JOINT BASE ANDREWS COURT-MARTIAL DEFENSE LAWYER
MILITARY JUSTICE
Joint Base Andrews 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 Andrews. Click any area below to learn more.
Court-Martial Defense at Joint Base Andrews: What You Need to Know
Courts-Martial at Joint Base Andrews
Three types of courts-martial can be convened at Joint Base Andrews. 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 Andrews, 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 Andrews
Joint Base Andrews is an Air Force-led joint base. The Air Force District of Washington commander, a two-star general, serves as the General Court-Martial Convening Authority for Air Force personnel assigned to the 316th Wing and other AFDW units. The 316th Wing commander serves as the Special Court-Martial Convening Authority for base-level personnel. For the 89th Airlift Wing, convening authority flows through Air Mobility Command. For the 459th Air Refueling Wing, convening authority flows through Air Force Reserve Command. For the 113th Wing, convening authority flows through the National Guard Bureau chain. For Navy personnel assigned to Naval Air Facility Washington, convening authority flows through the Navy chain.
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 Andrews.
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 Andrews
Article 15 proceedings, also known as Non-Judicial Punishment, allow your commanding officer to impose discipline without a court-martial. At Joint Base Andrews, 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 Navy provides defense counsel through the Defense Service Office (DSO). ADC and DSO 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 Navy 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 the home of Air Force One, where airmen and sailors have supported America’s most critical missions from the National Capital Region’s premier military airfield — and I know that your defense requires the same precision and resolve 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 Andrews
Joint Base Andrews is a United States military facility located in Prince George’s County, Maryland, approximately eight miles southeast of Washington, D.C. It is the National Capital Region’s premier military airfield, known as “America’s Airfield” and home to Air Force One. The installation encompasses approximately 4,320 acres and hosts more than 20,000 active-duty military personnel, civilian employees, and family members. The base is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 316th Wing, assigned to the Air Force District of Washington (AFDW), which is also headquartered at Andrews.
The base traces its military history to the Civil War, when Union soldiers occupied a small country church near Camp Springs, Maryland, as their headquarters. That church, now known as Chapel Two, still stands on the base and is used for worship services today. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the Secretary of War to acquire land to build a military airfield to defend the District of Columbia and the Eastern Seaboard. Construction began later that year, and Camp Springs Army Air Field became operational on May 2, 1943, with the arrival of the first Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. On May 31, 1945, the base was renamed Andrews Field in honor of Lieutenant General Frank Maxwell Andrews, a founding father of the independent Air Force. General Andrews had died on May 3, 1943, in an airplane crash in Iceland while serving as the commanding general of all United States forces in the European Theater of Operations, a position he had assumed from General Dwight D. Eisenhower. After the Air Force became a separate service in 1947, the installation was redesignated Andrews Air Force Base. On October 1, 2009, under the Base Realignment and Closure Commission’s recommendations, Andrews Air Force Base and Naval Air Facility Washington merged to become Joint Base Andrews.
Today, Joint Base Andrews is home to the 316th Wing, the host wing assigned to the Air Force District of Washington, responsible for maintaining emergency reaction rotary-wing airlift and National Capital Region contingency response capabilities critical to national security. The base hosts the 89th Airlift Wing, assigned to Air Mobility Command, which operates the Special Air Mission — providing global airlift, logistics, and communications for the President, Vice President, cabinet members, and senior leaders, including the two Boeing VC-25 aircraft known as Air Force One when the President is aboard. The installation also hosts the 459th Air Refueling Wing (Air Force Reserve), the 113th Wing (D.C. Air National Guard), Naval Air Facility Washington with its Navy and Marine Corps Reserve F/A-18 squadrons, the 844th Communications Group, and more than 60 other separate units and special missions. The Air Force District of Washington provides personnel and support for Air Force activities within the National Capital Region across more than 500 locations in over 100 countries.
For military justice, courts-martial, Boards of Inquiry, and administrative separation proceedings at Joint Base Andrews fall under the authority of the Air Force District of Washington commander, who serves as the General Court-Martial Convening Authority for Air Force personnel assigned to AFDW and the 316th Wing, with the 316th Wing commander serving as the Special Court-Martial Convening Authority. The Area Defense Counsel provides assigned defense counsel for Air Force personnel, and the Defense Service Office provides assigned defense counsel for Navy personnel. Joint Base Andrews’ status as the home of Air Force One, its role as the National Capital Region’s premier military airfield, and its mission supporting the President, Vice President, and senior leaders make it one of the most strategically significant military installations in the 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 Joint Base Andrews?
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 Andrews. 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 Andrews 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 Andrews?
Yes. Joint Base Andrews is an Air Force-led joint base, but the National Capital Region has one of the largest concentrations of military installations in the country. Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Fort Belvoir, and Fort Meade all operate nearby. I represent airmen, sailors, soldiers, Marines, Guardians, and Coast Guard personnel facing military discipline anywhere in Maryland 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 Andrews?
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 Andrews, you need a defense lawyer who knows how to fight these specific charges.
How quickly can you get to Joint Base Andrews?
I travel to Maryland 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 Andrews Military Defense Lawyer Now
If you are facing a court-martial, Board of Inquiry, administrative separation, or any UCMJ action at Joint Base Andrews, do not wait. The prosecution is already building its case. You need a defense lawyer who is ready to fight for you.