SIGONELLA COURT-MARTIAL DEFENSE LAWYER
MILITARY JUSTICE
Sigonella 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 Sigonella. Click any area below to learn more.
Court-Martial Defense at Sigonella: What You Need to Know
Understanding how the military justice system works at Sigonella 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 Sigonella
Three types of courts-martial can be convened for service members at Sigonella. 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 Sigonella, 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 Sigonella
NAS Sigonella operates under Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central (CNREURAFCENT), headquartered in Naples, Italy. CNREURAFCENT manages seven installations across three continents and supports operations spanning three combatant commands — European Command, Africa Command, and Central Command. The General Court-Martial Convening Authority at Sigonella is the NAS Sigonella commanding officer, who is a secretarially designated convening authority. The Special Court-Martial Convening Authority is typically a subordinate commander.
The convening authority decides whether to refer charges, what charges to prefer, and whether to offer you non-judicial punishment instead of a court-martial. 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 Sigonella.
Board of Inquiry and Administrative Separation
Not every adverse action goes through a court-martial. The Navy 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 sailors. 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 Sigonella
Article 15 proceedings, also known as Non-Judicial Punishment, allow your commanding officer to impose discipline without a court-martial. At Sigonella, 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 Navy provides defense counsel through the Defense Service Office (DSO). DSO 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. 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 built my practice on defending service members at courts-martial and administrative boards — not just in one location, but around the world. I know how the military justice system works. I know the commands, the convening authorities, and the procedures. When your career and your freedom are on the line, you need a lawyer who has the experience and independence to fight for you.
About Sigonella
Naval Air Station Sigonella is located on the Plain of Catania in eastern Sicily, approximately 15 kilometers west of the city of Catania and 40 kilometers south of Mount Etna. The base is owned and controlled by the Italian Air Force, which operates it as Aeroporto Militare “Cosimo Di Palma” di Sigonella, and the U.S. Navy is a tenant under a bilateral agreement between Italy and the United States. The Italian Air Force’s 41st Antisubmarine Warfare Wing, the 41st Stormo Antisom, is the host command. NAS Sigonella is assigned to Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central (CNREURAFCENT), headquartered in Naples, and supports U.S. Sixth Fleet operations across the Mediterranean. The installation is divided into two main sites: NAS I, the original administrative and support area near the village of Motta Sant’Anastasia, and NAS II, approximately 10 kilometers southeast, which houses the airfield and the majority of tenant commands. The base also operates a support facility at the nearby Augusta Bay port and a separate naval radio transmitter facility. Known as the “Hub of the Med” for its central Mediterranean location, NAS Sigonella supports more than 40 tenant commands representing the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Space Force, and NATO. Key units include Commander, Task Force 67, which oversees maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations with rotating P-8A Poseidon squadrons; the European main operating base for the MQ-4C Triton unmanned maritime patrol aircraft; the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Sicily; U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella; Navy Munitions Command Atlantic Detachment Sigonella; and Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Sigonella. The base is also the main operating base for NATO’s Alliance Ground Surveillance force, operating five RQ-4D Phoenix remotely piloted aircraft. Approximately 7,500 U.S. military members, Department of the Navy civilians, contractors, and family members live and work at Sigonella, alongside the Italian Air Force host detachment and a multinational NATO contingent.
The airfield’s history dates to World War II, when it was established as an Axis satellite airfield in 1942. After the war, the airfield was abandoned until the early 1950s, when it became clear that U.S. Navy P-2 Neptune patrol squadrons based at Hal Far, Malta, had outgrown the British facility. With NATO backing, the United States and Italy signed an agreement on June 25, 1957, making land available for a naval air facility. Construction began in September 1957, and the first U.S. aircraft arrived from Naples on August 8, 1957. The Naval Air Facility Sigonella was formally established on June 15, 1959, under its first commanding officer, Captain Walter J. Frazier. The base’s name derives from the Sigona family farm, which occupied the land that was built over to create the installation’s fuel farm. In the 1980s, the facility was redesignated from a naval air facility to a naval air station, and in 1983 the Italian Air Force named the base Aeroporto “Cosimo Di Palma” in honor of an Italian test pilot. In October 1985, the base was the site of a diplomatic standoff between U.S. and Italian authorities over the jurisdiction of individuals involved in the hijacking of the Achille Lauro cruise ship, an episode that tested the limits of the NATO Status of Forces Agreement. Throughout the Cold War, the base hosted rotating P-3 Orion patrol squadrons and served as a critical logistical hub for Mediterranean operations. The base has supported U.S. and NATO operations including Desert Storm, Allied Force over Kosovo in 1999, and Odyssey Dawn over Libya in 2011. In 2024, NAS Sigonella celebrated its 65th anniversary of continuous U.S. presence in Sicily.
For military justice, courts-martial, Boards of Inquiry, and administrative separation proceedings at Sigonella are conducted under the authority of the CNREURAFCENT chain of command, with the NAS Sigonella commanding officer serving as the General Court-Martial Convening Authority and subordinate commanders serving as Special Court-Martial Convening Authorities. Assigned defense counsel are provided through the Defense Service Office. Sigonella’s strategic location near the center of the Mediterranean Sea, its role as the principal forward-deployed U.S. Navy airfield in the Mediterranean theater, its support of operations spanning three combatant commands, and its status as the Navy’s second largest security command make it one of the most important U.S. naval installations in Europe.
For defense at other installations in Italy, see our Italy Court-Martial Defense Lawyer page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of cases do you handle at Sigonella?
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 Sigonella. My primary focus is court-martial defense. This includes serious offenses such as sexual assault, drug offenses, fraud, and violent crimes under the UCMJ.
Do you represent all branches at Sigonella?
Yes. While Sigonella is primarily a U.S. Navy installation, service members from other branches are assigned or detailed here, including Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, and Space Force personnel. I represent service members from every branch facing military discipline anywhere in Italy.
Why should I hire a civilian defense lawyer instead of the DSO?
The Navy provides defense counsel through the Defense Service Office (DSO). DSO 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. 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 Navy. 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 Sigonella?
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 Sigonella, you need a defense lawyer who knows how to fight these specific charges.
How quickly can you get to Sigonella?
I travel to Italy 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 defended service members at courts-martial and administrative boards for years — and I am ready to step in when you need me.
Talk to a Sigonella Military Defense Lawyer Now
If you are facing a court-martial, Board of Inquiry, administrative separation, or any UCMJ action at Sigonella, do not wait. The prosecution is already building its case. You need a defense lawyer who is ready to fight for you.