Florida Board of Inquiry (BOI) & Officer Show Cause Board Defense Lawyers – Florida UCMJ Attorneys

Elite Civilian Defense for Officers Facing BOIs, Show Cause Boards, Misconduct Panels & Elimination Proceedings in Florida

A Board of Inquiry (BOI), also known as an Officer Show Cause Board, is one of the most serious threats an officer can face in the U.S. military — even more dangerous than many court-martials. Officers convicted at a BOI can lose their career, retirement, future promotions, security clearance, and their post-military professional options. Unlike courts-martial, BOIs do not require proof beyond a reasonable doubt. A board can end your career based on low, subjective standards.

Florida, home to some of the busiest and most politically sensitive military installations, sees a disproportionately high number of BOIs due to its operational tempo, joint missions, high-clearance units, and constant civilian interaction.

Gonzalez & Waddington, Attorneys at Law is one of America’s top civilian law firms defending officers at BOIs. Led by former JAG Michael Waddington and trial strategist Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington, we aggressively defend officers at BOIs, elimination proceedings, and retention boards across all Florida military bases — Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, and Coast Guard.

➤ Request a Confidential Florida BOI Strategy Session

What Is a BOI / Officer Show Cause Board?

A BOI is an administrative trial where the government tries to prove that an officer should be kicked out of the service. Unlike a court-martial, they do not need to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

At a BOI, the government only needs to show:

• Misconduct by a preponderance of evidence
• Substandard performance
• Derogatory conduct unbecoming an officer
• Loss of trust or confidence
• Failure to meet service standards

If the board rules against you, you may be:

• Separated involuntarily
• Severely restricted from federal employment
• Denied retirement
• Given an OTH or General discharge
• Stripped of your career and benefits

Why Florida Generates So Many Officer BOIs

Florida is one of the highest-risk officer environments for BOIs due to:

• Large number of high-clearance jobs (AFSOC, SOCOM, SOUTHCOM, Space Force ops, Coast Guard)
• Major training bases (NAS Pensacola, Whiting Field, NDSTC)
• High-profile missions such as space operations, aviation, intel
• Joint-force leadership roles where optics matter
• Civilian police involvement (Jacksonville, Pensacola, Tampa, Miami, Orlando)
• Pressure to “set the example” for younger ranks
• Zero-tolerance environments in aviation, intel, space, diving, and special operations

Commands in Florida are notoriously quick to initiate BOIs for even minor allegations of misconduct, especially involving:

• Alcohol incidents
• Domestic disputes
• Fraternization
• Relationships with civilians or subordinates
• Social media allegations
• Training misconduct
• Professional incompetence or “loss of trust”

Florida Installations Where Officers Commonly Face BOIs

We defend officers at every major Florida base, including:

• NAS Jacksonville
• NS Mayport
• NAS Pensacola
• NAS Whiting Field
• NSA Panama City / NDSTC
• NAS Key West
• Eglin AFB
• Hurlburt Field
• Tyndall AFB
• MacDill AFB (CENTCOM/SOCOM)
• Patrick Space Force Base
• Homestead ARB
• USCG Sector Miami
• USCG AIRSTA Clearwater
• USCG Sector Jacksonville
• USAG Miami (USSOUTHCOM)

Florida officers face some of the most politically charged BOIs in the military.

Reasons Florida Officers Are Sent to BOIs

Most BOIs fall into one of three categories:

1. Misconduct

• Alcohol incidents
• Domestic violence allegations
• Sexual misconduct allegations
• Fraternization
• Abuse of authority
• Arrests by Florida law enforcement

2. Substandard Performance

• Poor evaluations
• Training failures
• Command friction
• Mishandling personnel or resources

3. Loss of Trust and Confidence

• Leadership breakdowns
• Negative media exposure
• Discretion issues
• Rumors or “perception of impropriety”

Officers in aviation, intel, special operations, and security forces units face BOIs at significantly higher rates.

How Gonzalez & Waddington Defends Officers at BOIs

We approach BOIs like criminal trials — not paperwork drills. We attack the government’s case at every angle and build a powerful narrative for retention.

Our BOI Defense Strategy Includes:

• Cross-examining witnesses to expose exaggeration or bias
• Attacking flawed command investigations (JAGMAN, 15-6, CGIS, NCIS, OSI)
• Challenging “loss of trust” claims with facts & operational context
• Presenting expert testimony in aviation, cyber, intel, and technical fields
• Highlighting exemplary service with letters and performance history
• Using digital evidence to destroy false accusations
• Creating a full-spectrum mitigation package tailored to Florida commands
• Showing board members the full picture — not command spin

Our goal is retention — or at minimum, an honorable discharge to protect your future.

Pro Tips for Florida Officers Facing BOIs

• Never go into a BOI represented only by TDS/JAG.
• Do NOT respond emotionally to allegations.
• Do NOT give statements to investigators without counsel.
• Save all digital evidence — texts, emails, social media, call logs.
• Document a detailed timeline as soon as possible.
• Gather character letters early.
• Hire a civilian BOI defense team immediately. Time matters.

A BOI is often your last chance to save your career. You cannot afford weak representation.

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Florida BOI – Frequently Asked Questions