US Meritorious Service Medal to Canadian grad

Photo by Michael Filippo, M&L Fotographics

Lieutenant Commander Ken Osborne, Law '03

Lieutenant Commander Ken Osborne, Law ‘03, has received the United States Meritorious Service Medal. The medal recognizes his exceptional service while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as a Legal Advisor to the Afghan National Army (ANA) for the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, NATO Training Mission/Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command/Afghanistan. 

Home from Kabul since January, LCdr Osborne says from Aurora, Ontario, “This award is an exceptional honour for me.  It represents positive achievement in the implementation of rule of law initiatives under very challenging operational and legal circumstances.”

During his nine-month deployment as the pivotal member of the ANA Legal Development team, he mentored Afghan leaders of the GS Legal Staff, advising on all facets of operations necessary to achieve self-sufficiency in ANA legal operations. His oversight of the Corps’ Legal Mentors helped make the ANA military justice system work effectively throughout the country. He also implemented a JAG field inspection program in the heart of combat operations, increasing the effectiveness of military justice. 

Colonel Gerald Carozza of the US Army, Chief of ANA Legal Development, recommended him for the honour. “LCdr Osborne’s outstanding leadership, experience and unwavering dedication brought about significant advancements in the rule of law here,” Carozza wrote. “His performance of duty in a combat zone reflects great credit upon himself, the NATO Training Mission/Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command/Afghanistan, the United States of America and Canada." 

LCdr Osborne, now the Deputy Judge Advocate for Canadian Forces Base Borden, enlisted in the Canadian Forces as a Training Development Officer in 1993. Since earning his law degree, he has served in many legal positions within the JAG Office, including two deployments as a Legal Officer in Afghanistan and one in Bosnia-Herzegovina.  

His previous decorations include the South West Asia Service Medal with Afghanistan clasp, General Campaign Star with Rotational Bar, Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, NATO Non-Article 5 Medal (Bosnia), and Canadian Forces Decoration. 

“Queen’s Law provided me a profound foundation in the rule of law that supports my work as a Canadian Forces Legal Officer, both domestically and abroad in places like Afghanistan,” he says. “I believe the US medal is as much a recognition of the Faculty's achievement in preparing me for my duties as it is any personal recognition of mine.”