TAMPA, FL, May 20, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Charles Cole Jeffries Jr. has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Jeffries has built a distinguished legal career spanning military service, federal legislative work, private practice, collaborative law leadership and civic engagement. His professional experience reflects unusual breadth, including international and comparative law, admiralty, government contracts, commercial litigation, bankruptcy, family law, collaborative divorce, mediation, legislative drafting, business management, banking and finance, and disability and injury evaluations.

A significant portion of Mr. Jeffries' career was shaped by 20 years of active-duty service as an attorney in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps from 1970 to 1990. During that period, he served in demanding legal, operational and advisory roles, including as Staff Judge Advocate for the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) and Task Force CTF-60, as counsel in the Navy's physical disability evaluation system, as an international law counsel, as a claims officer, and as a legal adviser in commands involving naval operations, special operations and major military policy issues.

Among his notable military assignments, Mr. Jeffries served as requested defense counsel for the commanding officer of the USS John F. Kennedy following the 1975 Kennedy-Belknap collision and related admiralty investigation and inquest. His naval career also included service connected with the USS Grayback, a special operations submarine, and assignments involving the Naval Legal Service Office in Subic Bay, the Office of the Judge Advocate General, the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force, U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command.

Mr. Jeffries also contributed at the highest levels of federal legislative and policy work. While serving in the Office of Legislative Affairs of the Secretary of the Navy, he worked as legislative counsel and congressional liaison, preparing legislation, testimony and supporting materials for congressional committees. His work included participation in major amendments to the GI Bill, legislative efforts connected with the creation of the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force, and matters later associated with U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command.

His legislative service further included temporary assignments to the White House staffs of President Ronald Reagan, First Lady Nancy Reagan, Second Lady Barbara Bush and Vice President George H. W. Bush. In those roles, he assisted with special assignments, escort duties, congressional visits and ceremonial events involving Navy ships and other public responsibilities.

After his military service, Mr. Jeffries continued his legal career in Tampa. From 1990 to 1992, he served with Dykema Gossett, handling commercial litigation, bankruptcy, government contracts, admiralty, international law, negotiations and firm marketing and practice development. From March 1992 to August 1992, he served as general counsel of The American Ship Building Company in Tampa, advising on corporate finance, management, personnel and labor policy, law firm liaison, commercial litigation, environmental matters, maritime issues, workers' compensation, contracts and government contract law.

From September 1992 through May 2015, Mr. Jeffries practiced law in Tampa through C. Cole Jeffries Jr., Attorney & Counselor at Law, and Curry Law Group. His work included collaborative law, family law, probate and guardianship law, civil and commercial litigation, travel industry law, bankruptcy, corporate and small business transactions, real estate and juvenile law. He retired from active private practice in 2015 for medical reasons, while remaining deeply engaged in professional, civic and charitable activities.

In the field of collaborative law, Mr. Jeffries has been a major contributor to the development of collaborative practice in Florida. He was active in efforts leading to enactment of the Collaborative Law Practice Act in Florida and later helped secure adoption of collaborative law rules of procedure and forms by the Florida Supreme Court. He has served in leadership roles as Chair of The Florida Bar's Family Law Rules and Forms Committee and the Military Law Aid to Servicemen Committee and with the Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals and the Tampa Bay Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

Mr. Jeffries' professional recognition includes the Florida Bar's Claude Pepper Outstanding Government Lawyer Award in 1990, inclusion in Who's Who in America for the South and Southwest, the Inception Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Practice of Collaborative Law in Florida from the Tampa Bay Academy of Collaborative Professionals (TBACP) in 2022, and the President's Rosemarie Roth Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals (FACP) in 2025., and serves as Emeritus Director for Life of both the FACP & TВАСР. Нe has also been selected for inclusion in Who's Who in America for 2026-2027, and previously nominated or the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame.

His educational background includes an LL.M. in International and Comparative Law, with highest honors and summa cum laude distinction, from The George Washington University National Law Center, a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law; and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Banking and Finance from the University of Arkansas. He received a Navy postgraduate education scholarship and has been admitted to practice in Arkansas, Florida and the District of Columbia, as well as before numerous federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mr. Jeffries has maintained extensive civic and community involvement in the Tampa Bay area. His service includes leadership and board roles with the Tampa General Hospital Foundation, Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa Yacht & Country Club, University Club of Tampa, Tampa Council of the Navy League, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, St. Andrew's Society of Tampa, Tampa Bay Snow Skiers and other local organizations. He also currently serves actively with the ReliaQuest Bowl of Tampa Bay and on its Team Selection Committee.

Mr. Jeffries has also maintained a lifelong commitment to Kappa Sigma Fraternity. His national and alumni service has included roles as one of five national directors as Worthy Grand Treasurer (1983-87), General Counsel & Parliamentarian of the Fraternity & Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund, Grand Conclave Commissioner, Legal Commissioner, alumni adviser and a member of multiple national and local committees. His fraternity honors include the Stephen Alonzo Jackson Award and the Cole Jeffries Commissioner of the Year Award.

Reflecting on his career, Mr. Jeffries regards public service, mentorship, professional excellence and community engagement as enduring themes of his work. Across military, governmental, legal, civic and charitable settings, he has sought to use his legal training and leadership experience to solve complex problems, advance institutions and serve others.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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