JBLE COURT-MARTIAL DEFENSE LAWYER
MILITARY JUSTICE
Joint Base Langley-Eustis 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 Joint Base Langley-Eustis. Click any area below to learn more.
Court-Martial Defense at Joint Base Langley-Eustis: What You Need to Know
Courts-Martial at Joint Base Langley-Eustis
Three types of courts-martial can be convened at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. 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 Joint Base Langley-Eustis, 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 Joint Base Langley-Eustis
Joint Base Langley-Eustis is an Air Force-led joint base. Air Combat Command, headquartered at Langley, provides the General Court-Martial Convening Authority chain for Air Force personnel assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing, 480th Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, and other ACC units. The 633rd Air Base Wing commander serves as the Special Court-Martial Convening Authority for base-level personnel. For Army personnel assigned to Fort Eustis, the Training and Doctrine Command chain provides convening authority, with the 7th Transportation Brigade commander serving as the Special Court-Martial Convening Authority.
The Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) advises the General Court-Martial Convening Authority on every case and drives all legal actions for the General’s signature. In cases where a convening authority makes the ultimate decision, such as a GOMOR or administrative separation without a board, persuading the SJA of your innocence may be more important than persuading the General. A strong legal defense and argument is necessary.
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 Joint Base Langley-Eustis.
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 Air Force administrative separation process can cross-examine witnesses, present evidence, and argue for your retention or an honorable discharge.
Article 15 / Non-Judicial Punishment at Joint Base Langley-Eustis
Article 15 proceedings, also known as Non-Judicial Punishment, allow your commanding officer to impose discipline without a court-martial. At Joint Base Langley-Eustis, 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). The Army provides defense counsel through the Trial Defense Service (TDS). ADC and TDS attorneys are dedicated defense lawyers, but they are often carrying heavy caseloads. They rotate assignments, which means your attorney may change during your case. They also work within the same military structure as the prosecutors and judges in your case.
A civilian defense lawyer brings independence. I am not part of the chain of command. I am not subject to Air Force or Army reassignment. When I take your case, I am with you from start to finish — and I answer only to you.
I have defended service members at courts-martial and administrative boards at installations where airmen and soldiers have advanced American airpower and military transportation from the oldest continuously active air force base in the world — and I know that your defense requires the same resolve and readiness those service members bring to every mission. 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 Joint Base Langley-Eustis
Joint Base Langley-Eustis is a United States military installation located in southeastern Virginia, comprising two installations approximately 17 miles apart. Langley Air Force Base is located in Hampton, adjacent to Newport News, and Fort Eustis is located in Newport News, on the historic Mulberry Island between the Warwick and James Rivers. The base was established on October 1, 2010, under the Base Realignment and Closure Commission’s recommendations, merging Langley Air Force Base and Fort Eustis into a single joint installation under the U.S. Air Force’s 633rd Air Base Wing. The 633rd Air Base Wing serves as the host organization, providing installation support to more than 9,000 military and civilian personnel across both locations, with the 733rd Mission Support Group managing garrison operations at Fort Eustis.
Langley Air Force Base is the oldest continually active air force base in the world. It was established on December 30, 1916, by the Aviation Section of the U.S. Signal Corps, making it the first Air Service base built specifically for air power. The base was named after Samuel Pierpont Langley, an aerodynamic pioneer and former Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, who conducted groundbreaking experiments in heavier-than-air flight in the late nineteenth century. During World War I, Langley served as a flying field, balloon station, observers’ school, photography school, and experimental engineering department. In 1946, the headquarters of Tactical Air Command was established at Langley, and in June 1992, it was redesignated Air Combat Command. The 1st Fighter Wing, the oldest fighter wing in the Air Force, moved to Langley in 1976 and became the first operational F-15 Eagle unit, and later the first operational F-22 Raptor squadron. Langley Field was officially renamed Langley Air Force Base on January 13, 1948, after the Air Force became a separate service.
Fort Eustis was established on March 7, 1918, when the Army purchased Mulberry Island for $538,000 as a coast artillery replacement training center and balloon observation school during World War I. The camp was named after Brevet Brigadier General Abraham Eustis, a Petersburg, Virginia native who served in the War of 1812 and the Seminole Wars and commanded the School of Artillery Practice at Fort Monroe from 1824 to 1834. Camp Eustis became a permanent installation in 1923 and was redesignated Fort Eustis. In 1946, the U.S. Army Transportation School relocated to Fort Eustis, beginning its long association with Army transportation training, research, and operations. In 2011, the headquarters of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) relocated from Fort Monroe to Fort Eustis.
Today, Joint Base Langley-Eustis is home to the headquarters of Air Combat Command, the largest major command in the U.S. Air Force. The Langley side hosts the 1st Fighter Wing, operating the F-22 Raptor; the 480th Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing; the Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Wing, integrated with the 1st Fighter Wing; and the 633rd Air Base Wing. The Fort Eustis side hosts the headquarters of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), the U.S. Army Aviation Logistics School, Joint Task Force – Civil Support, and the 733rd Mission Support Group. Langley Air Force Base’s historic aeronautical research role — including the establishment of the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory in 1920, the first civilian aeronautical laboratory in the United States and predecessor to NASA’s Langley Research Center — further distinguishes the installation’s contribution to American aviation.
For military justice, courts-martial, Boards of Inquiry, and administrative separation proceedings at Joint Base Langley-Eustis fall under the authority of the Air Combat Command chain for Air Force personnel and the Training and Doctrine Command chain for Army personnel, with wing and brigade commanders serving as Special Court-Martial Convening Authorities. The Area Defense Counsel provides assigned defense counsel for Air Force personnel, and the Trial Defense Service provides assigned defense counsel for Army personnel. Joint Base Langley-Eustis’ status as home to Air Combat Command and the Training and Doctrine Command, its role as the oldest continuously active air force base in the world, and its combined airpower and military transportation missions make it one of the most strategically significant joint military installations on the East Coast.
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 Joint Base Langley-Eustis?
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 Joint Base Langley-Eustis. 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 Joint Base Langley-Eustis may be handled on-base or deferred until a unit returns from deployment, but statements and evidence gathered at the base often shape the entire case.
Do you represent all branches at Joint Base Langley-Eustis?
Yes. Joint Base Langley-Eustis is an Air Force-led joint base, but the Hampton Roads area has one of the largest concentrations of military installations in the country. Naval Station Norfolk, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story all operate nearby. I represent airmen, soldiers, sailors, Marines, Guardians, and Coast Guard personnel facing military discipline anywhere in Virginia or worldwide.
Why should I hire a civilian defense lawyer instead of the ADC?
ADC attorneys are dedicated defense counsel, 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. 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 Joint Base Langley-Eustis?
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 Joint Base Langley-Eustis, you need a defense lawyer who knows how to fight these specific charges.
How quickly can you get to Joint Base Langley-Eustis?
I travel to Virginia 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 a Joint Base Langley-Eustis Military Defense Lawyer Now
If you are facing a court-martial, Board of Inquiry, administrative separation, or any UCMJ action at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, do not wait. The prosecution is already building its case. You need a defense lawyer who is ready to fight for you.