Cmdr. Layne commissioned into the Navy through the Judge Advocate General’s Corps’ Student Program after graduating from Vanderbilt Law School in 2004. His career includes assignments as a staff judge advocate, in criminal defense, and at the Navy’s Office of the Judge Advocate General. Most recently, Cmdr. Layne served as the deputy staff judge advocate for U.S. European Command and before that as the staff judge advocate for Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade.