Stephen E. Castlen
"Legal Scholar & Author"
"Retired Army Colonel"
"Former Circuit Court Judge"
"Former Professor of Administrative Law"
Steve’s Story
Steve Castlen was born at a very early age in Owensboro, Kentucky. His mother said he was a treasure; his father said, “Let’s bury it.” He excelled in various farm-related jobs while neglecting all educational pursuits. With great hope that Steve would excel in higher education, his parents eventually sent him to high school, where he did in fact graduate — this being before Kentucky required students to pass achievement tests. Steve remembers his high school years as the best six years of his life. He played tailback on the football team; whenever he got off the bench, his coach would say, “Get your tail back.”
He joined the Army at the suggestion of a local judge and served as a legal clerk from 1975 to 1978 at Fifth Corps in Frankfurt, Germany, rising from Private E-1 to Specialist E-5. But for his participation in an unfortunate local celebration, he would likely have been promoted to Staff Sergeant.
He then managed various restaurants while attending numerous colleges. Steve attended seven undergraduate institutions prior to obtaining a Marketing degree from Southern Indiana University — the others being Western Kentucky University, Brescia College, Kentucky Wesleyan College, the University of Maryland (Europe), Middle Tennessee State University, and the University of Louisville. Because of all the travel required to complete his undergraduate degree, Steve Castlen is the only person truly qualified to be called a “Roads Scholar.” Although he did not graduate in the top half of his class, he did graduate in the group that made the top half possible.
Steve attended Salmon P. Chase College of Law, where he graduated fourth in his small class of remedial-education students.
He re-entered the Army in 1985, beginning as a defense counsel in Heidelberg, Germany. Upon completing that tour, he was awarded a certificate of appreciation — from the local prosecutor. He then served as Senior Prosecutor in Mannheim, Germany, and as Officer in Charge of the Coleman Law Center in Sandhoffen, Germany. Based upon requests from his German neighbors to his Commander, he was transferred back to the United States.
Upon return he was assigned as a recruiting officer responsible for managing the Army JAG advertising program. He was the creative force behind the JAG Corps’ body-parts advertising campaign, becoming a hit with slogans such as: “Get your foot in the door — Join the JAG Corps,” “The Army JAGC: it’s good for your soles,” and “This little piggy joined the JAG Corps.” Sadly, his final offerings — “The Army JAG is the hip place to be,” “The JAG Corps — feel free to butt in,” and the decisive “Don’t be a boob — join the JAG Corps” — resulted in his prompt departure from the advertising field.
After a brief stint in the Pentagon with the JAG Personnel, Plans and Training Office, Steve worked with the Department of Justice, Defense Procurement Fraud Unit, prosecuting defense contractors. Upon his departure, the defense contracting community presented him with an expensive gold-plated hammer. Subsequent investigation determined that the hammer had been improperly charged to a government contract.
From there, Steve became a Professor at the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s School, teaching Government Ethics; Law of Military Installations; Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Operations; and other courses. He published articles on MWR Operations, Exclusive Federal Legislative Jurisdiction, Claims Related to Bosnia Real Estate Law, and Standards of Conduct — though there is no evidence that anyone ever read them.
He then served as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate at Fort Lee, Virginia, before attending the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where — once again — he graduated without distinction. He subsequently served as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, III Corps and Fort Hood, followed by assignments as Staff Judge Advocate for U.S. Army Alaska and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He graduated without honors from the Army War College and was assigned as Staff Judge Advocate at the United States Army Reserve Command, with offices at Fort McPherson and in Washington, D.C.
Steve periodically taught for the Government’s International Military Education and Training program, traveling to Mozambique, Mali (West Africa), Tajikistan, and Argentina to instruct senior military and political leaders on the role of the military in a democracy, rules of engagement, and military justice. He is likely the only person you will meet who has been to — and spent the night in — Timbuktu, Mali. His efforts have been under some scrutiny since the Mali military overthrew their democratically elected government in 2012.
His last military assignment was as a criminal court judge presiding over trials at military installations throughout the South. Upon his retirement from the military, the Army Appellate Division’s workload substantially subsided. Steve carries the normal military decorations expected of an officer of his rank and experience and has no proven allegations of misconduct in his record.
Following his military retirement, Steve served for ten years as Clerk of the Georgia Court of Appeals and as Court Administrator. He is now fully retired. He holds a private pilot certificate with an instrument rating and, partnering with two others (with considerable help from many more), built an experimental high-performance RV-10 airplane.
Steve and his wife, Sue, have three children — all homeschool graduates. Michael is an Air Force lieutenant colonel, Professor of Military Science at St. Louis University, and ROTC Commander; a former flight instructor, he flies various aircraft and has served as an Airplane Crash Investigator and periodically with the Advance Team for Air Force One. John, an Army JAG major, was the first father-son pair to serve simultaneously as JAG officers on active duty in the history of the United States Army; after various assignments and deployments, he is presently assigned to I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington State. Rachel works for Chick-fil-A in Supply Chain Innovation.
October 26, 2025
A powerful debut exploring Saint Helena’s rise from humble origins to shaping faith, empire, and civilization through resilience and belief.
February 11, 2026
A heartfelt journey through Kentucky roots, tracing generations of Castlen families, preserving legacy, heritage, and stories that shaped their lives.
February 17, 2026
An exciting mystery where seven cousins form a detective agency, racing to find a stolen tiger while uncovering danger, secrets, and courage.
March 9, 2026
A thought-provoking journey where a judge puts centuries of philosophy on trial, examining truth, faith, and the clash of human wisdom.