Hurlburt Field Military Defense Lawyers – Florida UCMJ Attorneys

Elite Civilian Defense Attorneys for Air Commandos, Special Operations, and Airmen at Hurlburt Field

Hurlburt Field, located in northwest Florida near Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island, is home to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), the 1st Special Operations Wing, Combat Controllers, Pararescue (PJs), Special Tactics Squadrons, AC-130 crews, ISR operators, and numerous highly classified mission sets. The Airmen stationed here — whether in operations, maintenance, intel, cyber, or aviation — operate at the highest levels of the U.S. military. With that elite mission comes extreme command scrutiny. When allegations arise at Hurlburt Field, the legal consequences can be fast, severe, and career-ending.

Whether you are a Special Tactics operator, intel analyst, aviator, aircrew, maintainer, or support Airman, one allegation — even if false or exaggerated — can cost you your clearance, your assignment, your status, and your military future. If OSI or command has targeted you, you need a powerful, experienced civilian military defense lawyer immediately.

Gonzalez & Waddington, Attorneys at Law defends Airmen and Special Operations personnel around the world. Led by former JAG Michael Waddington and trial lawyer Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington, our firm specializes in high-stakes UCMJ litigation, sexual assault defense, administrative separations, and court-martial cases involving Special Operations, intelligence communities, and classified missions.

The Legal Environment at Hurlburt Field: High Pressure, High Stakes

AFSOC is built on trust, precision, discipline, and elite capability. Because of the nature of its missions — many of which are classified, politically sensitive, or joint-special-operations integrated — allegations are treated aggressively, even when the evidence is incomplete or unreliable.

• OSI opens investigations quickly—often before the member knows they are under suspicion.
• Operators face extreme consequences—a single allegation can result in grounding, clearance suspension, and loss of Special Duty status.
• Commanders are risk-averse—they will remove members from duty before thoroughly evaluating evidence.
• Nightlife nearby (Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Okaloosa Island) generates many alcohol-related and “he-said/she-said” cases.
• Domestic disputes are common in high-stress assignments and often escalate into OSI involvement.
• Training environments at Hurlburt create fraternization, boundary, and off-duty conduct allegations.

Because AFSOC Airmen are expected to maintain exemplary discipline, even minor allegations may result in harsh disciplinary outcomes.

UCMJ Criminal Defense at Hurlburt Field

We defend Airmen in high-profile, classified, and politically sensitive cases throughout AFSOC.

Common UCMJ Charges We Defend:

• Article 120 – Sexual assault, rape, abusive sexual contact
• Article 128b – Domestic violence
• Article 112a – Drug use, possession, distribution (cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, prescriptions)
• Article 92 – Failure to obey orders, dereliction of duty, fraternization
• Article 107 – False official statement
• Article 133/134 – Conduct unbecoming, indecent conduct, fraternization, obstruction
• Article 86 – AWOL or failure to report
• Article 118/119 – Assault or violent offenses

We represent Airmen in all forums:

• General Court-Martial (GCM)
• Special Court-Martial (SPCM)
• Summary Court-Martial
• Article 32 Preliminary Hearings
• Motions hearings for evidence suppression

AFSOC cases often involve classified evidence, operational security issues, intelligence community involvement, or cross-branch investigations. We understand these complexities — and we know how to defend them.

Florida Bases Our Military Defense Lawyers Serve:

• Eglin Air Force Base
• Patrick Space Force Base
• Naval Air Station Pensacola
• Naval Station Mayport
• Hurlburt Field
• MacDill Air Force Base
• NAS Whiting Field
• NAS Jacksonville
• NSA Panama City
• NAS Key West
• USCG Air Station Clearwater
• USCG Sector Jacksonville
• USCG Sector Key West

Administrative Separations, Boards & Article 15 Defense

Many careers at Hurlburt end through administrative channels rather than a court-martial. These tools are used aggressively to remove Airmen from AFSOC and prevent them from reclassifying or reassigning elsewhere.

We defend Airmen in:

• Enlisted Administrative Separation Boards
• Officer Show Cause Boards (OSCB)
• Boards of Inquiry (BOI)
• NJP / Article 15 hearings
• Reprimand rebuttals (LOR/LOA/UIF)
• Security clearance suspension appeals
• Special Duty/Operator decertification defense

AFSOC leadership is known for initiating separation quickly, especially after:

• Alcohol incidents in Destin or Fort Walton
• Consent misunderstandings among teammates or trainees
• Domestic disturbances in base housing
• Drug allegations involving nightlife scenes
• Fraternization or perceived unprofessional relationships within tight-knit units
• “Loss of confidence” memos from squadron, group, or wing commanders

Administrative boards are easier for the Air Force to win — and extremely dangerous for the Airman.

Hurlburt-Specific Legal Risks

1. Operators & Special Tactics Personnel

Mishaps, training incidents, or off-duty interactions can trigger investigations that threaten:

• Flying status
• Jump status
• Combat mission readiness
• Special operations skill qualifications
• Security clearances

2. Aviation & Aircrew Communities

Aircrew members face heightened risk for:

• Alcohol-related allegations
• Inappropriate conduct allegations
• Training incidents leading to dereliction charges

3. Fort Walton / Destin Nightlife

• Bar fights or altercations
• Taxi/Uber disputes
• Consent issues after alcohol consumption
• Complaints from locals who learn the member is military

4. Barracks, Dorms & Shared Housing

Roommate conflicts often evolve into:

• False allegations
• Noise complaints that escalate
• Unauthorized guest or fraternization accusations

Why AFSOC Airmen Choose Gonzalez & Waddington

When your mission, career, clearance, and operational credibility are at stake, you cannot gamble on inexperienced counsel. You need a legal team with proven firepower.

• Former JAG Michael Waddington: one of the world’s top court-martial defense lawyers
• Attorney Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington: expert in cross-examination and case dismantling
• Decades of military trial experience, including Special Operations clients
• Books and publications used to train military lawyers worldwide
• We take fewer clients so every case receives elite-level preparation

Pro Tips for Airmen at Hurlburt Field Under Investigation

• NEVER speak to OSI without a lawyer. Innocent people are charged every day.
• Do NOT text or message anyone about the incident.
• Save everything: screenshots, messages, call logs, photos, timestamps.
• Stay away from the accuser or alleged witnesses.
• Do not consent to searches of your electronics, vehicle, or dorm.
• Remain professional. Do not retaliate, complain, or overshare.
• Seek counsel early. Early involvement dramatically improves outcomes.

Your Career at Hurlburt Field Is on the Line — Act Now

If OSI, command, or Security Forces is investigating you, or if you are facing Article 15, administrative separation, or court-martial charges at Hurlburt Field, you cannot wait. The Air Force is already preparing its case — you need an elite defense team to begin preparing yours.

➤ Schedule a Confidential Consultation with Gonzalez & Waddington

Authoritative reference: AFSOC Official Website

Hurlburt Field Military Defense Lawyers – Frequently Asked Questions