About OUR FIRM

David Rittgers served first in the United States Army as an Infantry and Special Forces officer, including three tours in Afghanistan with 2d Battalion, 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne), where he was awarded an Army Commendation Medal with a “V” Device for valorous action and two Bronze Star Medals.

Mr. Rittgers then obtained his J.D. at the University of North Carolina School of Law, where he served as an Article and Note Editor at the First Amendment Law Review and wrote a law review article on the First Amendment rights of servicemembers.

He then served as a Legal Policy Analyst position at the Cato Institute, the nation’s leading libertarian thinktank, where he published articles in the Wall Street Journal, Politico, the Christian Science Monitor, National Review (Online), and the Los Angeles Times (Online). He appeared on Fox’s The O’Reilly Factor, CNN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight, the BBC, and NPR’s Talk of the Nation. In 2009, Mr. Rittgers was selected as one of the Center for a New American Security’s Next Generation National Security Leaders Program.

Mr. Rittgers returned to military duty as an Army JAG Corps reserve officer, and his unit was soon mobilized to Fort Bragg, where he previously served in the Special Forces. Then-Major Rittgers returned to active duty and subsequently served as a Brigade Judge Advocate, Chief of Military Justice, Special Assistant United States Attorney, and Special Victim Prosecutor.

In 2019 Mr. Rittgers was selected to stand up the Special Victim Prosecutor position at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York. This position gave him unique insight into allegations of sexual assault at West Point and how to litigate them at courts-martial and Cadet Misconduct Allegations.

Mr. Rittgers was then selected to serve as a Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for the Cyber Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon, Georgia. He retired from that position in 2023 and served two years as an Assistant Solicitor for the Aiken County Solicitor’s Office. He entered private practice in 2025.

Mr. Rittgers has litigated cases of all varieties during his military career, including sexual assault and harassment, domestic violence, trainer-trainee prohibited relationships, aggravated assault, travel fraud, housing pay fraud, negligent homicide, false display of military decorations, and AWOL charges.  In recognition of his experience and mastery of court-martial legal practice, Mr. Rittgers received the Expert Military Justice Practitioner skill identifier.

Mr. Rittgers retired in the Augusta, Georgia area and is now proud to defend the rights of those who defend America. 

Bar & Court Admissions:

· South Carolina

· Georgia

· Virginia

· Courts-Martial Worldwide

Education:

· The JAG School, L.L.M., with Highest Class Standing in International and Operational Law

· University of North Carolina School of Law, J.D.

· University of Missouri, B.A., Political Science, with magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Golden Key, and Army ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate honors

Military Education:

· Army JAG Sexual Assault Trial Advocacy Course

· Army JAG Prosecuting Crimes Against Children Course

· Army JAG Operational Law of War Course

· Army JAG Criminal Law Advocacy Course

· Army JAG Officer Basic & Advance Courses

· Special Forces Detachment Commander’s Qualification Course

· Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (High Risk)

· Infantry Captain’s Career Course

· Master Fitness Trainer Course

· Ranger School

· Bradley Fighting Vehicle Leader’s Course

· Infantry Officer Basic Course

· Airborne School

Military Decorations:

· Special Forces Tab

· Ranger Tab

· Combat Infantryman Badge

· Expert Infantryman Badge 

· Basic Parachutist Badge (Airborne Wings)

· Royal Thai Army Parachutist Badge

· Legion of Merit

· Bronze Star Medal (x2)

· Meritorious Service Medal (x6)

· Army Commendation Medal with ‘V’ Device for Valor

· Army Commendation Medal (x2)

· Army Achievement Medal

· Valorous Unit Award

· National Defense Service Medal

· Afghanistan Campaign Medal

· Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

· Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

· Korean Defense Service Medal

· Humanitarian Service Medal

· Armed Forces Reserve Medal with ‘M’ Device for Mobilization

· Army Service Ribbon

· Overseas Service Ribbon (x3)