LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Brigadier General Patrick Finnegan upon
the occasion of his retirement as Dean of the Academic Board at the
United States Military Academy

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge
outstanding individuals whose professional lives, personal endeavors and
community service are an example and inspiration to their colleagues,
friends, and family; and
WHEREAS, Members and former members of the Armed Services from the
State of New York, who have served so valiantly and honorably in wars in
which this country's freedom was at stake, as well as in the preserva-
tion of peace in peace time, deserve a special salute from this Legisla-
tive Body; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Brigadier General Patrick Finnegan upon the occasion of his retirement
as Dean of the Academic Board at the United States Military Academy;
this auspicious occasion will be celebrated at a Retirement Ceremony to
be held in his honor on Tuesday, June 1, 2010, at Crest Hall, Eisenhower
Hall, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York; and
WHEREAS, Confirmed by the United States Senate as the 12th Dean of the
Academic Board at the United States Military Academy on July 1, 2005,
Brigadier General Patrick Finnegan was born in Fukuoka, Japan, on
September 20th, 1949; he was appointed to the United States Military
Academy in 1967 and, as a cadet, he was the Chairman of the Honor
Committee and Head Manager of the Army Football Team; and
WHEREAS, Upon graduation from West Point and being commissioned a
second lieutenant in 1971, he attended the Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard University and earned a Master of Public Administration
degree in 1973; and
WHEREAS, After completing graduate school, Brigadier General Finnegan
was assigned as Battalion Adjutant, 3/39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Divi-
sion, at Fort Lewis, Washington, from 1973-74 and then Headquarters
Company Commander, U.S. Army Security Agency Material Support Command,
Vint Hill Farms Station, Virginia, from 1975-76; during that assignment,
he was selected for the Judge Advocate General's Funded Legal Education
Program; and
WHEREAS, Brigadier General Finnegan received his Juris Doctor from the
University of Virginia Law School in 1979; while attending law school,
he was a member and editor of the Law Review and was elected to the
Order of the Coif; and
WHEREAS, After an initial JAG Corps tour at the 8th Infantry Division
in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, where he served as Trial Counsel (1979-80),
Chief of Administrative Law (1980-81), and Chief of Military Justice
(1981-82), Brigadier General Finnegan was assigned to the Judge Advocate
General's School, Charlottesville, Virginia, as a Criminal Law Instruc-
tor (1983-85) and as Deputy Director, Academic Department (1985-87); and
WHEREAS, From 1988-91, Brigadier General Finnegan was assigned to the
XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as Chief of Adminis-
trative and Civil Law (1988-89) and Deputy Staff Judge Advocate (1989-
91); and
WHEREAS, Brigadier General Patrick Finnegan served as Staff Judge
Advocate, Fort Bragg, for five months before deploying to the Persian
Gulf to participate in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Brigadier General Finnegan was Legal Advisor,
Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from May
1991 to July 1993, and was the Staff Judge Advocate, United States

Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, from July
1994 to June 1996; he then served as the Legal Advisor for the United
States European Command, Stuttgart, Germany, from July 1996 to July
1998, and was the U.S.M.A. Staff Judge Advocate from August 1998 until
he was appointed as Professor and Head of the Department of Law in July
1999; and
WHEREAS, Brigadier General Finnegan's military education includes the
Infantry Officers Basic Course, Airborne School, Electronic Warfare
Officers Basic Course, Judge Advocate Officer Basic and Graduate Cours-
es, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War
College; his awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service
Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, Meri-
torious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation
Medal, Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Humanitarian
Service Medal, Saudi Arabia/Kuwait Liberation Medal, and the Defense
Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster; he has also been awarded
the Parachutist Badge; and
WHEREAS, A member of the Virginia Bar, Brigadier General Finnegan has
also been admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court;
he has published articles in the VIRGINIA LAW REVIEW, MILITARY LAW
REVIEW, THE ARMY LAWYER, and MILITARY REVIEW; he is a member of the Phi
Kappa Phi Academic Honor Society; and
WHEREAS, Upon his retirement from the United States Army, Brigadier
General Patrick Finnegan will become the 25th President of Longwood
University in Farmville, Virginia; and
WHEREAS, With Brigadier General Patrick Finnegan throughout his
distinguished career, have been his wife, Joan, and their two daughters,
as well as their beloved grandchildren; all of whom feel privileged to
be a part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, Our Nation's veterans deserve to be recognized, commended and
thanked by the people of the State of New York for their service and for
their dedication to their communities, their State and their Nation;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Brigadier General Patrick Finnegan upon the occasion of his
retirement as Dean of the Academic Board at the United States Military
Academy; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Brigadier General Patrick Finnegan.