Residential Adjunct Faculty

(434) 592-5300

  • LL.M., Military Law, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s School, Charlottesville, Virginia (1994)
  • Juris Doctorate, University of South Dakota School of Law, Vermillion, South Dakota (1985)
  • B.A., Political Science/Criminal Justice, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota (1981)
  • Resident, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 1999
  • Professional Development Series, Emergency Management Institute, National Emergency Training Center, Emmetsburg, Maryland (2005)

Prof. Parke is admitted to practice law before all military courts, the Supreme Court for the State of South Dakota, the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California, and the United States Supreme court.

Experience

Professor Stephen Parke retired from the United States Army in August 2006 following 21 years as a supervisory staff judge advocate. Having seen the world and achieved the goals that he had set in the Army, Prof. Parke was led by the Holy Spirit to apply to Liberty University for a position as assistant professor. Prof. Parke taught for 15 years in the Helms School of Government and retired as the residential associate dean in June 2022. He recently accepted a position as an adjunct faculty member with Liberty University School of Law.

Prof. Parke’s positions in the U.S. Army culminated with his selection as the Staff Judge Advocate for Joint Task Force – Guantanamo, where he was the principal legal advisor to the commander on all matters relating to detention and intelligence-gathering operations. Leading and mentoring a jointly staffed office composed of six attorneys and eight paralegals, Prof. Parke also acted as the primary liaison to the International Committee of the Red Cross and led the litigation support provided to the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice for ongoing habeas corpus litigation.

Prof. Parke’s military honors and awards include the following:

  • The Legion of Merit
  • The Soldiers Medal (for Heroism October 1989)
  • Defense Meritorious Service Medal (one Oak Leaf cluster)
  • Meritorious Service Medal (five Oak Leaf clusters)
  • Joint Service Commendation Medal (one Oak Leaf cluster)
  • Army Commendation Medal
  • Joint Meritorious Unit Award
  • Army Superior Unit Award
  • National Defense Service Medal (Third Award)
  • Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Korean Defense Service Medal
  • Humanitarian Service Medal
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Overseas Service Ribbon (Third Award)
  • Recipient of the 1987 Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award (presented by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Carl Vuono, Mrs. Douglas MacArthur, and the honorable Alexander Haig)

Volunteer Work

After retiring from Liberty University in 2022, Professor Parke volunteered with Gleaning For the World, Parkview Mission, and was selected by Samaritan’s Purse International Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). Most recently, Professor Parke has deployed twice with DART to Ukraine.

Personal Life

Professor Parke has been married for 34 years to the former Helen Gregory. They have two adult children, Madeline and Andrew.