Alan M. Apple comes to Ward & Berry as a recognized expert in Government acquisition and appropriations law and their processes who will be active in all areas of the firm’s practice. His broad-based expertise will help clients understand and better position their business for success in the Government marketplace. Alan draws his experience from commissioned service in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps to provide unique foresight and context to navigate the complex Government acquisition process and the Government-contractor relationship.
Most recently, Alan was hand-selected to serve as the Chair of the Contract and Fiscal Law Department at the Army JAG School. There he led the Army JAG Corps training effort and provided training to over 5,000 Government uniform and civilian attorneys on the public procurement process, rapid acquisition, and acquisition reform. Alan strategically positioned the Contract and Fiscal Law department to form partnerships with other procurement legal education providers and established relationships with other Government agencies. Alan has provided counsel and taught audiences with all levels of expertise on issues that include acquisition planning, market research, source selection, bid protests, intellectual property, data rights, and contract administration issues such as terminations, claims, contract changes, appeals, and procurement fraud. Alan has also provided education, advice, and counsel on the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SIBR), Other Transaction Authority (OTA), and all areas related to contingency & stability operations.
Alan started his 23-year military career in the United States Navy as an Aerospace Physiologist. There he completed flight school, up to solo, as part of the Naval Aerospace Physiology Training Program. Alan then provided training for pilots on hypoxia, ejections seats, land and water survival, underwater aircraft egress, and human performance-related elements of air and space travel and flight equipment. During his Navy service, he was stationed at Marine Corps Aircraft Group-14, where he led the aeromedical briefing program, provided Night Vision Goggle training, served as a Laser System Safety Officer, and was a permanent member of the Aircraft Mishap Investigation Board.
After receiving his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, Alan joined the Army JAG Corps and prosecuted all levels and types of courts-martial and administrative actions for the 1st Armored Division and the 7th Joint Military Training Center in Germany. Alan then turned his attention to the Defense Acquisition System and completed his LL.M. at the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School (TJAGLCS) with a specialization in federal procurement law before deploying to Afghanistan and serving as the Deputy Chief of Contract and Fiscal Law for United States Army Forces Afghanistan. There he was a primary legal advisor for acquisitions to a 4-Star Theater Command and was the principal legal advisor to the Joint Acquisition Review Board, CERP board, and Joint Facilities Utilization Board (Construction).
Alan has also served as Deputy Chief Counsel at the Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC), Deputy Staff Judge Advocate at Installation Management Command (IMCOM), and the Gilbert A. Cuneo Chair of Contract and Fiscal Law at TJAGLCS. Alan holds a Top Secret- SCI clearance, and his military awards include a Legion of Merit and Bronze Star.
Alan completed undergraduate and graduate work at Louisiana Tech University (B.S. & M.S.), where he was a four-year scholarship football letterman and member of the 1990 Independence Bowl team. He received his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and his Masters in Law (LL.M) with a specialization in federal procurement law from the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School.
Alan is licensed to practice in Oklahoma and Texas. He interned at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma (civil division). He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States and the Court of Federal Claims.
