A. J. Chegwidden: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Fictional character on TV series JAG played by John M. Jackson}}

{{in-universe|date=August 2012}}

{{Infobox character

| name = A.J. Chegwidden

| image = Albert Jethro Chegwidden JAG.jpg

| caption = [[John M. Jackson]] as '''Rear Admiral A.J. Chegwidden'''

| first = Smoked (''JAG'')<ref name="1.14" />

| last =

| occupation = Naval officer (196?-2004)<br />{{nobreak|<small>([[Judge Advocate General of the Navy]], 1996-2004)</small>}}<br />Attorney (2004-present)

| portrayer = [[John M. Jackson]]

| full_name = Albert Jethro Chegwidden

| spouse = Marcella (divorced)

| children = Francesca

| significant_other = Laura Delaney (deceased)<br />[[JAG characters#Professor Meredith Cavanaugh|Meredith Cavanaugh]] (split up)

| lbl21 = Rank

| data21 = [[Rear admiral (United States)|Rear Admiral]] (Retired)

[[Rear admiral (United States)|Rear Admiral]] '''Albert Jethro Chegwidden''', [[Judge Advocate General's Corps|JAGC]], [[United States Navy|USN]] (Ret.), is a fictional character played by [[John M. Jackson]]. Chegwidden is a main character on the 10-season TV series ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]'' (recurring character during the [[JAG (season 1)|first season]]) spanning from 1996 to 2004, and has made guest appearances on the spinoff series' ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]'' [[NCIS (season 10)|season 10]] finale, "[[Damned If You Do (NCIS)|Damned If You Do]]" in 2013,<ref name="tl">{{cite web|last=Roots|first=Kimberly|title=NCIS Exclusive: A JAG Favorite to Return in This Season's 'Nail-Biter' of a Finale|url=http://tvline.com/2013/04/12/ncis-season-10-cast-john-m-jackson-jag-chegwidden/|work=TV Line|access-date=June 16, 2013|date=April 12, 2013}}</ref> and as a recurring character on ''[[NCIS: Los Angeles]]'' since 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/shows/ncis-los-angeles/releases/view?id=46934|title = Viacom CBS Press Express}}</ref>

Admiral Chegwidden was the [[Judge Advocate General of the Navy]] from around March 1996<ref name="1.14" /> until his retirement in May 2004.<ref name="9.23" /> The "Old Man" may be the Navy's top uniformed lawyer, but he is a hands-on manager, never forgetting his roots as a [[Navy SEAL]] during the [[Vietnam War]].

==Character Arc==

===Family and background===

The family background of Chegwidden himself has never been revealed (although it might be assumed that Chegwidden, due to the [[Texan English]] spoken by actor John M. Jackson, hails from that region as well). At age 24, apparently while stationed in [[Italy]], he married Marcella (played by [[Barbara Carrera]]<ref name="4.4" />), the daughter of the [[Mayor]] of [[Naples|Naples, Italy]]. In 1972, their daughter, Francesca, was born. Sometime in the 1970s, they divorced and his ex-wife received custody of Francesca. Marcella remarried, to an [[Italy|Italian]] man named Vittorio Parreti, who was later murdered. Francesca ran into problems when she fell in love with mafia member Luciano Antinori.<ref name="4.4">{{cite episode |title= [[List of JAG episodes#ep65|Going After Francesca]] |series= JAG |series-link= JAG (TV series) |season= 4 |number= 4}}</ref>

Chegwidden had other romances throughout the years with Judge Laura Delaney and [[Characters of JAG#Dr. Sydney Walden, M.D.|Dr. Sydney Walden]]. Judge Laura Delaney was killed after tripping a [[landmine]] on A.J.'s porch, which was placed by an old enemy of his.<ref name="Ghosts">{{cite episode |title= [[List of JAG episodes#ep29|Ghosts]] |series= JAG |series-link= JAG (TV series) |season= 2 |number= 7}}</ref> His last and longest romance in ''JAG'' was with [[JAG characters#Professor Meredith Cavanaugh|Meredith Cavanaugh]]. They met when she went to JAG headquarters to meet with Lieutenant Colonel [[Sarah MacKenzie|Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie]], but he thought she was another attempt at matchmaking from his subordinates. He later learned that MacKenzie wanted to speak with Meredith about a course she wanted her "little sister" Chloe to attend and he apologized. Chegwidden and Meredith bonded over their common interest for [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]].<ref>{{cite episode |title= [[List of JAG episodes#ep151|Exculpatory Evidence]] |series= JAG |series-link= JAG (TV series) |season= 7 |number= 17}}</ref> Although the Admiral and Meredith got engaged near the end of Season 9, he found out she cheated on him in Season 9 and ended their engagement on the spot.<ref>{{cite episode |title= [[List of JAG episodes#ep201|Hard Time]] |series= JAG |series-link= JAG (TV series) |season= 9 |number= 19}}</ref>

Lt. [[Bud Roberts]] and his wife [[Harriet Sims]] named their first son A.J. after him. During episodes where he is stuck at home, he is often kept company by a [[German shepherd]] named "Dammit" (the only name the dog would respond to),<ref>{{cite episode |title= [[List of JAG episodes#ep175|Empty Quiver]] |series= JAG |series-link= JAG (TV series) |season= 8 |number= 17}}</ref> whom he encountered when he accidentally ejected from an [[F-14 Tomcat]] piloted by Commander [[Harmon Rabb|Harmon "Harm" Rabb Jr.]] ([[David James Elliott]]) into a blizzard-covered forest in Virginia.<ref>{{cite episode |title= [[List of JAG episodes#ep174|Heart and Soul]] |series= JAG |series-link= JAG (TV series) |season= 8 |number= 16}}</ref>

===Navy career===

[[File:Rear Admiral O8.png|thumbnail|160px|left|The insignia worn by a Rear Admiral (two stars) in the Navy JAG Corps.]]

Chegwidden was a talented [[pitcher]] on his high school [[baseball]] team.<ref name="The Mission" /> The [[Cleveland Indians]] [[Draft (sports)|drafted]] him, but instead he chose to accept an appointment to the [[United States Naval Academy]].<ref name="The Mission">{{cite episode |title= [[List of JAG episodes#ep150|The Mission]] |series= JAG |series-link= JAG (TV series) |season= 7 |number= 16}}</ref> After graduating from the Academy, he went on to become a [[Navy SEAL]], and while assigned to [[United States Navy SEALs#SEAL Teams|SEAL Team 2]], Chegwidden served with valor and distinction in the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>{{cite episode |title= [[List of JAG episodes#ep17|Black Ops]] |series= JAG |series-link= JAG (TV series) |season= 1 |number= 17}}</ref> After the [[Role of the United States in the Vietnam War|American Withdrawal from Vietnam]], Chegwidden, alongside [[List of NCIS: Los Angeles characters#Henrietta Lange|Henrietta Lange]] ([[Linda Hunt]]), Charles Langston ([[Carl Lumbly]]), and Sterling Bridges ([[James Remar]]), were recruited into a clandestine unit and tasked with retrieving any American operatives with non-official covers from the warzone, including [[List of NCIS: Los Angeles characters#Owen Granger|Owen Granger]] ([[Miguel Ferrer]]), requiring them to become "creative as hell" to get the funds necessary to extract them by any means necessary, which culminated in them getting 80 gold bars for ransom money before returning to America in 1978.<ref name="Battle Scars">{{cite episode |title= [[List of NCIS: Los Angeles episodes#ep190|Battle Scars]] |series=NCIS: Los Angeles |series-link= NCIS: Los Angeles |season= 8 |number= 190}}</ref>

When the war ended, he transferred over to [[surface warfare]], and rose to command a [[Farragut-class destroyer (1958)|''Farragut'' class destroyer]]; a cased model of one graces the mantel of his JAG office fireplace.<ref name="1.14" /> Chegwidden is an admirer of [[Arleigh Burke]] and a portrait of him also hangs on his JAG office wall.<ref name="1.14" /> During the 1980s, his career took yet another turn as he left Surface Warfare and went to [[law school]]. As a member of the [[Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy|Navy's JAG Corps]], he rose quickly through the ranks, serving as the head of the JAG office in the [[U.S. Pacific Fleet]] before being appointed [[Judge Advocate General of the Navy]] in 1996.<ref name="1.14">{{cite episode |title= [[List of JAG episodes#ep14|Smoked]] |series= JAG |series-link= JAG (TV series) |season= 1 |number= 14}}</ref> Chegwidden succeeded [[Rear admiral (United States)|Rear Admiral]] [[Characters of JAG#Rear_Admiral_Albert_"Al"_Brovo,_USN_(JAGC)|Al Brovo]], [[United States Navy|USN]], played by [[Kevin Dunn]], who only appeared in the [[pilot episode]].<ref>{{cite episode |title= [[List of JAG episodes#ep1|A New Life]] |series= JAG |series-link= JAG (TV series) |season= 1 |number= 1/2}}</ref>

Chegwidden stated in a Maryland court case, while defending Gunnery Sergeant Galindez, that he is a member of the [[Bar Association]]s of [[Virginia]], [[Maryland]] and [[New York (State)|New York]].<ref>{{cite episode |title= [[List of JAG episodes#ep102|People v. Gunny]] |series= JAG |series-link= JAG (TV series) |season= 5 |number= 17}}</ref> Chegwidden retired from the Navy in May 2004.<ref name="9.23">{{cite episode |title= [[List of JAG episodes#ep205|Hail and Farewell (Part I)]] |series= JAG |series-link= JAG (TV series) |season= 9 |number= 23}}</ref>

His successor as Judge Avocate General was [[Major general (United States)|Major General]] [[Gordon Cresswell|Gordon M. Cresswell]], [[United States Marine Corps|USMC]], played by [[David Andrews (actor)|David Andrews]].<ref name="Whole New Ball Game">{{cite episode |title= [[List of JAG episodes#ep209|Whole New Ball Game]] |series= JAG |series-link= JAG (TV series) |season= 10 |number= 4}}</ref>

===Post-retirement activities===

After his retirement from the Navy in 2004, Chegwidden found employment as a senior partner in a Washington DC law firm. He reappeared in the ''JAG'' spin-off ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]'' as an attorney hired by [[List of NCIS characters#Leon Vance|NCIS Director Leon Vance]] ([[Rocky Carroll]]) to defend Special Agent [[Leroy Jethro Gibbs]] ([[Mark Harmon]]) during an internal investigation by the [[Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense|DoD Office of the Inspector General]] and possible trial (which never came about) because Gibbs was temporarily recruited to [[Joint Special Operations Command|JSOC]] to deal with a side investigation into the death of a Navy SEAL by a terrorist group called the "Brotherhood of Doubt."<ref name="tl" /><ref>{{cite episode |title= [[Damned If You Do (NCIS)|Damned If You Do]] |series= NCIS |series-link= NCIS (TV series) |season= 10 |number= 24}}</ref>

In February 2017, Chegwidden returned in the ''[[NCIS: Los Angeles]]'' Season 8 episode "Payback." Chegwidden was summoned to Los Angeles by his old friend, [[List of NCIS: Los Angeles characters#Henrietta Lange|Henrietta Lange]], to assist the Office of Special Projects during the final phase of their mole hunt. Once all the moles had been revealed, Hetty asked the Admiral to stay in LA to help her deal with the legal fallout. In the episode, it is mentioned that at one point he almost tried to kill Assistant Director [[List of NCIS: Los Angeles characters#Owen Granger|Owen Granger]] when Chegwidden was "young" and Granger was "stupid." He also appeared in the episodes "Battle Scars" and "Golden Days," where he, as well as retired Admiral Sterling Bridges, worked with NCIS in a case involving a former war buddy of theirs and Hetty's from a classified mission during the American withdrawal from Vietnam to extract any operatives with non-official covers that had been left behind (including presumably-recently deceased Owen Granger), Charles Langstrom, after he went AWOL.<ref name="Battle Scars" /> Later, alongside Langstrom, he aided the group with trying to recover 80 [[gold bar]]s valued at well over $40,000,000 in 2017 currency (and over $1,000,000 in 1978 currency when they returned from Vietnam) from a crooked pawn shop owner named Yaniv, eventually resolving to use it in the remaining days they have left (due to suspected exposure to [[Agent Orange]], just like Owen Granger had been during their mission) to combat criminals and, at the same time, aid any veterans going into VA clinics.<ref name="Golden Days">{{cite episode |title= [[List of NCIS: Los Angeles episodes#ep191|Golden Days]] |series=NCIS: Los Angeles |series-link= NCIS: Los Angeles |season= 8 |number= 191}}</ref>

==Characterization==

Chegwidden often comes across as being hard-nosed and tends to "follow the book". However, he has been known to show vulnerable moments in his life and career, and is fiercely protective of those under his command, whom he considers to be "his people." Not only being the superior of [[Harmon Rabb|Harmon Rabb Jr.]] and [[Sarah MacKenzie]], he often instinctively turned into a missing father figure—providing not only comical relief, but also a reflection on their respective personal backgrounds.

When Lt. [[Bud Roberts]] was wounded after stepping on a landmine, Chegwidden attempted to soothe the news to Bud's wife, [[Harriet Sims|Harriet]], and seemed to be a little melodramatic while doing it.<ref>{{cite episode |title= [[List of JAG episodes#ep159|Critical Condition]] |series= JAG |series-link= JAG (TV series) |season= 8 |number= 1}}</ref> Another time he showed his softer side was when he broke the news of Harm's aircraft accident while attempting to return home in time for Mac's engagement party to Mic. When Bud and Harriet had a stillbirth, the Admiral attempted to help both by granting an emergency leave. (Bud, however, refused to stay away longer than a week, feeling that returning to work was in his and his wife's best interests.)

Chegwidden is also known for showing a side of himself that frightens most who have seen it. In one episode, he broke the nose of Special Agent Clayton Webb for putting Harm and Mac in danger.<ref>{{cite episode |title= [[List of JAG episodes#ep62|Gypsy Eyes]] |series= JAG |series-link= JAG (TV series) |season= 4 |number= 1}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |title= [[List of JAG episodes#ep63|Embassy]] |series= JAG |series-link= JAG (TV series) |season= 4 |number= 2}}</ref> This particular incident impressed Webb so much that he never again tried to ruffle the Admiral's feathers.

He was responsible for the death of Antinori after Antinori had kidnapped Francesca. Even though it was Francesca who pulled the trigger, the Admiral was present and made no move to stop her. He had earlier killed several of Antinori's bodyguards.

He also scared Harm on several occasions, most notably when Harm and Mic Brumby were responsible for accidentally breaking Bud's jaw in "Boomerang". After being dragged to Australia, Chegwidden yelled at both of them, threatening to horsewhip and [[keelhauling|keelhaul]] Harm, until he decided on a [[non-judicial punishment]] that fit the crime. He ordered Harm and Mic to confine themselves to a warehouse and did not allow them to come out until each had inflicted the same amount of punishment on the other as they had inflicted on Bud.

He even rattled a CIA "''sweeper''," when he realized that the rogue agent was playing mind games with him. These mind games resulted in the death of the woman he loved.

The Admiral was targeted by the father of a sailor that the Admiral put away, who later was exonerated. Unfortunately, the young sailor had died in prison. Chegwidden had to show considerable restraint to keep himself from killing the man.

On more than one occasion Chegwidden put his career on the line to back his staff or to help them when they needed it. According to [[Harriet Sims]], the Admiral went to his boss, the [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]], pleading in letter, citing legal precedent, why Bud Roberts should not be passed over for promotion (Roberts was no longer qualified for sea duty after losing a leg to a land mine while rescuing an Afghani boy who had wandered into a minefield). The usual result of being passed over for promotion three times is involuntary separation from the Navy (in Bud's case, forced retirement on medical grounds). Bud's promotion to Lieutenant Commander was duly made and administering the oath of office was what Chegwidden considered to be his last official act as Judge Advocate General.<ref name="9.23" />

==Awards and decorations==

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

|colspan="4"|[[File:United States Navy Special Warfare insignia.png|200px]]

|-

|-

|colspan="3"|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}&nbsp;{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|other_device=v|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|-

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Combat Action Ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|-

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expedtionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|-

|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|-

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|-

|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

|-

|colspan="6"|[[Special Warfare insignia]]

|-

|colspan="3"|[[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]]

|colspan="3"|[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] w/ [[valor device]]

|-

|colspan="2"|[[Purple Heart]]

|colspan="2"|[[Commendation Medal|Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal]] w/ 1 [[award star]]

|colspan="2"|[[Combat Action Ribbon]]

|-

|colspan="2"|[[Navy Expeditionary Medal]]

|colspan="2"|[[National Defense Service Medal]] w/ 2 [[service star]]s

|colspan="2"|[[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]]

|-

|colspan="2"|[[Vietnam Service Medal]] w/ 1 service star

|colspan="2"|[[Southwest Asia Service Medal]]

|colspan="2"|[[Global War on Terrorism Service Medal]]

|-

|colspan="2"|[[Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation]] w/ palm

|colspan="2"|[[Vietnam Campaign Medal]]

|colspan="2"|[[Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)]]

|-

|}

Admiral Chegwidden would also be authorized to wear the [[Surface Warfare Officer]] badge based on his statements that he commanded a destroyer following his Vietnam service.

==Conceptual history==

{{quote box|align=right|qalign=left|bgcolor=silver|width=20%|source=[[John M. Jackson]] in 1997 on playing Admiral Chegwidden.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19970607083757/http://www.cbs.com/primetime/jag.html JAG - season 2 CBS website], accessed through [[archive.org]]. Retrieved on 2013-10-09.</ref>|I spoke with many retired Navy people to find out how high-ranking Naval officers act so I could figure out how to play an admiral. And most replied, "an Admiral acts any damn way he wants to!" So that's exactly what I'm trying to do with this character.}}

''JAG'' creator [[Donald P. Bellisario]] named this character's first names after those of his own father, Albert Jethro Bellisario.<ref>[http://www.geocities.ws/sonnies_87/chegwidden.html "Admiral A.J. Chegwidden"]</ref> The character was recurring in the first season of ''JAG'' and become a regular in the second season.<ref name="Admirable admiral"/>

Actor John M. Jackson likened the function of the character in ''JAG'' as a "dispatcher" sending the protagonists away on cases or missions.<ref name="Admirable admiral">{{cite magazine |last=Scott |first=Vernon |title=Admirable admiral |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1999/11/26/Admirable-admiral/4438943592400/ |magazine=[[UPI]]/[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=November 26, 1999 |access-date=May 8, 2023 }}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{JAG television}}

{{NCIS (franchise)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chegwidden, A.J.}}

[[Category:JAG (TV series) characters]]

[[Category:NCIS (TV series) characters]]

[[Category:NCIS: Los Angeles characters]]

[[Category:Fictional admirals]]

[[Category:Television characters introduced in 1996]]

[[Category:Fictional Gulf War veterans]]

[[Category:Fictional American lawyers]]

[[Category:Fictional Judge Advocate General's Corps (United States) personnel]]

[[Category:Fictional United States Navy SEALs personnel]]

[[Category:Fictional Vietnam War veterans]]

[[Category:Crossover characters in television]]