Chad Lennon

• Chad H. Lennon

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Chad Lennon is an attorney in the military, security clearance, and federal employment law sections at Tully Rinckey, PLLC. In addition, he is a County Legislator in Suffolk County, New York and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps reserves.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, PLLC, he was the Director of the Veterans and Servicemembers’ Rights Clinic at Touro Law Center. There he managed staff attorneys and interns working on a variety of legal topics. Cases included discharge upgrades, veterans law appeals, military law, landlord-tenant, estate planning, and criminal cases. He was also a Prosecutor in the Suffolk County District Court and East End Courts. There, he was the Prosecutor in Veterans Treatment Court while working on misdemeanor and felony cases. He has also worked as a Criminal Defense attorney in Maryland prior to working as a Prosecutor.

As a reservist in the Marine Corps, Chad has held a variety of billets. During his time on active duty, he served as a Platoon Commander who was deployed to Afghanistan and led over 50 combat missions. Once he returned from deployment, he served as the Battalion Assistant Operations Officer. His other billets include Production Officer, Detachment Commander, Company Executive, International Engagements Officer, Intelligence Officer, Company Commander, and Joint Chiefs of Staff. Chad has also participated in a number of multi-national exercises, including Bold Alligator, African Lion, and Pacific Sentry. He is a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

Court & Bar Admissions

• Maryland
• New York
• Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
• Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
• Department of Veterans Affairs Accredited Attorney

Associations

• Board of Directors, Suffolk County Bar Association, 2023 – Present
• Advisory Council, New York State Veterans Treatment Court 2023 – Present
• Advisory Council, New York City Police Department Marine Corps Association, 2024 – Present
• Co-Chair, Committee on Veterans, New York State Bar Association, 2022-2025
• Co-Chair, Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Suffolk County Bar Association, 2018-2023
• Officer, Academy of Law, Suffolk County Bar Association, 2021-2024

Accreditations/Awards

• 2022 New York State Veterans Hall of Fame Inductee

Publications

• Touro Law Review, Issue 35 Volume 4 2020, The Growth and Need for Veterans Treatment Courts, 35 Touro L. Rev. 1171 (2020).
• Book Review: Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead, Jim Mattis and Bing West, 4 Veterans Law Journal 30 (2019).
• Veterans Treatment Courts, 3 Veterans Law Journal 24 (2019).
• Touro Law Review, Issue 31 Volume 4 2015, Detainees in the Global War on Terrorism Aboard Guantanamo Bay, 31 Touro L. Rev 1013 (2015).
• Published numerous articles in The Suffolk Lawyer, Military Times, Yahoo News, At Ease! Veterans Magazine, Fed Week, Veterans Today, and other publications.

Prior Cases

• Received a Presidential Pardon for a veteran who was convicted by Courts Martial for drug use, distribution, and AWOL.
• Assisted an ROTC candidate who tested positive on a urinalysis to receive a waiver and continue in the ROTC program.
• Assisted a widow of a veteran to received Dependency and Indemnity Compensation after her spouse passed away from cancer.
• Assisted veteran in receiving disability back pay of $34,000 for dental conditions.
• Assisted numerous servicemembers with COVID vaccine waivers.
• Received full waiver of over $30,000 for a debt claimed by DFAS against a Sailor.
• Returned a veteran’s disability rating back to 70% after the VA proposed reducing the rating to 10%.
• Army Reservist faced allegations threatening her security clearance and facing a 15-6 investigation. Assisted Client is both investigations being dismissed.
• Received Honorable discharge from Naval Discharge Review Board for Client who was separated from the Marine Corps for pattern of misconduct.
• Defended Client during administrative separation board who was facing administrative discharge for positive urinalysis.
• Won an appeal with the VA for client who was denied service-connection for conditions with three years of back pay.
• Reduced VA debt from over $112,000 to $12,000 after client was alleged to have been overpaid by the VA.
• Increase veteran disability rating from 30% to 80% with over $120,000 in backpay.
• Assisted client to receive military disability retirement backpay from DFAS.
• Received Combat Related Special Compensation for Airman who was receiving VA disability and military disability retirement.
• Negotiated Soldier to retire after facing administrative separation.
• Defended O-5 National Guardsman facing Officer Grade Determination Board.
• Waived VA debt of over $35,000 after VA improperly applied the Fugitive Felon Theory.