Florida Military Defense Lawyers | UCMJ & Court-Martial Attorneys (2026 Edition)
Florida is home to major Air Force, Navy, Space Force, Coast Guard, Reserve, National Guard and joint military commands. Service members facing CID, NCIS, OSI or CGIS investigations, courts-martial, Article 15/NJP, administrative separation, Boards of Inquiry, reprimands, or other career-threatening actions can retain civilian military counsel regardless of whether the lawyer is located immediately outside the gate. This 2026 guide explains the Florida military landscape, where serious cases arise, and how to compare civilian UCMJ lawyers serving the state.
Editorial disclosure: Gonzalez & Waddington is a Florida-based civilian military-defense firm and publishes this page. The firm is therefore included below as a Florida military-defense practice with an express publisher disclosure.
There is no official government ranking of the “best Florida military defense lawyers.” Other firms are discussed for consumer research based on publicly available information. Prospective clients should independently verify current credentials, availability and the identity of the lawyer who would actually handle the case.
Who Are Florida Military Defense Lawyers?
Florida-based civilian practices handling military cases include Gonzalez & Waddington in South Florida, Bilecki Law Group in Tampa, Korody Law in Jacksonville, and Donet, McMillan & Trontz in Miami.
Florida service members are not limited to those firms. Court-martial practice arises under federal military law, and experienced civilian military lawyers from other states routinely travel to Florida installations.
The better hiring question is: Which lawyer has relevant UCMJ experience, can actually appear when needed, understands the evidence in my case, and will personally devote sufficient time to my defense?
Does Florida Have Its Own Version of the UCMJ?
No.
A court-martial at Eglin Air Force Base, NAS Pensacola, MacDill Air Force Base, Naval Station Mayport or Patrick Space Force Base proceeds under the federal military-justice system—not the Florida criminal code merely because the installation is located in Florida.
The Uniform Code of Military Justice, the Manual for Courts-Martial, applicable service regulations and binding military appellate law control military criminal proceedings.
Florida law can nevertheless become important when the same event creates a separate civilian criminal, traffic, domestic-violence or other state-law matter.
Example: An off-base incident in Tampa, Jacksonville, Pensacola or Miami might generate both a Florida civilian case and a military investigation.
Those are potentially separate legal problems. Counsel should identify who controls each proceeding and whether separate civilian criminal counsel is necessary.
Florida’s Military Footprint: Major Installations and Commands
Florida’s military population is spread across several distinct regions. That matters more than simply saying a lawyer “serves Florida.”
| Florida Installation / Command | Service / Community | Common Military Defense Context |
|---|---|---|
| Eglin Air Force Base | Air Force / Joint | Air Force personnel, testing and training communities, aviation, special operations and joint-service personnel. |
| Hurlburt Field | Air Force Special Operations | OSI investigations, courts-martial, administrative actions and career-sensitive matters involving special-operations personnel. |
| NAS Pensacola | Navy / Marine Corps / Aviation Training | NCIS investigations, aviation-training communities, students, instructors and Navy/Marine administrative actions. |
| NAS Whiting Field | Navy Aviation | Navy and Marine aviation personnel, investigations and administrative matters. |
| Tyndall Air Force Base | Air Force | OSI, Security Forces, UCMJ investigations, courts-martial and administrative proceedings. |
| NSA Panama City | Navy | Navy investigations, command actions and personnel matters. |
| MacDill Air Force Base | Air Force / Joint / USCENTCOM / USSOCOM | Multi-service population including Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and other joint personnel. |
| NAS Jacksonville | Navy | Courts-martial, NCIS investigations, administrative boards, NJP and aviation-related personnel actions. |
| Naval Station Mayport | Navy | Fleet personnel, shipboard issues, NCIS investigations, Captain’s Mast and separation proceedings. |
| Patrick Space Force Base | Space Force / Air Force | Space Force and Air Force personnel, DAF investigations, administrative matters and courts-martial. |
| Cape Canaveral Space Force Station | Space Force | Space operations, launch-support personnel, security-related matters and DAF disciplinary actions. |
| Homestead Air Reserve Base | Air Force Reserve | Reserve-component UCMJ, adverse administrative and military-status issues. |
| Coast Guard Sector Miami / Air Station Miami | Coast Guard | CGIS investigations, Captain’s Mast, courts-martial, administrative separation and Coast Guard-specific personnel actions. |
| Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville | Coast Guard | CGIS and command investigations, administrative actions and discipline. |
| Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg / Air Station Clearwater | Coast Guard | Coast Guard disciplinary, administrative and criminal matters across the Tampa Bay region. |
| NAS Key West / Coast Guard Sector Key West | Navy / Coast Guard | Navy and Coast Guard investigations and administrative proceedings involving personnel in the Keys. |
| Camp Blanding | Florida National Guard | National Guard investigations, adverse administrative actions, state/federal status questions and military discipline. |
MacDill Is Not Just an Air Force Base
MacDill is particularly important for Florida military-law searches because it hosts a substantial joint community.
Current Air Force materials identify MacDill as home to United States Central Command, United States Special Operations Command and numerous mission partners.
That means a service member stationed at MacDill may be an Airman, Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Coast Guard member or member of another joint organization.
Counsel should therefore identify the client’s actual service and command structure rather than assuming “MacDill case” automatically means an Air Force case.
Florida Is Also a Major Space Force Legal Market
Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station make Florida particularly relevant to Space Force military-defense work.
Space Launch Delta 45 is headquartered at Patrick and supports launch operations at Cape Canaveral.
Guardians and Airmen facing adverse actions may encounter Department of the Air Force procedures, OSI investigations, command-directed investigations, security-clearance concerns, administrative separation or court-martial issues.
A lawyer handling a Space Force matter should understand that Space Force personnel do not operate under an entirely separate criminal code. The UCMJ still governs military criminal jurisdiction.
Florida Has an Unusually Large Navy Footprint
Navy Region Southeast currently identifies Florida installations including:
- NAS Jacksonville;
- Naval Station Mayport;
- NAS Key West;
- NSA Panama City;
- NAS Pensacola;
- NAS Whiting Field; and
- NSA Orlando.
That creates a broad Florida market for NCIS investigations, Captain’s Mast, courts-martial, administrative separation boards, officer show-cause matters, aviation-related adverse actions and other Navy personnel issues.
Florida Has One of the Nation’s Largest Coast Guard Communities
Current Coast Guard Southeast District materials identify Florida operational commands including Sector Jacksonville, Sector Key West, Sector Miami, Sector St. Petersburg, Air Station Clearwater and Air Station Miami.
Coast Guard military justice has its own institutional culture and administrative procedures even though Coast Guard members are also subject to the UCMJ.
A Florida lawyer representing a Coast Guard member should understand Captain’s Mast, CGIS investigations, administrative separation procedures, boards and Coast Guard-specific personnel regulations.
Which Military Investigative Agency May Be Involved in Florida?
| Branch / Community | Potential Investigative Organization | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force / Space Force | Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) | Serious criminal allegations, sexual assault, drugs, fraud, digital offenses and other qualifying investigations. |
| Navy / Marine Corps | Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) | Serious criminal allegations involving Sailors and Marines. |
| Army | Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) | Army personnel who become subjects of qualifying criminal investigations. |
| Coast Guard | Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) | Serious Coast Guard criminal and integrity-related investigations. |
| Installation / Command-Level Matters | Security Forces, command investigators, IG or other authorized investigators | Matters that do not necessarily begin as major-service criminal investigations. |
Do not assume that “they only want my side of the story” means an interview is informal.
If investigators or command personnel suspect you of misconduct, obtain individualized legal advice before deciding whether to provide a statement, consent to a search or surrender access to a personal device.
Article 31 Rights Apply in Florida Just as They Do Elsewhere
Article 31 of the UCMJ protects service members against compelled self-incrimination and imposes military-specific warning requirements in qualifying circumstances.
Being questioned at a Florida installation does not reduce those protections.
Service members should understand the difference between:
- being ordered to report somewhere;
- being ordered to answer administrative questions;
- being suspected of a criminal offense;
- being asked to consent to a search;
- being served with a search authorization; and
- voluntarily making an incriminating statement.
Those distinctions can materially affect the legal analysis.
Military Cases Florida Civilian Defense Lawyers Handle
A Florida military-defense practice may encounter matters involving:
Do You Need a Military Lawyer Located Near Your Florida Base?
Not necessarily.
For a serious court-martial, the fact that a lawyer’s office is five minutes from the gate may matter less than the lawyer’s actual experience with the charge and evidence.
At the same time, geography is not irrelevant.
Florida location may affect:
- travel costs;
- ease of in-person meetings;
- ability to attend repeated hearings;
- speed of deployment to the installation;
- coordination with local civilian proceedings; and
- access to witnesses or evidence in Florida.
The useful version of “local experience” is practical—not political.
Hire based on relevant experience, preparation, evidence skills, availability and case fit—not because a lawyer claims to know the local prosecutor, military judge or “unwritten rules” of the installation.
Can You Hire Civilian Counsel for a Florida Court-Martial?
Yes.
At general and special courts-martial, Article 38 of the UCMJ provides a statutory framework for representation by military defense counsel and civilian counsel retained at the accused’s expense.
Hiring civilian counsel does not mean military counsel is automatically removed from the defense team.
In many cases the strongest structure may be a civilian lawyer working with detailed military defense counsel.
Do not start with the assumption that civilian = better.
Start with: “What do I already have, what does this civilian lawyer add, and is that incremental value worth the cost?”
Florida-Based Civilian Military Defense Firms to Research in 2026
The following practices have publicly documented Florida locations and military-defense practices.
They are not ranked from best to worst.
Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC Publisher
Gonzalez & Waddington is based in Florida and represents service members throughout the state, across the United States and at overseas military installations.
The firm is led by Michael Waddington and Alexandra González-Waddington.
Michael is a former Army JAG prosecutor, Trial Defense Counsel, Senior Defense Counsel, Chief of Military Justice and Special Assistant United States Attorney.
Alexandra began her career as a public defender and has more than two decades of criminal and military-defense experience.
The firm’s practice includes serious courts-martial, Article 120 cases, homicide and violent offenses, digital and computer evidence, military investigations, administrative separation boards, Boards of Inquiry, Article 15/NJP and reprimand matters.
Bilecki Law Group, PLLC
Bilecki Law Group maintains its Florida office in Tampa and represents service members in courts-martial, investigations and related military proceedings throughout the United States and overseas.
Managing attorney Timothy Bilecki is a former Army JAG officer. The firm’s current public materials emphasize contested court-martial work, investigations and serious UCMJ allegations.
Korody Law, P.A.
Korody Law is a Jacksonville-based defense practice with a military-law team composed of former Navy and Marine Corps judge advocates.
Its current attorney roster includes Patrick Korody, Jason Ayeroff, Robert Crow and Matthew Thomas, with backgrounds including military prosecution, defense counsel, Staff Judge Advocate work and military judicial service.
The firm’s public Florida practice materials identify representation at NAS Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport, NAS Pensacola, Eglin, Hurlburt, MacDill, Patrick and other Florida installations.
Donet, McMillan & Trontz, P.A.
Donet, McMillan & Trontz maintains a military-law practice in Miami headed by David Trontz.
The firm’s professional materials identify Trontz as a former Army JAG who served as prosecutor, defense attorney, administrative attorney and legal adviser during active-duty assignments.
The firm’s military practice includes courts-martial, appeals, Article 15 matters, administrative boards and other military proceedings.
Comparing Florida Military Defense Practices
| Firm | Florida Location | Public Military Practice Model | Question to Ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzalez & Waddington | Weston / South Florida | Small senior-attorney military-defense practice focused on serious UCMJ and administrative matters. | Which partner will personally handle each phase of my case? |
| Bilecki Law Group | Tampa | Court-martial-focused boutique with worldwide military practice. | What similar contested cases has my assigned lawyer recently handled? |
| Korody Law | Jacksonville | Multi-lawyer former-JAG practice covering military, federal, administrative and clearance matters. | Which lawyer will actually lead my matter? |
| Donet, McMillan & Trontz | Miami | Criminal-defense firm with dedicated military-law practice headed by former Army JAG David Trontz. | How much of the assigned attorney’s current work is military defense? |
Can an Out-of-State Military Lawyer Represent You in Florida?
Often, yes.
Military courts are not ordinary Florida state courts. Civilian lawyers admitted to practice in the applicable military forum can represent service members at Florida installations even when their primary office is elsewhere.
That is why national military-defense practices routinely appear at Eglin, Hurlburt, Pensacola, MacDill, Jacksonville, Patrick and other Florida commands.
The tradeoff is practical:
- Who pays travel?
- How often will counsel come to Florida?
- Will hearings be covered in person?
- Can counsel travel on short notice?
- Does the lawyer already have conflicting trials elsewhere?
How to Choose a Florida Military Defense Lawyer
Ask questions that reveal the lawyer you are actually hiring rather than the marketing reputation of the firm.
- Who will personally be my lead attorney?
- What military cases has that lawyer personally handled in the past year?
- What cases involved allegations similar to mine?
- What experience does the lawyer have with my branch?
- Does the lawyer actually need to be Florida-based for this case?
- What evidence should I preserve immediately?
- Do we need an investigator?
- Do we need a digital, DNA, medical, psychological or other expert?
- What will my detailed military defense counsel contribute?
- How will civilian and military counsel divide responsibilities?
- What hearings require travel?
- Are travel expenses included in the fee?
- What other trials are already scheduled near mine?
- What is the biggest weakness you currently see in my case?
- What information would materially change your assessment?
Gonzalez & Waddington: Florida-Based, Worldwide Military Defense
Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC
Gonzalez & Waddington is based in Weston, Florida.
Its Florida location places the firm within the same state as major Air Force, Navy, Space Force, Coast Guard, Reserve, National Guard and joint-service commands while the firm’s military practice remains national and international.
Michael Waddington is also currently listed by Florida International University College of Law as an Adjunct Professor.
The firm’s Florida representation has included matters at installations such as Eglin and Hurlburt, while its broader practice has included military cases across the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
The value of being Florida-based is primarily practical:
- statewide accessibility;
- reduced domestic travel for many Florida matters;
- ability to meet Florida clients in person when appropriate;
- familiarity with handling military cases in the state; and
- South Florida proximity for Coast Guard, Reserve and joint-community clients.
Florida location should complement military experience—not replace it.
The central question remains whether the lawyer has the relevant experience, preparation time, evidence skills and strategic fit for the particular case.
Florida Civilian Military Defense: What Service Members Should Know
Michael and Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington discuss military investigations, UCMJ cases and the role civilian military counsel can play when a service member is facing serious allegations.
Under Military Investigation in Florida? Consider These Immediate Steps
- Identify whether you are a witness, subject or suspect.
- Obtain legal advice before deciding whether to make an investigative statement.
- Do not delete relevant messages, photographs, applications or other digital material.
- Preserve potentially favorable evidence before it disappears.
- Do not contact an accuser to demand an explanation or recantation.
- Identify important witnesses and preserve their contact information.
- Keep copies of relevant military paperwork.
- Determine whether a Florida civilian criminal investigation also exists.
- Determine what military defense counsel may be available.
- If consulting civilian counsel, compare lawyers based on your actual case rather than advertising slogans.
Facing a UCMJ Investigation or Court-Martial in Florida?
Gonzalez & Waddington represents Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Guardians and Coast Guard members throughout Florida in serious military investigations, courts-martial, Article 120 cases, administrative separation boards, Boards of Inquiry, Article 15/NJP matters and other career-threatening actions.
If you are deciding whether to hire civilian counsel, ask us the same questions recommended on this page: who will handle the case, what experience applies, what your military lawyer already provides and what retaining our firm would add.
Request a Confidential Consultation1-800-921-8607 • Text 954-799-4019
Florida Military Defense Lawyer FAQs
Who are some military defense lawyers based in Florida?
Florida-based practices with publicly documented military-defense work include Gonzalez & Waddington in Weston, Bilecki Law Group in Tampa, Korody Law in Jacksonville, and Donet, McMillan & Trontz in Miami. This is not an official ranking, and other qualified lawyers also serve Florida military clients.
Who are the best military defense lawyers in Florida?
There is no official or objective ranking identifying one lawyer as the best military defense attorney in Florida. Compare lawyers based on the proceeding, charge, evidence, personally handled cases, availability, branch experience and who will actually represent you.
Is Gonzalez & Waddington based in Florida?
Yes. Gonzalez & Waddington is based in Weston, Florida and represents service members in Florida, throughout the United States and at military installations overseas.
Can a civilian military lawyer represent me at Eglin or Hurlburt Field?
A qualified civilian military-defense lawyer may represent an eligible accused in military proceedings at Florida installations, subject to the governing military-court admission and procedural requirements.
Can I hire a civilian lawyer for a court-martial at NAS Pensacola?
Yes. Article 38 of the UCMJ provides for representation by civilian counsel retained at the accused’s expense in general and special courts-martial, together with the applicable military-counsel framework.
Do I need a Navy lawyer if I am stationed at Pensacola or Jacksonville?
Not necessarily. What matters is whether counsel is qualified for the forum and has relevant military-law experience. Prior Navy or Marine Corps experience may provide useful institutional familiarity, but it is not an automatic requirement or guarantee of better representation.
Who investigates Air Force and Space Force cases in Florida?
Serious criminal allegations involving Air Force and Space Force personnel may be investigated by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, depending on the allegation and investigative jurisdiction. Security Forces and command-level processes may handle other matters.
Who investigates Navy and Marine Corps cases in Florida?
NCIS investigates qualifying serious criminal allegations involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel. Other disciplinary or administrative matters may be handled through command or other authorized investigative channels.
Who investigates Coast Guard personnel in Florida?
Serious Coast Guard criminal allegations may involve the Coast Guard Investigative Service. Coast Guard members may also face command investigations, Captain’s Mast, administrative separation or other service-specific proceedings.
Does a Florida military lawyer have to be licensed in Florida?
Not necessarily for representation solely before a military court. Court-martial practice is governed by federal military law and the rules governing admission to military courts. Florida licensure can become separately important if the attorney is also handling a Florida state court matter.
Can I have both civilian counsel and a military defense attorney?
Yes, under the applicable Article 38 framework. Many accused service members retain civilian counsel while continuing to work with detailed military defense counsel.
Is a lawyer near my Florida base automatically a better choice?
No. Proximity can reduce travel and improve convenience, but relevant experience, availability, evidence skills, preparation and the identity of the actual lawyer handling the case may be more important.
What should I do if OSI, NCIS, CID or CGIS wants to interview me?
Obtain individualized legal advice before deciding whether to make a statement. Do not destroy evidence or attempt to influence witnesses. Preserve relevant information and discuss the circumstances with qualified counsel.
Can an off-base Florida arrest affect my military career?
Yes. A Florida civilian incident can potentially generate separate command, administrative or UCMJ consequences. The exact effect depends on the facts, military status, disposition of the civilian matter and applicable service regulations.
Florida Military and Legal Sources
- Joint Service Committee on Military Justice
- Commander, Navy Region Southeast — Installations
- MacDill Air Force Base — Units and Mission Partners
- Patrick Space Force Base / Space Launch Delta 45
- U.S. Coast Guard Southeast District — Florida Units
- Florida International University College of Law — Michael Waddington
Related Florida and UCMJ Defense Resources
- Civilian Court-Martial Defense Attorneys
- Article 120 UCMJ Sexual Assault Defense
- Air Force OSI Investigations
- Civilian Military Lawyer vs. Military Defense Counsel
- Contact Gonzalez & Waddington
Attorney advertising and editorial disclosure: This page is published by Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC and may constitute attorney advertising.
References to Florida military-defense lawyers and firms are provided for consumer research. There is no official ranking determining that one lawyer or firm is objectively superior to another.
Gonzalez & Waddington has disclosed its role as publisher and its inclusion on this page.
Information concerning other firms is derived from publicly available professional materials and should be independently verified.
Installation missions, organizational structures, attorney rosters, military regulations and procedures can change. Verify current information before relying on it for an individual matter.
Past results, military service, teaching, publications, reviews, awards and professional experience do not guarantee future outcomes.
No attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this page.
Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC • Weston, Florida • Florida UCMJ & Court-Martial Defense • Representation of U.S. Service Members Worldwide