Kevin H. Govern

Associate Dean of Faculty Development and Professor of Law

Comparative Law Cybersecurity Law Ethics & Professional Responsibility International Law Law & Religion Military Law National Security Law

Professor Kevin Govern is Associate Dean of Faculty Development and Professor of Law at Ave Maria School of Law. A retired Army officer, attorney, and internationally recognized scholar, Professor Govern brings decades of experience in military law, international law, national security, and public policy. His teaching, scholarship, and professional service have earned national and international recognition. As Associate Dean of Faculty Development, he supports faculty excellence, scholarship, and professional growth while continuing to contribute to the intellectual life of the law school.

Phone: (239) 687-5390
Office: Administration Building

Biography

Professor Kevin H. Govern serves as Associate Dean of Faculty Development and Professor of Law at Ave Maria School of Law. In his role as Associate Dean of Faculty Development, he works closely with the faculty to support academic excellence, scholarship, professional growth, and the continued advancement of the law school’s academic mission.

Professor Govern teaches and writes in the areas of international and comparative law, national security, military law, ethics, and law and religion.

Professor Govern earned his Bachelor of Arts in History and German from Marquette University in 1984 before receiving his Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School in 1987. He later earned a Master of Laws in International and Operational Law from The Judge Advocate General’s School in 1995 and a Master of Laws in International and Comparative Law from the University of Notre Dame School of Law in 2004.

Professor Govern began his legal career as an Army Judge Advocate and served for 20 years in worldwide assignments during both peacetime and wartime operations. His military legal service involved assignments across every major legal discipline, including operational law, military justice, international law, administrative law, and national security matters.

During his military career, Professor Govern also served as an Assistant Professor of Law at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He later taught at California University of Pennsylvania and John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Professor Govern’s scholarship and public speaking focus extensively on international and comparative law, national security and homeland security, cybersecurity and cyber defense, military operations, law and religion, and professional ethics. He has published widely and presented at conferences and academic institutions throughout the United States and internationally.

In addition to his academic work, Professor Govern has maintained extensive service and leadership involvement with charitable, veterans, civic, religious, and educational organizations, including Catholic Charities of Collier County, Wounded Warriors of Collier County, the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and the United States Military Academy community.

Professor Govern is a retired Army officer, a member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, and an active licensed real estate broker in the State of Wisconsin.

Education

  • L.L.M., International and Comparative Law, University of Notre Dame School of Law, 2004
  • L.L.M., International and Operational Law, The Judge Advocate General’s School, 1995
  • J.D., Marquette University Law School, 1987
  • B.A., History and German, Marquette University, 1984

Professional Experience

Professor Kevin H. Govern began his legal career as an Army Judge Advocate, serving for 20 years in worldwide assignments during both peacetime and war. His military service involved legal work across every major discipline of military law and operations.

Professor Govern also served as an Assistant Professor of Law at the United States Military Academy at West Point. In addition, he has taught at California University of Pennsylvania and John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Throughout his academic and professional career, Professor Govern has written and lectured extensively on international and comparative law, national security and homeland security, cyber security and cyber defense, military operations, law and religion, and professional ethics.

 

Honors & Professional Affiliations

  • Vice-Chair Advisory Board and Volunteer, Catholic Charities of Collier County, Naples, FL (2018 – present).
  • Co-President, West Point Parents Club of Southwest Florida and Board Member, West Point Society of Naples, Naples, FL (2018 – 2019).
  • Field Force Volunteer, United States Military Academy (2018 – present).
  • Volunteer and Governance Board Member, Wounded Warriors of Collier County (2018 – present).
  • Executive Board Member, Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia, PA (2012 – present).
  • Federalist Society Junior Scholar Recognition (2012)
  • Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) Research Grant awarded for research into Islamic attitudes towards legitimacy of international law and international agreements (2007).
  • Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society (Induction awarded for excellence in teaching and scholarship)(2007).
  • Knights of Columbus (4th Degree)(Unanimously elected Council Recorder, Trustee)(2006 – present).
  • Army Advanced Civil Schooling (ACS) (awarded full law school tuition) – Master of Laws (LLM) in International and Comparative Law (2003 – 2004).
  • Legion of Merit (Twice awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements, while serving as a Commissioned Army Officer); eighteen other individual and unit awards and other U.S. and foreign decorations (1987-2007), and Most Outstanding Legal Professional in United States Special Operations Command (Major General William Garrison Award)(awarded 2000).
  • Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity Certificates of Appreciation – Magister (1987), Assistant Province President (1993), Active Life Member (1993 – present), Province President (1994).
  • Active Licensed Real Estate Broker, State of Wisconsin (1986 – Present).
  • Member, Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States (1995 – present), and Bar of Eastern and Western Federal District Courts and Supreme Court of the State of Wisconsin (1987 – present).
  • Den Leader, Parent Volunteer, Merit Badge Counselor, Boy Scouts of America (2004 – 2015). Volunteer, Alpha House Interfaith Hospitality Shelter (2007 –2009) Habitat for Humanity (2003-2007), West Point Women’s Club Scholarship Fundraiser Events (2004-2007), and Catechism Instructor (2006-2007).
  • George C. Marshall ROTC Award (Top 1% nationwide) (1984), Distinguished Military Graduate (Top 20% nationwide) (1984), Superior Cadet Award (Top in class) (1981, 1984), Association of the U.S. Army Award (Highest accomplishment in class) (1982, 1983) Army ROTC Distinguished Military Student (Top 33% in class) (1983), Army ROTC Scholarship Award (Full university tuition) (1981-1984), American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Labor Arbitration and Collective Bargaining (1987).

Courses Taught

  • Ethics
  • International and Comparative Law
  • Law and Religion
  • Military Law
  • National Security Law

Publications

Please view Professor Govern’s scholarship and research on his SSRN Author Page:  https://ssrn.com/author=895820