Staff Lead and Counsel of the Subcommittee on Readiness, Staff Lead of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Counsel of the Military Personnel Subcommittee to the House Committee on Armed Services. Before working in Congress, Pearce served as the Chief Clerk to Andrew Effron, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, from 2009 to 2010. Military background Pearce served on active duty in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps from 1996 to 2009. During her active duty service, Pearce served as an aide to the Secretary of the Air Force and as an assistant executive to The Judge Advocate General (TJAG). Pearce was also appointed by TJAG to serve as liaison officer to the Department of Defense Task Force Report on Care for Victims of Sexual Assault. She taught criminal law and trial practice as an adjunct faculty instructor at the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's School and for the Task Force 134-Detention Operations course, responsible for training military attorneys for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan. Earlier in her career, Pearce's assignments included serving as Chief of Military Justice at Nellis Air Force Base, Area Defense Counsel at Cannon Air Force Base, and as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate at Mountain Home Air Force Base. Pearce medically separated from the Air Force in 2009 after being diagnosed with lung and stomach cancer. She spent the last two years of her career undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments. Pearce's military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Air Force Recognition Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Pistol). Memberships and community activity Pearce is President of "Connect-McLean," a community civil organization based in McLean, Virginia focused on school and traffic safety initiatives and funding. She has served as Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law (SCAFL), and Executive Director of the Judge Advocates Association (JAA). References External links Office of the Army General Counsel 21st-century American women lawyers 21st-century American lawyers Women government officials Department of the Army staff United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps 1969 births Living people Lawyers who have represented the United