Lieutenant Colonel Sharon A. Shaffer

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As the former Deputy Chief Defense Counsel in the Office of Military Commissions, Lieutenant Colonel Sharon A. Shaffer represented a Sudanese detainee, Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al Qosi, who has been charged and faces trial before a military commission. He is currently being held at Guantánamo Naval Base, Cuba.

As a prosecutor and defense attorney, Lieutenant Colonel Shaffer has tried over 150 cases and presided over 160 cases as a circuit military judge. She was commissioned as an Air Force officer through the direct appointment program and entered active duty in 1990. She has served as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, Circuit Trial Counsel, Circuit Defense Counsel, Chief, Accessions Branch for The Judge Advocate General, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Circuit Military Judge and Deputy Chief Defense Counsel for the Office of Military Commissions, Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Lieutenant Colonel Shaffer is currently an investigation officer and legal advisor for the Senior Official Inquiries Directorate, Office of the Air Force Inspector General in the Pentagon. As an investigation officer, she investigates complaints levied against senior officers at the rank of brigadier general and above, as well as certain civilian officials. As a legal advisor, she assists other investigating officers with legal issues throughout the course of an investigation. Lieutenant Colonel Shaffer also provides counsel to investigating officers regarding evidentiary sufficiency of reports of investigation as well as the accuracy and effectiveness of written presentations.

Lieutenant Colonel Shaffer is licensed to practice law before the Supreme Court of the State of Michigan, the United States Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and the United States Supreme Court.