Kris Kuenzli
Bar Number: 26314
I have been a Judge Advocate General officer in the Air Force for more than 26 years. I am currently the Senior Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Staff Judge Advocate for Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Illinois. I was an associate professor of law at the United States Air Force Academy from 2014 until 2022 and was the interim department head for the Department of Law for the 2019-2020 academic year. I proudly serve on the Washington State Bar Foundation (WSBF), which is committed to providing legal assistance to our state’s most vulnerable populations.
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How did you become interested in your practice area?
I became interested in military law through my husband, who was an active-duty Air Force officer during my time at Gonzaga University School of Law. The ability to serve my country while practicing law has been not only fulfilling but has allowed me to continue to practice all over the country.
How do you define success as a lawyer?
I define success as assisting clients in a meaningful way without regard to economics. This is one of the reasons why I am committed to service on the WSBF. Our focus on helping provide legal assistance to those who would not otherwise have access to quality legal help is my definition of success.
At the end of your career, how would you like to be remembered professionally?
I would like to be remembered as a leader and advocate for those that I serve.
What is your best piece of advice for someone who’s just entered law school?
Embrace the challenges with learning the law. Create an environment where you are comfortable not knowing the answer immediately but are confident that your resources will benefit you in the long run.
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LIGHTNING ROUND
If you could go back in time, where/when would you go? I would go back and listen to Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech in person.
What did you eat for breakfast this morning? Egg scramble with spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers; grapefruit; and coffee.
What’s your favorite breakfast cereal that you’re slightly embarrassed to buy? Lucky Charms (but maybe not that embarrassed).
What is one thing your colleagues may not know about you? I love to watch sports on television, especially obscure and/or less popular sports, like curling, bowling, swimming, and track and field.
What is your favorite smell? Flowers, any kind really.
What is your favorite podcast? More Perfect.
What book have you read more than once? Outliers by Malcom Gladwell.
What is the last thing you watched on television? The Patriot.
What is the best fictional representation (TV, movie, book) of a lawyer? Even though she isn’t a flashy trial lawyer, Demi Moore in A Few Good Men because she is passionate about serving her clients and her country.