Rutgers Law Highlights Alumni Deployed with NJ Army National Guard

At least half a dozen Rutgers Law Camden and Newark alumni are currently deployed with the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the New Jersey Army National Guard. In honor of Veterans Day, we are highlighting these exceptional alumni who are serving in the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

CPT Michael Berryhill `18 (Camden)

CPT Berryhill is the S1 chief administrative officer for the Brigade. As the S1 officer, he oversees personnel accountability, promotions, administrative actions, awards, force management and all mobilization and demobilization tasks. On the civilian side, CPT Berryhill is a staff attorney for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

CPT Shashwat K. Dave `15 (Newark)

CPT Dave is one of the Judge Advocates for the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He provides essential legal services in the fields of Operations Law, Military Justice, Fiscal Law, Administrative Law, and Legal Assistance. CPT Dave is responsible for providing legal services to the various battalions deployed in Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, and Jordan. On the civilian side, CPT Dave is a juvenile rights attorney with the Legal Aid Society in New York City. He represents abused and neglected children in Family Court, and juvenile delinquents in Family/Criminal Court.

CPT Matthew Finlay `21 (Camden)

CPT Finlay is currently serving in three positions on this deployment: Squadron Fire Support Officer, Information Operations Planner, and the Commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop. While deployed, he is also working on an MBA from Rutgers School of Business. Back home, CPT Finlay works for Amtrak in Labor Relations. Day to day, he represents the company in dealings with the various unions. This includes collective bargaining, agreement drafting, claim response, and arbitration. 

MAJ Stephen J. Pruser `14 (Newark)

As an army communications officer deployed overseas in a combat environment, MAJ Pruser maintains communication infrastructure, ensures information security, establishes emergency communication procedures, deploys mobile communication systems, adapts to changing conditions, and provides training and support for a Brigade size element throughout the Middle East. MAJ Pruser been in the New Jersey Army National Guard since 2003 and was an IT federal employee serving on the civilian side since 2014.

CPT Jonathan Warren `17 (Camden)

CPT Warren has served on three deployments; Operation Enduring Freedom in Europe, Operation Spartan Shield in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and his current tour as the base commander and ground force commander for one of the outposts in Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. During his 20 years of service, both as an enlisted soldier and as a commissioned officer, he has served in a variety of roles. He currently serves as Assistant Counsel at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, New Jersey (NAWCAD-LKE). In this capacity, he advises NAWCAD-LKE on a variety of legal issues arising from contract formation and administration law and civilian personnel law.

MAJ Matthew Werner `08 (Newark)

MAJ Werner commissioned in 2012 from the United States Infantry School in Fort Benning, Georgia. On his current deployment, he serves as the 3rd Battalion, 112 Field Artillery Regiment's Logistical Staff Officer (S4). His duties and responsibilities include coordinating and managing logistical support for a composite field artillery battalion in direct support of an Infantry Brigade Combat Team. MAJ Werner focuses his legal practice on civil disputes, criminal investigations and prosecutions, and administrative matters. He counsels and defends individuals on a variety of matters before federal, state, and administrative courts. He has over 15 years of experience in defending complex criminal matters and litigating civil matters at the investigative, pretrial, trial, and appellate levels.