Halil Suleyman Ozerden

Halil Suleyman "Sul" Ozerden (Halil Süleyman Özerden) (born December 5, 1966), is a Turkish American federal judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. He was nominated by George W. Bush on January 9, 2007, to a seat vacated by David C. Bramlette.

Biography
Ozerden was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Turkish parents. He obtained his undergraduate education at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Washington, DC, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service. Sul was also a four year Navy ROTC scholarship student, serving as Battalion Executive Officer (1989). Upon receiving his commission as a Naval Officer, he completed United States Navy Flight School in Pensacola, Florida, 1989–1990, and was designated a Naval Flight Officer. Ozerden also obtained his Juris Doctor in 1998 from Stanford Law School, and served as Associate Editor for the Stanford Law Review.

Professional career
Ozerden served as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Navy from 1989 to 1995. His military service included: Naval Flight Officer/Bombardier-Navigator, A-6E Intruder; over 1,000 flight hours; Mission Commander qualified; two six-month Western Pacific deployments aboard the USS Kitty Hawk; Safety Department Head; Navy Commendation Medal for missions flown in Operation Restore Hope (Somalia) and Operation Southern Watch (Iraq); Navy Achievement Medal; and he was Honorably Discharged with the rank of Lieutenant (O-3).

President Bush nominated Ozerden to be a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi on January 8, 2007. He was confirmed by the United States Senate by a vote of 95-0 on April 24, 2007.