Special Counsel for Litigation
Barry J. Plunkett, III
Mr. Plunkett became Special
Counsel for Litigation in January 2010. As Special Counsel, he is responsible for
the most important litigation matters under the cognizance of the General Counsel.
Mr. Plunkett also supervises approximately 40 attorneys who represent the Navy on
significant cases brought before U.S. Federal Courts and the Armed Services Board of
Contract Appeals. Previously, Mr. Plunkett was Executive Director/Deputy Counsel in
the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Office of Counsel. At NAVAIR, which is responsible
for acquisition management, test and evaluation, repair/modification, in-service engineering,
and logistics support for naval aircraft and related weapons systems, Mr. Plunkett
assisted NAVAIR’s Counsel to lead a legal department of over 100 attorneys and staff.
Mr. Plunkett began his Federal career in 1979 with an assignment to the Office of
Counsel to the Navy Comptroller, providing advice on fiscal law and representing the
Navy before the United States Bankruptcy Courts. In 1984, Mr. Plunkett joined the
NAVAIR Office of Counsel for the first time, where he practiced the law of government
contracts and federal employment in support of aircraft and missile programs. He
transferred to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command in 1986, becoming Associate
Counsel for Space and Sensor Systems and managing the legal services provided to several
of the Command's major acquisition programs, including the Navy's satellite and ocean
surveillance programs. In 1994, Mr. Plunkett was selected as the Deputy Assistant General
Counsel for Research, Development and Acquisition, one of the Navy's senior acquisition
attorneys, providing legal advice and services to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for
Research, Development and Acquisition, the Navy's Acquisition Executive and Senior Procurement
Executive. In September 2001, Mr. Plunkett was appointed Counsel to the Naval Supply
Systems Command (NAVSUP), where he supervised a legal staff of over 50 attorneys.
Mr. Plunkett received his B.A. degree in history and government from the College of
William and Mary in 1976. He received his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Washington and Lee
University in 1979. He was selected for the Senior Executive Service in November 2000 and
has received the Navy's Meritorious Civilian Service award and Meritorious Unit Commendation.