EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE COURT-MARTIAL DEFENSE LAWYER
MILITARY JUSTICE
Eglin Air Force Base Court-Martial and UCMJ Defense
From courts-martial and Boards of Inquiry to other UCMJ defense and administrative actions, these are the cases I handle for service members at Eglin Air Force Base. Click any area below to learn more.
Court-Martial Defense at Eglin Air Force Base: What You Need to Know
Understanding how the military justice system works at Eglin Air Force Base is the first step in protecting yourself. Knowing why a seasoned civilian defense lawyer matters is the second. This section covers both.
Courts-Martial at Eglin Air Force Base
Three types of courts-martial can be convened for service members at Eglin Air Force Base. A summary court-martial handles minor offenses and can impose limited punishments, including confinement and reduction in rank. A special court-martial handles mid-level offenses and can result in confinement, forfeiture of pay, and a bad-conduct discharge. A general court-martial handles the most serious offenses. It can impose lengthy confinement, a dishonorable discharge, and other severe penalties.
If you are facing a court-martial at Eglin Air Force Base, the prosecution has likely been building its case before you were ever charged. You need a defense lawyer who can match that preparation. You need someone with the trial experience to fight in the courtroom — not just negotiate behind closed doors.
Convening Authorities at Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation under Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC). The host unit, the 96th Test Wing, reports to the Air Force Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California, which reports to AFMC headquarters. The General Court-Martial Convening Authority is typically the AFMC commander. The Special Court-Martial Convening Authority is typically the 96th Test Wing commander. For personnel assigned to the 33rd Fighter Wing, the convening authority falls under Air Education and Training Command (AETC). For Army personnel assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group, the convening authority falls under U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC).
Cases originating at Eglin Air Force Base may be handled on-base or deferred until redeployment or transfer. Even when proceedings are delayed, statements, evidence, and decisions made at Eglin often shape the entire case. A skilled defense lawyer can engage with the convening authority early. Before charges are referred, there may be an opportunity to advocate for your interests, present mitigating evidence, or persuade the command to take a different path.
The Office of Special Trial Counsel
Under recent military justice reforms, certain cases are now handled by the Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC). These include sexual assault offenses, domestic violence, and related crimes. The OSTC operates independently from the chain of command. An independent special trial counsel decides whether to refer these cases to court-martial — not your commanding officer.
This means that for certain offenses, the convening authority no longer controls whether your case goes to court-martial. Having a civilian defense lawyer who understands how the OSTC process works is critical if you are facing these types of charges at Eglin Air Force Base.
Board of Inquiry and Administrative Separation
Not every adverse action goes through a court-martial. The Air Force can process you for administrative separation through a Board of Inquiry or an Administrative Separation Board. A Board of Inquiry is used for officers. An Administrative Separation Board is used for enlisted airmen. These boards can end your military career. They can also determine your discharge characterization, which affects your veterans’ benefits and future employment.
You have the right to a lawyer at these proceedings. A civilian defense lawyer who understands the administrative separation process can cross-examine witnesses, present evidence, and argue for your retention or an honorable discharge.
Article 15 / Non-Judicial Punishment at Eglin Air Force Base
Article 15 proceedings, also known as Non-Judicial Punishment, allow your commanding officer to impose discipline without a court-martial. At Eglin Air Force Base, your command can impose an Article 15 for minor offenses. If you accept an Article 15, you give up your right to a court-martial. In return, you limit the maximum punishment your command can impose.
You have the right to consult with a defense counsel before accepting an Article 15. You also have the right to demand a court-martial instead. A defense lawyer can help you weigh your options and can advocate for a reduction in punishment during the proceeding.
Why You Need a Civilian Defense Lawyer
The Air Force provides defense counsel through the Area Defense Counsel (ADC). At Eglin, ADC attorneys serve service members across the 96th Test Wing, the 33rd Fighter Wing, and their tenant commands. These attorneys are dedicated defense lawyers, but they are often overloaded with cases and may rotate assignments during your case. As a civilian defense lawyer, I am not subject to reassignment or deployment cycles. I am with you from start to finish. I bring independence from the military chain of command and years of trial experience defending service members. You deserve a lawyer who has the time, focus, and experience to give your case everything it deserves.
I have defended service members at courts-martial and administrative boards at bases across the United States and around the world — and I know that a strong defense is not about proximity, but about experience, independence, and fight. I know how the military justice system works. I know the commands, the convening authorities, and the procedures. When everything you have worked for is on the line, you need a lawyer who has the experience, independence, and fight to stand with you.
About Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force installation located in the western Florida Panhandle, approximately three miles southwest of Valparaiso in Okaloosa County. At approximately 724 square miles of land range, it is the largest Air Force base by land area in the Department of Defense. The installation also manages more than 120,000 square miles of over-water airspace in the Gulf of Mexico, making it one of the most extensive test and training complexes in the U.S. military. Eglin is situated eight miles northwest of Fort Walton Beach, 60 miles east of Pensacola, and 65 miles west of Panama City. The airfield is a joint-use facility shared with commercial passenger operations at Northwest Florida Regional Airport. The base is home to more than 19,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel and serves more than 43,000 retirees and 119,000 beneficiaries through the 96th Medical Group, the Air Force’s third-largest hospital.
The base was established in 1935 as the Valparaiso Bombing and Gunnery Base after local businessman James Plew donated 1,460 acres of land to the U.S. government for a military airport. It was renamed Eglin Field on August 4, 1937, in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Frederick I. Eglin, who was killed in an aircraft crash on January 1, 1937. In March 1942, the Doolittle Raiders trained at Auxiliary Field #1, conducting carrier-style short takeoffs in preparation for their April 1942 raid on Japan. During World War II, Eglin tested the American version of the German V-1 flying bomb (the JB-2 Loon) and conducted Operation CROSSBOW tests to counter German buzz bombs. The 1st Experimental Guided Missiles Group was activated at Eglin in February 1946, laying the foundation for the Air Force guided missile program. On July 1, 1948, the installation was redesignated Eglin Air Force Base. In 1994, the 96th Air Base Wing was activated as the host wing, and in 2012 it absorbed the mission of the 46th Test Wing and was redesignated the 96th Test Wing. On October 1, 2009, the 33rd Fighter Wing became the Department of Defense’s first F-35 Lightning II training wing, and the first F-35A arrived at Eglin on July 14, 2011.
Today, the 96th Test Wing serves as the host unit under Air Force Materiel Command, conducting developmental test and evaluation of conventional munitions, command and control systems, navigation and guidance systems, and Air Force Special Operations Command systems. The wing operates eight groups and 49 squadrons and divisions, manages 38 uniquely modified test aircraft, and executes an annual budget of more than $630 million. Major tenant units include the 33rd Fighter Wing, the largest tenant, which trains U.S. and partner nation pilots and maintainers on the F-35A Lightning II under Air Education and Training Command; the 53rd Wing, which conducts operational test and evaluation under Air Combat Command; the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing; the Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate; the U.S. Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne); the U.S. Army 6th Ranger Training Battalion at Camp Rudder; the 919th Special Operations Wing at Duke Field; the 20th Space Surveillance Squadron; the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal School; and the Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training Center. The installation hosts nine wings and wing-equivalent units and more than 35 associate units representing virtually every major command, including sister services and foreign military partners.
For military justice, courts-martial, Boards of Inquiry, and administrative separation proceedings at Eglin Air Force Base fall under the Air Force Materiel Command chain of command, with the AFMC commander serving as the General Court-Martial Convening Authority and the 96th Test Wing commander serving as the Special Court-Martial Convening Authority. The 33rd Fighter Wing falls under the AETC chain for its personnel. The Air Force provides assigned defense counsel through the Area Defense Counsel. Eglin Air Force Base’s status as the largest Air Force installation in the world, its role as the focal point for all Air Force armaments development and testing, its F-35 training mission, and its joint-service tenant population make it one of the most strategically significant installations in the continental United States.
For defense at other installations in the CONUS area, see our CONUS Court-Martial Defense Lawyer page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of cases do you handle at Eglin Air Force Base?
I handle courts-martial, Boards of Inquiry, administrative separation boards, Article 15 / Non-Judicial Punishment proceedings, military investigations, and UCMJ defense for service members at Eglin Air Force Base. My primary focus is court-martial defense. This includes serious offenses such as sexual assault, drug offenses, fraud, and violent crimes under the UCMJ. Cases originating at Eglin Air Force Base may be handled on-base or deferred until redeployment or transfer, but statements and evidence gathered at the base often shape the entire case.
Do you represent all branches at Eglin Air Force Base?
Yes. Eglin Air Force Base is a joint installation with Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps personnel assigned to the 96th Test Wing, the 33rd Fighter Wing, the 7th Special Forces Group, and other tenant commands. I represent service members from every branch facing military discipline anywhere in the world.
Why should I hire a civilian defense lawyer instead of the ADC?
The Air Force provides defense counsel through the Area Defense Counsel (ADC). At Eglin, ADC attorneys serve service members across the 96th Test Wing, the 33rd Fighter Wing, and their tenant commands. These attorneys are dedicated defense lawyers, but they are often overloaded with cases and may rotate assignments during your case. As a civilian defense lawyer, I am not subject to reassignment or deployment cycles. I am with you from start to finish. I bring independence from the military chain of command and years of trial experience defending service members. You deserve a lawyer who has the time, focus, and experience to give your case everything it deserves.
What is a Board of Inquiry?
A Board of Inquiry is an administrative proceeding used to separate officers from the Air Force. The board reviews allegations of misconduct or substandard performance. It can recommend separation with a specific discharge characterization. You have the right to a lawyer at a Board of Inquiry. A skilled civilian defense lawyer can cross-examine witnesses, present evidence, and argue for your retention or an honorable discharge.
Can you help with Article 15 at Eglin Air Force Base?
Yes. I can review the evidence against you, advise you whether to accept the Article 15 or demand a court-martial, and advocate for a reduction in punishment during the proceeding. Article 15 punishments can include restriction, forfeiture of pay, reduction in rank, and extra duties. Having a lawyer involved early can make a significant difference in the outcome.
I’m under investigation — what should I do?
Do not make any statements to investigators, your chain of command, or anyone else about the allegations without consulting a lawyer first. You have the right to remain silent under Article 31(b) of the UCMJ. Contact a defense lawyer immediately. The earlier I get involved, the more I can do to protect you. This includes conducting an independent investigation, engaging with the command before charges are referred, and building a defense strategy from day one.
Can you help with sexual assault allegations under the UCMJ?
Yes. Sexual assault allegations under Articles 120, 120b, and 120c of the UCMJ are among the most serious charges a service member can face. These cases carry severe penalties, including lengthy confinement and sex offender registration. Under recent reforms, the Office of Special Trial Counsel now handles these cases independently from the chain of command. I have experience defending sexual assault cases in the military. I understand the unique evidentiary and procedural issues these cases involve. If you are facing a sexual assault allegation at Eglin Air Force Base, you need a defense lawyer who knows how to fight these specific charges.
How quickly can you get to Eglin Air Force Base?
I travel to Florida for courts-martial and administrative boards. When you contact me, I will work with you to establish a timeline that meets your needs. I have spent years defending service members at courts-martial and administrative boards, and I am ready to step in when you need me.
Talk to an Eglin Air Force Base Military Defense Lawyer Now
If you are facing a court-martial, Board of Inquiry, administrative separation, or any UCMJ action at Eglin Air Force Base, do not wait. The prosecution is already building its case. You need a defense lawyer who is ready to fight for you.