List of JAG characters

This is an overview of the regular and recurring characters of long-running series JAG.
Note: All ranks are those shown or stated by the end of the series.

Overview

Main characters

Captain Harmon "Harm" Rabb Jr., USN (JAGC)

Played by David James Elliott.
A naval aviator who became a JAG lawyer after being diagnosed with night blindness. His father was shot down over Vietnam and was listed as MIA, with Harm's attempts to find him forming the plots of several episodes. He became strong friends with Major Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie, USMC, and their relationship grew through the years. Throughout the series the pair acknowledged that they were in love with each other, without it developing into a relationship. In the series finale, Harm and Mac became engaged to be married and toss a coin to decide who would accept a new assignment and who would resign their commission to follow the coin-toss winner. The series ended with the coin still in the air. Harm was promoted three times during the series' run, being first introduced in the pilot episode as a lieutenant and ending with the rank of captain in the second to last episode. Harm was a lieutenant commander and commander for most of the series' run.
Harm reappears in the final two episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles season 10 and the first episode of season 11. It is revealed here that while he lost the coin toss and resigned his JAG commission, he later re-enlisted after breaking off his engagement with Mac. At some point after returning to the Navy, he was promoted to captain and returned to active duty as a line officer, serving as the executive officer on the fictional aircraft carrier the USS Allegiance.

Lieutenant, Junior Grade Meg Austin, USN (JAGC)

Played by Tracey Needham. Season 1.
Introduced in the second episode, Austin was Rabb's second partner for most of the first season, replacing LT JG Caitlin Pike from the pilot movie. She was known to be skilled in computers and fluent in Spanish. Needham left the series after season one, and her character was replaced in the following season by Major Sarah MacKenzie.

Lieutenant Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie, USMC (JAGC)

Played by Catherine Bell.
A Marine lawyer, who later became chief of staff under Chegwidden and Cresswell, partnered with "Harm" and became his best friend and constantly dealt with "whatever" it was between the two of them. "Mac" had the gift of gab and great tenacity in the courtroom for justice but somehow always had trouble with the men in her life. She had a terrible childhood with her abusive alcoholic father and a mother who abandoned her on her 15th birthday. She suffered from alcoholism but sobered up and joined the Marine Corps at age 19. She dealt with her past in the season 4 episodes "Mr. Rabb Goes to Washington," "People v. Mac," and "Second Sight". For three seasons, Mac was a major. She was promoted once in the series' run from major to lieutenant colonel. She was also promoted from JAG lawyer to JAG chief of staff, the second in command under Chegwidden and later Cresswell. Until the series finale, she was senior to Harm by two months.
Mac returned in the season finale of NCIS: Los Angeles season 10 and the premiere of season 11. It is revealed that she won the coin toss, but that her engagement to Harm did not last. At some point she left the San Diego JAG office and became the Marine liaison to the secretary of state. It is possible that Mac has joined the Individual Ready Reserve as she would not have spent a further fifteen years on active duty without a promotion or mandatory retirement. While not stated it could be inferred from the fact that Mac is not seen in uniform and Bud has been promoted to captain prior to this point.
Bell had originally appeared on the series in Season 1 as a separate character, the deceased Lt. Diane Schonke, and her physical resemblance to Mac was written into the plot.

Lieutenant Commander Bud J. Roberts Jr., USN (JAGC)

Played by Patrick Labyorteaux.
Originally an ensign in charge of public affairs on board the USS Seahawk, who appeared in the pilot episode, Bud later becomes a JAG lawyer. He has a younger brother, Mikey, who had aspirations of being an artist before enlisting in the Navy and qualifying as a radar and gunnery technician, then being accepted into the Naval Academy as a midshipman. They had a complex relationship with their father, "Big Bud" Sr., a retired Master Chief, who was borderline abusive when they were children, perhaps due to the strain of having to raise them himself after the death of their mother. He mentioned having a sister named "Winnifred" or "Winnie" in season 2, but she is never shown. He loses his right leg when he accidentally steps on a landmine in Afghanistan during the season 7 finale, but goes through rehabilitation and is allowed to stay in the Navy. Bud is promoted three times during the series' run: first from ensign to lieutenant junior grade, second from lieutenant junior grade to lieutenant, and lastly from lieutenant to lieutenant commander. Both Harm and Mac ask Bud to join them in their new commands after being reassigned across the world in the series finale; Bud politely turns them down because his wife wants him and their family to stay in the D.C. area, but he is also present at the Mac and Harm's engagement party during the final scene of the series, flipping the coin that will decide who quits their job to join the other.
Bud crosses over three times into episodes of NCIS: the season 1 episode "Hung Out to Dry", the season 14 episode "Rogue", and the season 15 episode "Dark Secrets". In his second NCIS appearance, set 11 years after the finale of the JAG series, he is now a captain and still a JAG officer.
Actor Patrick Labyorteaux appeared in the pilot of JAG, but could not appear for most of the rest of the season due to commitments to The Last Frontier. The latter's early cancellation allowed Labyorteaux to return to the series and become a main character.

Rear Admiral Albert Jethro "A.J." Chegwidden, USN, Retired (JAGC)

Played by John M. Jackson, Season 1–9, 193 episodes.
He was a no-nonsense, gruff CO and former Navy SEAL but always had his "people's" back. When he announced his retirement, the JAG staffers were legitimately sad to be losing his leadership and friendship. In Season 3, he showed slight romantic interest in Mac but their friendship and UCMJ implications caused them to nip it in the bud. A.J. became the father figure for many of the JAG staff. He had an Italian ex-wife and daughter who were featured in a kidnapping plot in the Season 4 episode "Going After Francesca." He loved baseball and once mentioned he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians, but declined a contract in order to serve his country during wartime. He was nominated for a seat on a high-level civilian court but turned it down after being confronted with the unethical positions of the Congressman who nominated him.
He would later appear in the 10th-season finale of NCIS when NCIS Director Vance retained him as Special Agent Gibbs' lawyer and in several episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles, in season 8 and season 9.
John M. Jackson had previously played a role as an officer overseeing protagonist JAG lawyers in A Few Good Men.

Harriet Sims

Played by Karri Turner.
Ensign Harriet Sims was first introduced serving as public affairs officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Seahawk. Later in the second season, she becomes part of the administrative staff at JAG HQ. Harriet Sims comes from a wealthy family, as evidenced by the fact her parents live in a mansion located in Naples, Florida. Harriet marries Bud in the third season.
Harriet gave birth to "Little A.J." in May 1999, in Admiral Chegwidden's office. Harriet and Bud lost their daughter, Sarah, during childbirth in fall 2000. Since then, Harriet had a boy, "James Kirk" in 2003. At the end of the ninth season it is revealed Harriet is pregnant with twins.
Harriet was promoted twice during the run of JAG, first from ensign to lieutenant junior grade in the fourth season, and in the sixth season from lieutenant junior grade to lieutenant.

Character name

The first name of character was named after Harriet Margulies, who worked for Belisarius Productions as audience liaison since 1990 during production of Quantum Leap, and continued as such for 19 years spanning the entire length of JAG.

Commander Peter Ulysses "Sturgis" Turner, USN (JAGC)

Played by Scott Lawrence.
A good friend and former Naval Academy classmate of Harm, and a great rival in the courts. He is introduced in Season 7 and at first struggles to adapt to the informal atmosphere of the JAG office. He served on submarines before becoming a lawyer. Son of a Baptist Navy Chaplain. Sturgis and Harm play hoops and fix cars together. Categorically refused to get involved in 'the soap opera' of Harm and Mac's relationship/or lack thereof. Had an on-and-off relationship with Congresswoman Bobbi Latham, and later found love with Varese Chestnut, a jazz singer. Fell into a funk that impaired his relationships with the JAG personnel in Season 8, and his friendship with Harm suffered when he was interim head of JAG after ADM Chegwidden's retirement.

Major General Gordon "Biff" Cresswell, USMC (JAGC)

Played by David Andrews. Season 10, 17 episodes.
The last JAG in the series, he succeeded RADM A.J. Chegwidden upon his retirement in 2004, and his uncertain confirmation hearings provide dramatic conflict for an episode. He was a very tough leader who also showed a low-key sense of humor and eventually won over the JAG officers. He is among the friends invited by Harm and Mac to their engagement announcement which made up the final scene in the series.