The Honorable Eugene R. Sullivan

Eugene R. Sullivan is a retired Federal Judge with more than 16 years of appellate experience who serves as an advisor to Acronis’ Board of Directors regarding ethical and judicial matters. Drawing on his experience as a decorated military veteran, celebrated legal mind, and respected ethicist and public servant, Judge Sullivan will help Acronis continue to enhance its commitment to ethical standards.

Nominated by President Reagan and confirmed by the Senate, Judge Sullivan was installed as a Federal Judge in 1986, became the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals (AF) in 1990, and earned Senior Status in 2002.

When not recalled to active court service, Judge Sullivan is a senior partner at Freeh, Sporkin & Sullivan law firm.

Military Career

A graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point, Judge Sullivan served in the Army for five years, qualifying as a tanker, an Airborne Ranger, a Ranger Instructor, and a Jumpmaster. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Air Medal and other decorations for his service in Vietnam, and was inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame.

Legal Career

After the Army, Judge Sullivan graduated from Georgetown University Law Center, serving as an editor of the Georgetown Law Journal in his senior year. He clerked for the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals, worked at the Patton Boggs law firm, and was part of the White House’s legal defense team during the Watergate investigation.

Public servant

Before being appointed a Federal Judge, Sullivan served as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice for eight years before joining the Pentagon, where he became the Air Force General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer of the U.S. Air Force.

Judge Sullivan has also served as the General Counsel of the National Reconnaissance Office (the U.S. satellite intelligence agency) and the Governor of Wake Island.

Judge Sullivan served on the Federal Commission to review the West Point Honor Code. He is a Trustee Emeritus and the founding Chair of the Ethics Committee of the West Point Board of Trustees (Association of Graduates) and serves on the Executive Board of the Duke Law School Center for Law, Ethics and National Security.

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Internationally respected jurist

Judge Sullivan has given many lectures to visiting international judges and lawyers. For many years, he was the chair of the International Judicial Conference (Criminal Law) and the Great Debate (a dialogue regarding judicial reform) between the USA and England.

For his dedication to promoting the rule of law, Judge Sullivan has earned several honors, including:

  • Medal of Justice from Romania
  • First Class Medal of Defense from Hungary
  • The Defense Minister’s Citation of Merit from the Republic of China
  • Honorary Doctor of Law degree from New England School of Law
  • U.S. Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Medal
  • U.S. Defense Department Medal for Distinguished Public Service
  • The 2001 Castle Award from the West Point Society (DC)
  • The Ellis Island Medal of Honor

Accomplished author

Judge Sullivan has published two political thrillers – The Majority Rules (2005) and The Report to the Judiciary (2008) – and he is the Chair of the Judging Panel for the annual International Impact Dublin Literary Award.

Dedicated family man

Judge Sullivan is married to Lis Sullivan of Denmark, who is an artist and field anthropologist with expertise in bound-foot women of China. Their daughter Kim is a graduate of Columbia University and producer for CNBC in New York City. Their son Eugene II is a litigator in Washington DC and a graduate of Duke University, The London School of Economics, and Columbia Law.