Phillip Lynch, an assistant U.S. attorney at the federal courthouse in Tacoma, has received the Department of Justice’s Distinguished Service Award for his work advising the government of Iraq.

Lynch was in Iraq from January 2008 to January 2009 to help set up a new legal system there. It was his second tour in the country. In 2006, the retired Army lieutenant colonel assisted in the trial of Saddam Hussein.

 Here’s the text of the news release announcing the award:

Attorney General Eric Holder has awarded Assistant United States Attorney Philip Lynch one of the Department of Justice’s highest honors, the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award. Mr. Lynch was appointed the Rule of Law Coordinator in Baghdad, Iraq from January 2008, until January 2009. Mr. Lynch served as the senior advisor to the Ambassador to Iraq and as representative to the Iraqi government on the Rule of Law mission.

 “Phil Lynch is not only a superb lawyer, he is a dedicated public servant who puts the welfare of others above his own well being,” said U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Sullivan. “Phil served during a critical time in Iraq. His leadership was a key element in uniting civilian and military efforts in the Rule of Law mission.”

 As Rule of Law Coordinator, Mr. Lynch provided oversight and leadership to the federal government’s entire legal complex in Iraq. Mr. Lynch directed some 1500 U.S. personnel in Iraq, working to help establish the Iraqi legal system. Mr. Lynch supervised federal prosecutors from across the country who served in Baghdad and throughout Iraq, as well as agents from the FBI, U.S. Marshal’s Service, ATF, DEA, and corrections, police and intelligence specialists. Mr. Lynch forged a close working relationship with leaders of the Iraqi Judicial system.

 This was Mr. Lynch’s second assignment in Iraq. In 2006, Mr. Lynch was detailed to Iraq to assist Iraqi attorneys with the trial of Saddam Hussein.

 Mr. Lynch joined the United States Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Washington in March, 1995. Prior to joining the United States Attorney’s Office, Mr. Lynch was a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army serving in the Judge Advocate General Corps. Over a twenty-two year military career, Mr. Lynch served his country in a variety of ways. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Following his graduation, Mr. Lynch served in Korea, earning two Armed Forces Expeditionary medals. Following law school, Mr. Lynch served in the JAG as both a defense attorney and a prosecutor. From 1982-84 he served as a prosecutor at Fort Lewis. Later in his career, Mr. Lynch served as Chief of the Army’s Medical Malpractice Branch supervising all attorneys and investigators handling claims against the U.S. Army. Just prior to retiring from the military, Mr. Lynch served as the Staff Judge Advocate for Madigan Army Medical Center near Tacoma, Washington.

 During his fourteen year tenure with the United States Attorney’s Office, Mr. Lynch represented the federal government in a wide array of civil cases, concentrating primarily on matters involving allegations of medical malpractice.