Ralph Udick, a 30-year United States Army veteran, has been named to the 5th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee “B” as a non-attorney member.
Udick served for two years as the Special Courts Martial Convening Authority for more than 4,000 soldiers as brigade commander. He was responsible for convening courts for trials and approving all sentences. He supervised 11 subordinate commanders in their exercise of administrative discharges and non-judicial punishments upholding the rights of all soldiers.
He directed the conduct of military pre-trial criminal investigations with due process protections almost identical to civilian grand jury proceedings.
Serving as the Inspector General of the U.S. Army, Europe for three years, Udick served as the ombudsman for over 350,000 soldiers, their families, United States and third country civilian employees. He heard and investigated allegations of impropriety. Udick granted relief whenever warranted. He provided technical and professional guidance and support to 23 subordinate inspector general offices in Germany, Italy, Greece and Turkey and exercised the power to investigate and compel testimony judiciously and fairly. He provided staff analysis to the Department of the Army inspector general that resulted in the creation by Congress of the very first non-military inspector general within the Federal Government, the Department of Defense Inspector General.
He served aspresident of the Department of the Army Review Boards working for the Secretary of the Army for 18 months. Supervised a Board of 20 Colonels and 20 Sergeants Major. His major responsibility involved adjudicating appeals regarding officer and enlisted efficiency reports and ruling on conscientious objection and hardship discharges. Col. Udick exercised discretionary authority with the power to subpoena documents and compel testimony. He effected final Board decisions to quash negative reports and expunge derogatory information when warranted, resulting in numerous favorable remedial actions restoring promotions and assignments.
Udick is a Vietnam veteran, attended the U.S. Army War College where he made the Commandant’s List, holds a undergraduate degree from the University of California-Berkeley, and a master’s degree from Shippensburg State University. He is married to Arlene Udick who practices law in The Villages. They own homes in Harbor Hills and in The Villages.
