Now, in a somewhat nostalgic turn of events, Jonathan Dyer returns to Justin-Siena Mock Trial. In 1981, Jonathan Dyer enlisted in the U.S. Army's Intelligence Branch. After taking tests at the recruiting station he was told he qualified to study a language at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey. Upon completing basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, he reported to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey. He spent the next 18 months learning Russian, 12 months in what was called the basic course, and then six months in the intermediate course that qualified him for working in Berlin.

After Monterey, he spent three months at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas, at a cryptologic school. From there it was on to Fort Meade, Maryland, for three months of training at the National Security Agency. After nearly two years of training, he was assigned to Field Station Berlin, where he worked as an intercept operator and a transcriber. His team’s intercept site was on top of Teufelsberg in the Grunewald in what was, at the time, West Berlin. Teufelsberg, the highest spot in Berlin, is a man-made mountain constructed out of the rubble from World War II. In general, their job was to keep tabs on the Soviet Union’s military activities. He also married a Russian linguist, Kerry Kaye Dyer, and they’ve been married ever since. Dyer finished college while in Berlin, graduating from the University of Maryland’s European Division with a B.A. in government, a minor in Russian and a Soviet Studies certificate. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1986 and began law school at UC Davis School of Law. After graduating, he moved to Napa to practice law with Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty.

In 1999 he left the practice of law to teach American History and Government, establishing Justin-Siena's Mock Trial program that same year as Inaugural Moderator. In June 2018, Dyer was tapped to rejoin Justin-Siena's Mock Trial team as the 5th Moderator. Dyer brings years of legal knowledge, mock trial expertise, and connections with the student body.

The Coaches and Team have been eager to work with Dyer. Team Member and former Defense Attorney, Mary Cate Hyde ’19, said, “I’m very excited for Mr. Dyer to be rejoining the Justin Mock Trial community.  I believe he is highly qualified to be our moderator; his previous experience as a lawyer, social studies teacher, and Mock Trial moderator will serve our team well. I can’t wait to see what we will accomplish with his guidance and support!” Team Captain and former Defense Attorney, Juan Carlos Mora ’19, said, “Mr. Dyer is the most qualified teacher at Justin-Siena to take on this exciting, but often difficult, role on the team. His ability to get work done and still crack a joke in between is a quality I look up to with utmost respect. I cannot wait to see how far our team will go with his leadership and the guidance of our attorney coaches.”

For those interested in joining Justin-Siena's Mock Trial team please email Team Captain, Juan Carlos Mora ’19, at juanmora19@js-student.org for more information.