The views expressed in this article are those of Samantha Hulliberger and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the United States Air Force.
Samantha Hulliberger (Scalia Class, 2024) didn’t just stumble upon the idea of military service or the law — her path was shaped by a deep commitment to public service, family influence, and a pandemic that gave her time to reflect.
Now a recently minted U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer and recent graduate of Cooley Law School, Hulliberger is stationed at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma, where she’s serving as the chief of adverse actions in the base’s legal office. In this role, she advises commanders on administrative and criminal punishment, provides legal assistance to airmen, drafts and executes wills, and prosecutes on behalf of the Air Force. It’s a career that’s both demanding and rewarding — and one she never envisioned before law school.
“I didn’t even know what the JAG Corps was when I started law school,” Hulliberger said. “I had always been interested in the Air Force and public service, and I originally pursued becoming an Air Force officer in any field. But the application process was delayed during COVID, so I applied to law school instead.”
That decision brought her back full circle. While at Cooley, a chance connection with a Navy JAG officer led her to shadow him at the Pentagon — an experience that clarified her career path. “It ended up being the best of both worlds – serving and practicing law,” she said.
Hulliberger’s route into the JAG Corps was far from typical. While most applicants enter through a direct appointment after law school, Hulliberger commissioned through
the Air Force’s one-year college program, completing two semesters of ROTC at Michigan State University during her 3L year at Cooley.
Upon graduation, she attended field training — alongside 19- and 20-year-old cadets — just weeks before sitting for the bar exam.
“It was a whirlwind,” she recalled. “Normally, no one would attend field training before the bar exam. But with medical delays and scheduling, I didn’t have a choice.” Today, she applies that same resilience and adaptability to her everyday responsibilities. As a new officer and attorney, she navigates the complexities of military law under the Uniform Code of Military Justice — learning to advise commanders and manage her upcoming court docket while also staying “deployment ready,” a requirement for all active-duty military members.
“The biggest challenge has been learning two jobs at once,” Hulliberger said. “You’re expected to be the legal expert, but also fulfill military duties that have nothing to do with the law, like attend survival training and constantly maintain your health and fitness for deployment. It’s like learning a new language.”
Despite these challenges, Hulliberger is thriving. Her time at Cooley Law School helped build her foundation as a litigator and leader. She served as president of the Student Bar Association, competed on the National Moot Court Team, and participated in the school’s mock trial class. These experiences, she said, were instrumental in preparing her to face judges — and commanders.
“Mock trial with Professor Lewis Langham made me realize that I could enjoy litigation, even though I came in thinking I wouldn’t,” Hulliberger said. “And Professor Mark Cooney was a huge influence. Everything I know about legal writing and persuasive advocacy came from him.”
When it comes to the law, Hulliberger is a proponent of questioning everything. She questions why laws are significant and why they were created – something she learned from Professor Mark Dotson.
“He would say, ‘I don’t think enough people are curious, and individuals sometimes fall into the motions of just doing things for the sake of doing it. If you sit back and ask, why am I doing this? Why does this law exist? What’s the intent of this? It helps with your understanding and reasoning,’” Hulliberger said. “I still ask myself when I’m doing a legal review or working through an analysis, why does any of this matter? Why does this fact matter? It seems simple enough, but there are times when you truly don’t know why, so it’s important to ask those questions.”
Hulliberger’s current assignment is for two years, after which she could be stationed anywhere in the world. She hasn’t decided whether a long-term military career is in the cards, but says she’s staying focused on learning, litigating, and serving.
“My goals are short-term right now, but this job has so many opportunities. Every day I do something different. I am excited to see what this career offers,” she said.
In the meantime, Hulliberger is staying grounded with personal goals — like training for the Air Force Half Marathon alongside her brother, despite being stationed far from her Michigan roots.
“It’s been hard being away from family,” she admitted. “My brother has three little kids – I miss them a lot, but we get to FaceTime – and training together for the half marathon has made me feel connected to them even though I am far away.”
Though her journey has been anything but conventional, Hulliberger has no regrets. From pandemic uncertainty to ROTC and JAG School, she’s carved a path that reflects her values: service, leadership, and advocacy.
“I definitely didn’t think this is where I’d end up when I started law school,” she said. “But I’m grateful for the journey — and Cooley gave me the tools to be ready for it.”
This article also appears in the Summer 2025 issue of Benchmark Magazine.