Meritorious Unit Ribbon, 2 Sea Service Ribbons, 2 Overseas Service Ribbons, and Air Force Longevity Ribbon.

Allen is admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of the State of Wyoming; the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Judicial Circuit; and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

In 1962, Allen married the former Ladaire L. Combs of San Diego, daughter of Henry L. Combs of Fouke, Arkansas, and Jean (DeSantis) Combs of San Diego. Ladaire has a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA - Accounting) from Corpus Christi State University, Corpus Christi, Texas, and Master of Business Administration degree (MBA-Management) from San Diego State University. Her professional experiences are serving as Controller for a San Diego engineering firm; as a senior staff accountant for a major aircraft production company (Rohr Industries); and as a manpower analyst for the US Navy. She has also taught evening college courses over the years -- as has Allen.

Allen and Ladaire have two children. His son, Kevin A. Reynolds, received his Bachelor of Science degree (BS) from San Diego State University in 1989, and is Chief Executive Officer for his business, JetCleanUSA, a company providing pressure-cleaning service throughout California and Nevada. Kevin married the former Sandra Lynn O'Hara of San Diego, and they have three daughters: Taylor Lynn, age 15, Brooke Ladaire, age 13 and Shannon Alvina, age 12.

Their daughter, Traci J. (Reynolds) Stuart, has a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) from San Diego State University, and Master of Business Administration (MBA-Marketing) from the University of San Diego. Before she stopped working (1999) to stay home with her young children, she was employed as Director of Marketing for Children's Hospital in San Diego. She married George Stuart of San Diego in 1993, a Certified Public Accountant and Chief Financial Officer for Questor Inc. They have two daughters, Hailey Marcina age 9, and Jordan Ladaire age 4.

Allen and Ladaire have made their permanent home in Chula Vista, CA, and they stay busy with various activities that include spending a great deal of time with their children and their five granddaughters -- all of whom live within 10 minutes.

Last Updated - 31 Mar 2007