Can Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC Defend Both Officers and Enlisted Personnel?

At Gonzalez & Waddington, Attorneys at Law, we are a global military defense firm representing service members in every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard. Our mission is to defend those facing courts-martial, administrative separation boards, Boards of Inquiry (BOIs), nonjudicial punishment, and all UCMJ investigations. Whether you are an officer or enlisted member, the stakes could not be higher: your freedom, career, benefits, and reputation are on the line. In these situations, speed and experience are critical. Waiting too long to secure an elite defense can cost you your future.

Our firm defends both commissioned officers and enlisted personnel. While the rank and career track of an accused service member can impact the type of hearing, potential punishments, collateral consequences, and how the command approaches the case, our strategies are specifically tailored for each client. We know that defending officers often involves navigating scrutiny from leadership, professional licensing issues, and collateral consequences to an officer’s commission. For enlisted members, we understand the challenges of harsh sentencing exposure, administrative separations without retirement, and how one adverse action can derail an entire career. We are prepared for both.

Officers may face Boards of Inquiry (BOI) when their careers are threatened by allegations of misconduct or substandard performance. Enlisted members typically encounter administrative separation boards under similar circumstances. Our attorneys have conducted hundreds of these hearings worldwide. We apply the same aggressive approach in defending an officer with 18 years of service as we do for a young enlisted service member whose livelihood and benefits are at stake. The procedures, evidence rules, and advocacy techniques required in each forum differ, but our extensive courtroom experience allows us to anticipate and counter command strategies on either side of the officer-enlisted spectrum.

When the threat escalates to a court-martial, the differences between officers and enlisted personnel narrow—both face UCMJ prosecution with the government employing significant resources to secure a conviction. Our team is renowned for dismantling weak evidence and exposing flaws in the government’s cases, whether based on unreliable forensic science, eyewitness misidentification, false allegations, or command-driven investigations. Every case receives a tailored defense strategy designed to secure the best result, whether dismissal of charges, acquittal, or favorable administrative resolution.

We also understand the unwritten dynamics: how commands coordinate to pressure accused service members, how investigators may manipulate witness statements, and how quickly careers can collapse if responses are mishandled. Officers and enlisted personnel must both take immediate steps to protect themselves, particularly by invoking their rights and avoiding unprotected statements. Gonzalez & Waddington has the proven ability to counter these tactics on a global scale, regardless of rank or assignment.

Above all, our firm exists to fight for you when everything you’ve built in the military is in jeopardy. We defend officers and enlisted members equally—leaders and junior troops—because every service member deserves the best possible defense under the UCMJ.

Why Choose Michael Waddington & Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington

• Authors of widely respected books on military justice and trial advocacy
• Proven record in high-stakes court-martial trials worldwide
• Decades of combined experience defending service members
• Have trained other lawyers in advanced trial techniques
• Handle complex felonies, sex crimes, war crimes, and national security cases
• Extensive experience with Article 32 hearings, NJP proceedings, and administrative boards
• Global reputation for defending both officers and enlisted personnel across all branches

Common Issues / Case Types We Handle

• Court-martial defense for officers and enlisted personnel
• Article 32 preliminary hearings
• Administrative Separation Boards (enlisted) and Boards of Inquiry (officers)
• Sexual assault allegations and false accusations
• Fraternization, conduct unbecoming, and officer-specific misconduct charges
• Drug cases, urinalysis challenges, and forensic evidence disputes
• Nonjudicial punishment (NJP/Article 15/Office Hours/Mast)
• War crimes, national security, and classified evidence litigation
• Appeals and requests for new trials

Pro Tips & Mistakes

• Do: Contact a skilled attorney immediately if under investigation or notification of board/court-martial is received.
• Do: Preserve all evidence, text messages, documents, and digital files that may support your defense.
• Do: Invoke your right to remain silent and request legal counsel before speaking with investigators or command.
• Don’t: Confide in colleagues, NCOs, or fellow officers about the case—informal conversations can become evidence.
• Don’t: Wait until charges are formally preferred to seek representation; critical defense strategies begin during investigation.
• Do: Understand that BOIs and separation boards can end a career even without a court-martial conviction.

FAQs

Can Gonzalez & Waddington defend both officers and enlisted personnel?
Yes. Our firm aggressively represents both officers and enlisted members across all branches of the U.S. military worldwide.

Are Boards of Inquiry only for officers?
Yes. Officers face BOIs, while enlisted members face administrative separation boards. We defend clients in both types of proceedings.

Do officers face different punishments than enlisted in court-martial?
The potential punishments can overlap, but officers may lose their commission, federal recognition, and retirement, while enlisted members often face punitive discharges impacting future employment and benefits.

Does location matter when hiring Gonzalez & Waddington?
No. We defend service members globally, traveling to military installations worldwide, from the U.S. to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Is legal representation necessary at an administrative board?
Yes. Even though boards are administrative, they can permanently end a career and strip retirement benefits. Professional legal defense is essential.

Can you challenge forensic or digital evidence?
Absolutely. Our attorneys specialize in challenging flawed forensic tests, unreliable digital evidence, and questionable investigative methods.

How quickly should I hire an attorney after being notified of an investigation?
Immediately. Early intervention allows us to preserve evidence, advise clients on interactions with investigators, and begin building a strategy before charges are filed.

Contact Gonzalez & Waddington

If you are an officer or enlisted service member under investigation or pending UCMJ action, the time to act is now. Gonzalez & Waddington, Attorneys at Law provides confidential consultations and travels worldwide to defend service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, and Coast Guard. We offer an urgent response to protect your rights, rank, and future. Call us today at 1-800-921-8607 or visit https://ucmjdefense.com to schedule your consultation.