Eric M. Pedersen was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He received a B.S. from Sam Houston State University, a J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law and an LL.M. from the Georgetown University Law Center where he also obtained a Certificate of Study in National Security Law. Eric was on active duty in the Navy Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps from 2001-2009, where he served twice as a prosecutor, a Staff Judge Advocate for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and a Legal Advisor to the Department of Defense Criminal Investigation Task Force. Eric's Military Awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal. In 2008, he was presented with the Kitsap County-Navy League Outstanding Military Attorney Award. Eric left active duty in 2009, but is still affiliated with the Navy JAG Corps reserves and currently holds the rank of Commander (O-5). In his civilian career, Eric is an Assistant Chief Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security in Seattle, Washington. In this capacity, he represents the United States in hearings before U.S. Immigration Courts and Office of the Chief Administrative Hearings Officer. He is specially designated as a member of the National Security Litigation Division to litigate cases involving human rights abusers and supporters of international terrorism. In 2013, Eric briefly returned to active duty to serve as the Staff Judge Advocate for SEAL Team TEN in Afghanistan. As a result of this deployment, the Washington State Bar Association presented him with the Award of Merit in 2014.

Eric can be reached at: [email protected]