Admiral A.J. Chegwidden

John M. Jackson

Admiral Chegwidden made his first appearance midway through the first season, in Smoked. In that ep we learn that Chegwidden was a Navy SEAL in Vietnam, commanded a Destroyer and then got his law degree and joined JAG. He headed JAG in the Pacific before becoming Judge Advocate General.

In season two he had a romance with a Judge, Laura Delaney. She is killed in Ghosts. In the third season ep Someone To Watch Over Annie, we find out that Chegwidden was married once. While he was stationed in Italy, he was married to the daughter of the mayor. It didn't last, though. And, in the ep With Intent to Die, we find out that Chegs has a daughter named Francesca Paretti. She's a journalist in the fashion industry and she appears to be in her mid twenties. She lives in Naples, Italy.

During the third season, we find that Chegs seems to be attracted to Mac. He has a dream with her in it in Intent to Die, and he comes close to kissing her in The Stalker. Although, he was the one who stopped the kiss, realizing that it was wrong for the both of them.

In the fourth season, we meet Chegs' ex-wife, Marcella Paretti, when his daughter is kidnaped (Going After Francesca ). He rescues Francesca from her kidnapper and mentions that he never stopped loving Marcella.

In the fourth season ep Gypsy Eyes, Chegs goes to Russia to find Harm and Mac and even gets to do something that a lot of people have wanted to do in the past, punch Clayton Webb!

In the episode "Soul Searching" AJ and Webb team up to save a C.I.A. agent, AJ's friend and Webb's mentor, from terrorists. AJ is also drafted for duty in the episode "Yeah, Baby" when he delivers Bud and Harriet's baby, AJ.

In the episode "Yeah, Baby", Harm asks AJ to help get him returned to flight status. AJ did not want him to leave JAG, but saw how much he wanted his designator changed, and helped, even thought it involved asking a favor from the Secretary of the Navy.

In War Stories, we learn that his initials stand for Albert Jethro (which is Don Bellisario's father's name, so don't make fun!)

To start off the fifth season, AJ is the object of a war between Bud, Tiner and the newly arrived Gunny Galindez to see who can win his favor by getting him concert tickets for a Navy Auction (True Callings). He also makes Harm's return to JAG as painless as possible, well, maybe not that easy for Harm, he made him defend the son of the Secretary of the Navy when he was court martialed. :) (The Return). He was faced with a superiors nightmare when Harm was accused of writing an editorial that criticized the President (Contemptuous Words).

We also learn that AJ bears a striking resemblance to CPO Burns, who served with Harm's father. (This is of course because John Jackson played CPO Burns in the episode "Ghosts of Christmas Past").

AJ deals with feelings that he may be getting to old to stay in the Navy when he attends the retirement party of a friend who is leaving the Navy (Cabin Pressure).

AJ also plays peacemaker when he makes Harm and Mic “settle” their difference in Australian (Boomerang Part 2).

AJ’s personal life gets a lift when he meets Dr. Sydney Walden (Promises). AJ and Sydney hit it off and got very serious (Drop Zone, Body Talk, Surface Warfare). Trouble surfaced in the sixth season with the injection of her son, Danny, into the mix (Flight Risk). Danny borrowed Chegwidden’s car and then claimed it was stolen. The car was later recovered in a ditch with marijuana inside (JAG TV). This lead to a huge fiasco for Chegwidden when he tried to get his car back. Sydney and AJ broke up over a disagreement of whether Danny was involved with this or not (The Princess and the Petty Officer).

To find out more about John M. Jackson, please visit The John M. Jackson Admiration Society.

Back to Character Bios

Back to the JAGsite




Lt. Bud Roberts

Patrick Labyorteaux

Bud makes his first appearance in the pilot episode, as an Ensign who served as Public Affairs Officer on the Seahawk. Bud shows up again in the unaired season one cliffhanger, Skeleton Crew, which also takes place on the Seahawk.

In We The People, the season two opener, we learn that Bud has been promoted to Lt. (j.g.) and he transferred to JAG, with a recommendation from Lt. Austin before she transferred out. Bud is in law school and serves as Harm and Mac's assistant. Bud met Ensign Harriet Simms, who replaced him on the Seahawk in Crossing The Line. Harriet is transferred to Norfolk and she and Bud have their first date (Washington Holiday).

In the third season, Harriet is re-assigned to JAG HQ. She and Bud got engaged later in the season (Tiger, Tiger). The got married near the end of the season, despite many obstacles including Harriet's disapproving mother, a wild bachelor party and Bud's alcoholic, abusive father (Wedding Bell Blues).

In Wedding Bell Blues, we learn that Bud has one brother, Mikey, who is an aspiring cartoonist. Mikey defied his father and went to Bud's wedding. Bud offered to let Mikey live with him and Harriet after the wedding. We find out in the fourth season episode "War Stories" that Mikey joined the Navy.

In addition to his personal growth, Bud's good work has caused Admiral Chegwidden to give him more responsibility in court. All his hard work paid off when he was sworn in as a lawyer. With his new responsibility came new problems. In the episode "The Adversaries" Bud has to defend his father, who is accused of stealing, against Harm. Bud wins the case, but never knows that his father was really guilty and was using Bud. If Bud won the case, he would go free. If Bud lost the case, he could get a new trial by claiming that he did not have an adequate defense because his lawyer was his son. Harm makes it clear to "Big Bud" that he will never use Bud again.

In season four, Bud finds out that Harriet is pregnant (Embassy ). Despite one scare that Harriet might loose the baby (The Martin Baker Fan Club), everything is now going well and they are eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child. In War Stories, Harriet finds out that the baby is a boy and they decide to name him after AJ. See the AJ bio if you don't know what it stands for. Then you can sympathize! Lesson learned here? Never tell a two star you'll name your first born after him until you know what his initials stand for! The Roberts' baby boy was born in the episode "Yeah, Baby".

Bud took on much more legal responsibility in the fifth season. He helps Mac prosecute their case on the USS Patrick Henry in "Rules of Engagement". He helps Harm search for a missing witness in "Front and Center".

Bud takes center stage in the episode "Rogue". He is assigned to help a security contractor, Raglan, test the security on a nuclear sub. It turns out that the Raglan actually planned to hijack the sub. Bud is trapped on the sub and Raglan threatens to blow up the Statue of Liberty. Bud helps to end the situation peacefully.

Bud is confronted with personal regret is "The Colonel's Wife". His college friend comes to visit and he is filthy rich. He started a multi-million dollar computer company and had offered to let Bud be his partner back in college. Bud declined and all these years later finds himself wondering "What if ?". When he and his wife visit Bud and Harriet at home, Bud realizes how good his life really is because he has Harriet and baby AJ. He might not have millions, but he is happy.

Bud becomes slightly jealous of the newly arrived Gunny Galindez (because he has taken over Harriet's job) and compete with him and Tiner to get the Admiral the tickets he want for a Navy Auction (True Callings).

In "Ghosts of Christmas Past" we find out that Bud looks very much like Harm's father's RIO (This is because Patrick Labyorteuax played both roles).

Bud takes the worst of the Harm / Brumby fight when he accidentally gets his jaw broken by the blows (Boomerang Part 2).

Bud must defend his brother, Mikey, when he is accused of a live fire mishap that almost kills Marines. It turns out Mikey is innocent.

Bud and Harriet find out that they are expecting a second child in season five also (Promises).

In season six, it is revealed that Bud and Harriet are having a girl (Legacy Part 1) and they ask Mac if it is okay if they name their girl Sarah (JAG TV).

Harriet goes into labor on November 14, but tragedy touches the Roberts when their baby dies after a botched delivery (The Princess and the Petty Officer). Bud is determined to know why their daughter died (A Separate Peace Part 2) and decides to sue Harriet’s doctor after he finds what he believes is evidence of negligence. While their doctor may not have done everything correctly, there is not enough evidence to show that he neglected his duty, so he is found not guilty (Family Secrets).

Back to Character Bios

Back to the JAGsite