Page 5 - Salesianum - Winter 2019

J.J. Connell ’57
.J. graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1961, completed flight school in 1962 and then was an
instructor pilot in 1963. He next served
with Attack Squadron 55 aboard the
aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga (CVA-
14) at NAS Lemoore, and aboard the USS
Ranger (CVA-61), from August 1964. In July 1966, he was shot down over North Vietnam. He spent 1,645 days as a POW until his death on January 14, 1971. His remains were returned to the USA on March 6, 1974 and he was awarded the Navy Cross (valor), Legion of Merit (valor) and the Distinguished Flying Cross. His name is listed in the Memorial Hall at the Naval Academy.
Joseph diGenova ’63
oe received his undergraduate degree in 1967 from the University of Cincinnati and Jurisprudence
degree from Georgetown Law School
in 1970. Joe served as a law clerk for
Judge George Gallagher on the District
of Columbia Court of Appeals. His law
career has taken him from Capitol Hill to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia to private practice. For four years, Joe was Chief U.S. Attorney, District of Columbia. He supervised complex federal criminal and civil matters including international drug smuggling, public corruption, espionage, insider trading, tax fraud, extradition, RICO and international terrorism. He led the prosecution of Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard, attempted presidential assassin John Hinckley and the TWA Flight 847 hijacking case.
On July 15, 1966, J.J. was flying A-4E BuNo 151024 on an “Iron Hand” mission south of Hanoi. The flight encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire as it attacked a SA-2 surface-to-air missile site. As the flight pulled off target, one of the pilots saw a parachute and realized that J.J. had been
shot down and was captured. J.J.’s Navy Cross Citation speaks to both his treatment while a POW and his response to that treatment. His fellow POWs were in a position to judge J.J.’s response, and it was their judgment and testimony that led to the award of the Navy Cross. J.J. died in captivity on January 14, 1971. Honored posthumously.
Joe was the Chief Counsel and Staff Director of the Senate Rules Committee and Counsel to the Senate Judiciary, Governmental Affairs and Intelligence Committees. Joe has conducted confirmations, legislative and oversight hearings, and drafted legislation and
testified before both houses of Congress.
Joe has published numerous articles on criminal law, terrorism and Congressional oversight; he has frequently spoken about these topics to numerous organizations and has been sought- after by news organizations for his opinions. He was frequently seen on Meet the Press, Crossfire, Face the Nation, Nightline, 60 Minutes, Today, TV Court as well as with David Brinkley, John McLaughlin and Jim Lehrer.
Currently, Joe is Founding Partner of diGenova and Toensing, LLP.
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