American magazine, July 2016

mastery
ILLUSTRATION BY PETER HOEY
2001
Was a college freshman
when planes slammed
into the World Trade
Center. The previous
weekend, he had sat
on a friend’s roof in
New York City, gazing
at the towers. “I WAS
ENAMORED WITH
THEM. THREE
DAYS LATER THEY
WERE GONE.”
2002
As an undergraduate,
launched a comedy
talk show on Wesleyan
University’s radio station.
1996
Published an underground
newspaper, the Media
Takeover, from eighth
grade through high school.
Jesse Sommer, WCL/JD, Kogod/MBA ’11,
was 22 years old in 2005 when the TV show
JAG (a military acronym for Judge Advocate
General) was cancelled after a successful
10-year run. He was embarking on a career
in media and had no idea his future lay in the
armed forces, where he would jump out of
planes and try cases. Today Captain Sommer
is a real-life JAG—practicing military law and
striving to embody both ideals of the JAG
Corps motto: “Soldier first, lawyer always.”
2004
Elected president of the
station. Leased unused
portions of airtime to
an NPR affiliate; used the
money to upgrade the
station’s technologies,
programming, and
studio space.
2005
Graduated from Wesleyan
with a BA in government and
landed an associate producer
job at Air America Radio.
“I WAS EXPOSED TO
THE LANGUAGES OF
INFLUENCE: LAW AND
BUSINESS. I REALIZED
I WANTED TO DO MORE
THAN JUST REPORT
ON THEM.”
2006
Took the LSAT and GMAT exams.
Launched TasteSpace.com—
a startup online bar and
restaurant guide.
2008
Helped launch a taxi sharing
platform called CabCorner.
Talked with Uber founder
Travis Kalanick before it was
on anyone’s radar. “BUT
IN PERHAPS THE
CENTRAL MISTAKE OF
MY LIFE, I THOUGHT,
‘THIS ISN’T GOING
ANYWHERE.’” Laughed
while recounting this.
2013
Attended army airborne school.
Despite a terrifying first
experience, he’s jumped nearly
30 times.
Reported for duty with the
historic 82nd Airborne Division
at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Became a legal assistance
attorney, charged with
providing an array of legal
services to soldiers.
2010
While at AU, spoke to an army
field screening officer on
a whim. “I’D ALWAYS
BEEN INTERESTED
IN MILITARY POLICY,
BUT WHEN I MET [THE
JAG RECRUITER], I
BECAME COMPLETELY
INFATUATED WITH THE
IDEA OF SERVICE.”
More than 3,000 people
applied for 80 slots; he was
wait-listed. Accepted on the
second go-round in 2012.
2014
Promoted to chief of the legal
assistance office. Attended
the army’s jumpmaster and
air assault schools.
Assigned as one of the
military’s first special
victims’ counsels, tasked
with representing sexual
assault victims. Selected
to testify before the
defense department’s
Judicial Proceedings
Panel in DC. “IT’S A
FUNDAMENTALLY
NEW APPROACH TO
MILITARY JUSTICE.
FOR THE FIRST
TIME, VICTIMS ARE
PROVIDED WITH
ATTORNEYS TO HELP
THEM NAVIGATE THE
SYSTEM.”
2015
Tore his meniscus during
the last day of a pre-ranger
course. “I’M COMING
OFF 11 MONTHS OF
REHABILITATION
AND HOPING TO GIVE
IT ONE MORE SHOT.
SOME DREAMS DIE
HARD!”
Became a military prosecutor,
winning his first case.
2016
Preparing for reassignment
to Fort Polk in Louisiana.
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