Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station UCMJ Defense

Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station Military Defense Lawyers

Short answer: Service members at Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, Colorado, including personnel supporting NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, can hire a civilian military defense lawyer in addition to free military defense counsel (Article 38(b), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 838). If Air Force OSI or Army CID asks to interview you, you have the right to remain silent and must be told what you are suspected of before questioning (Article 31(b), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 831). An arrest in Colorado Springs or elsewhere in El Paso County can lead to both a Colorado prosecution and military action (Gamble v. United States, 587 U.S. 678 (2019)). Gonzalez & Waddington travels to Colorado Springs for interviews, hearings and trials. Call 1-800-921-8607 or text 954-799-4019.

Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC serves service members associated with Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station through civilian military defense counsel Michael Waddington and Alexandra González-Waddington. The firm represents clients worldwide in UCMJ investigations, court-martial defense, and administrative representation, including matters that can affect a military career before any trial occurs. For personnel connected to this installation, early legal guidance can matter when allegations intersect with a secure mission environment, command review, and military justice procedures.

Why Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station stands out

Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station is a specific military installation in Colorado Springs, Colorado, not a city or regional label. Official sources identify it as part of the U.S. Space Force and note that the installation was renamed from Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station to Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station on July 26, 2021. That change reflects the station’s present place within the Space Force structure while preserving the identity of one of the country’s best-known hardened defense facilities.

For military defense purposes, the installation’s role matters because Cheyenne Mountain is not described as a routine base with a broad public footprint. Official fact sheets describe the Cheyenne Mountain Complex there as a hardened command-and-control site. Today, it serves as the Alternate Command Center for the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, and U.S. Northern Command, while also supporting crew qualification training. That mission context helps explain why legal problems involving personnel associated with Cheyenne Mountain can carry professional consequences beyond the immediate accusation.

Its mission and command structure matter in defense cases

Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station is managed by Space Base Delta 1, and Space Operations Command identifies it among the installations for which SpOC is responsible. It is also tied geographically and operationally to the broader Colorado Springs defense community. NORAD states that the Cheyenne Mountain Complex is located at the station a short distance from NORAD and U.S. Northern Command headquarters at Peterson Space Force Base.

Those official details do not prove anything about any individual case, but they do show why service members and other military personnel connected to Cheyenne Mountain may be operating in a tightly controlled environment with mission-sensitive responsibilities. When a service member faces accusations while assigned to, supporting, or working around a secure installation, the consequences can involve more than a single interview or charging decision. A court-martial, command inquiry, or administrative action may unfold in a setting shaped by restricted access, mission continuity concerns, and close coordination across commands.

What service members should understand about this location

Cheyenne Mountain’s modern role rests on decades of defense use. Official sources state that the mountain complex became fully operational in the 1960s and continues to host several tenant activities. NORAD also notes that public tours are not available. That detail is simple, but it underscores the secure nature of the installation and the limited-access character of the environment around it.

For a service member seeking military defense counsel, that local context can be important. A legal issue tied to Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station may arise in connection with duties, access, or events associated with Colorado Springs and the nearby military community, but the station itself remains a distinct installation with a specialized mission. It is more accurate to think in terms of representation for personnel associated with Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station than to treat the location as a broad regional catchphrase.

That is why a focused introduction to Cheyenne Mountain military defense should stay grounded in verified facts. The official record supports the station’s current name, its Space Force status, its location in Colorado Springs, its management by Space Base Delta 1, its connection to Space Operations Command, and its continuing role as a hardened alternate command site for NORAD and U.S. Northern Command. Topics such as specific investigative agencies, tenant-unit details, or installation-specific legal processing rules were not verified in the supplied research and should be treated as gaps rather than assumptions.

Talk with civilian military defense counsel

If you are connected to Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station and need counsel for a UCMJ investigation, court-martial, or administrative military matter, Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC invites you to speak with Michael Waddington or Alexandra González-Waddington. For confidential consultation information, call 1-800-921-8607.

Cheyenne Mountain Military Defense Lawyers | UCMJ Court-Martial Defense

Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station Colorado | Military Legal Guide

Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station is one of the most secure and mission-sensitive military installations in the United States. It is located near Colorado Springs, Colorado in El Paso County near Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, Fort Carson, the U.S. Air Force Academy, Cheyenne Mountain State Park, NORAD Road, State Highway 115, I-25, U.S. Highway 24, Colorado Springs Airport, and the Pikes Peak region.

Guardians, Airmen, Soldiers, Canadian personnel, civilians, contractors, and service members assigned to or working around Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station may face UCMJ investigations arising from:

NORAD and U.S. Northern Command alternate command center operations
Space Base Delta 1 installation support and mission support activity
Missile warning, aerospace warning, and strategic command support missions
Space surveillance, space domain awareness, and command-and-control work
Secure mountain complex access, restricted-area movement, and badge-control issues
Cyber, communications, intelligence, logistics, medical, Security Forces, and command support work
Joint, allied, contractor, civilian, Canadian, and mission partner work environments
Off-base incidents in Colorado Springs, Fountain, Manitou Springs, Monument, Pueblo, El Paso County, Teller County, and the Front Range
DUI stops, domestic calls, hotel allegations, dating-app encounters, civilian arrests, digital evidence, clearance concerns, access logs, travel records, command records, and Colorado court matters

Civilian Court-Martial Attorneys for Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station Personnel

Gonzalez & Waddington defends service members stationed at Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station in serious UCMJ matters. We handle courts-martial, Article 15 actions, letters of reprimand rebuttals, administrative discharge boards, and Boards of Inquiry.

An allegation can threaten your career before charges are preferred. This applies to Guardians, Airmen, Soldiers, officers, NCOs, enlisted members, intelligence personnel, cyber personnel, communications personnel, missile warning personnel, command-and-control personnel, medical personnel, Security Forces, logistics personnel, joint-service staff, allied personnel, and members assigned to Cheyenne Mountain mission partner organizations.

Cheyenne Mountain is different from a routine military installation. It is a hardened command facility and a strategic alternate command center. The official Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station page states that the Cheyenne Mountain Complex became fully operational as the NORAD Combat Operations Center on February 6, 1967, and that today it serves as NORAD and U.S. Northern Command’s Alternate Command Center and as a training site for crew qualification.

That changes the shape of a case. A Cheyenne Mountain matter may involve OSI, Security Forces, command witnesses, Colorado Springs police reports, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office records, Colorado State Patrol records, El Paso County court records, body-camera footage, 911 calls, gate records, badge records, tunnel or facility access logs, restricted-area issues, classified systems, government communications, phone extractions, social media, hotel records, rideshare data, military systems, command records, and clearance paperwork.

If you are accused of Article 120 sexual assault or any other UCMJ offense at or near Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, do not wait for the command’s theory to harden. This includes abusive sexual contact, domestic violence, assault, DUI, drug misconduct, fraud, larceny, false official statement, orders violations, harassment, stalking, threats, online misconduct, misuse of government systems, classified-information concerns, travel-card issues, cyber misconduct, and security violations.

Call Gonzalez & Waddington at 1-800-921-8607 or text 954-799-4019 to request a confidential consultation with civilian military defense lawyers who defend service members worldwide.

Civilian Military Defense for Service Members at Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, Colorado

Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station is managed by Space Base Delta 1 and tied closely to Peterson Space Force Base, NORAD, U.S. Northern Command, and the broader Colorado Springs military space and homeland defense community. The official NORAD Cheyenne Mountain Complex fact sheet states that the Cheyenne Mountain Complex is located at Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, a short distance from NORAD and USNORTHCOM headquarters at Peterson Space Force Base.

The official U.S. Northern Command Cheyenne Mountain Complex page states that public tours of Cheyenne Mountain are not available. That detail reflects the controlled and secure nature of the installation. Cases arising there may involve restricted access, sensitive facilities, specialized work areas, classified systems, and a limited witness pool.

That mission matters in defense cases. Cheyenne Mountain personnel may work in alternate command center operations, missile warning support, aerospace warning, homeland defense, cyber, communications, intelligence, logistics, medical support, Security Forces, joint staff work, classified programs, restricted-access programs, or mission partner environments. A case that begins as a local police report, workplace complaint, access issue, domestic call, hotel allegation, DUI stop, phone message, computer-use issue, travel-card concern, headquarters issue, or command inquiry can quickly become a career-threatening matter involving OSI, command leadership, legal offices, clearance managers, supervisors, joint-service staff, allied personnel, and administrative decision-makers.

A Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station military defense lawyer must understand more than the basic court-martial process. The defense must account for the station’s secure mountain complex, alternate command center role, Colorado Springs civilian evidence, digital evidence, workplace messages, government systems, access records, classified duties, clearance risk, and the speed with which command-driven investigations turn into Article 15s, letters of reprimand, administrative discharge boards, Boards of Inquiry, clearance reviews, or courts-martial.

Cheyenne Mountain, NORAD, USNORTHCOM, Space Base Delta 1 & Mission-Sensitive Cases

Cheyenne Mountain is not only a Space Force station. It is a hardened strategic command facility. It supports NORAD and USNORTHCOM alternate command center functions, crew qualification training, homeland defense, aerospace warning, missile warning, communications, cyber, and national defense continuity.

Cases may involve:

Space Base Delta 1 support and installation records
NORAD and U.S. Northern Command alternate command center records
Missile warning, aerospace warning, and homeland defense mission records
Secure facility access, badge records, gate logs, tunnel access, and building access records
Restricted-area access and classified-workspace issues
Security Forces reports, patrol records, and base access records
Communications records, cyber logs, network access, and government systems
Joint-service, allied, Canadian, contractor, and civilian witness issues
Medical, logistics, contracting, personnel, and support records
Travel-card records, TDY documents, lodging records, and reimbursement issues
Government emails, Teams messages, access logs, classified duties, clearance paperwork, and command records

The official Space Base Delta 1 fact sheet states that Space Base Delta 1 is headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base and provides support for Space Force and mission partner operations. Cheyenne Mountain is part of that broader Colorado Springs support environment.

This mission environment affects military justice strategy. An allegation may involve a high-visibility workplace, joint-service staff, allied personnel, civilian employees, contractors, classified systems, access logs, mission records, government computers, travel records, or sensitive communications.

For service members at Cheyenne Mountain, allegations involving dishonesty, fraud, alcohol misuse, drug use, domestic violence, sexual misconduct, cyber misconduct, classified information, professional misconduct, travel-card problems, false statements, or misuse of systems can trigger immediate concerns about trust, access, mission reliability, clearance eligibility, and future assignments.

Video: Fort Carson Civilian Military Defense Lawyer | CID, OSI & Colorado Springs UCMJ Defense (11:20) — watch on YouTube

Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Fountain, Fort Carson & the Local Colorado Setting

Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station is located near Colorado Springs in El Paso County. Service members may live in Colorado Springs, Fountain, Security-Widefield, Manitou Springs, Monument, Falcon, Peyton, Cimarron Hills, Black Forest, Pueblo, Castle Rock, or other communities along the Front Range.

The local environment matters. Cheyenne Mountain personnel may spend time near downtown Colorado Springs, Old Colorado City, Manitou Springs, Ivywild, Broadmoor-area hotels, Fort Carson communities, Garden of the Gods, Cheyenne Mountain State Park, local restaurants, bars, breweries, apartment complexes, short-term rentals, college areas, Colorado Springs Airport, and I-25 commuter routes.

Local allegations may arise from:

DUI stops in Colorado Springs, Fountain, Manitou Springs, Monument, Pueblo, El Paso County, or Teller County
Domestic calls in off-base housing
Hotel, apartment, short-term rental, base housing, workplace, or dating-app allegations
Bar, restaurant, parking lot, brewery, hotel, airport-area, college-area, or downtown incidents
Traffic accidents on I-25, Highway 115, U.S. 24, Academy Boulevard, Nevada Avenue, Lake Avenue, or local commuter routes
Drug, prescription, or urinalysis issues
Texts, emails, social media, phone extractions, and digital evidence
Workplace, headquarters, Security Forces, communications, cyber, space operations, medical, travel, restricted-access, or classified-duty complaints that become command investigations

For defense purposes, local evidence matters. Body-camera footage, 911 calls, dash-camera video, booking records, hotel records, short-term rental records, restaurant receipts, bar tabs, phone location data, texts, rideshare records, photographs, medical records, gate records, badge records, access logs, travel records, command records, and civilian police reports may tell a different story from the first version given to command. Early defense work can preserve evidence before it disappears.

Colorado Civilian Courts, Federal Court & Military Consequences Near Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station

A service member assigned to Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station does not need to be convicted in civilian court before military consequences begin. A single incident may trigger a civilian police report, Security Forces involvement, an OSI investigation, a command-directed inquiry, a no-contact order, duty suspension, access suspension, a letter of reprimand, an Article 15, an administrative discharge board, a Board of Inquiry, a clearance review, or a court-martial referral.

Off-base cases near Cheyenne Mountain may involve El Paso County District Court, El Paso County Court, Colorado Springs Municipal Court, Fountain Municipal Court, Teller County courts, Pueblo County courts, or other Colorado court systems depending on where the incident occurred. The Colorado Judicial Branch El Paso County page provides El Paso County court information. El Paso County also identifies the Fourth Judicial District and El Paso County Combined Courts.

Federal jurisdiction may also matter in some Cheyenne Mountain-related cases. Cases may involve federal property, firearms issues, cyber evidence, fraud allegations, child exploitation allegations, classified information, national security matters, government systems, restricted areas, travel records, mission records, or overlapping civilian and military exposure. Federal matters in this region may involve the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.

The key point for a service member is practical: civilian and military consequences are separate. A local dismissal does not automatically stop a letter of reprimand. A reduced civilian charge does not automatically prevent an Article 15. A protective order can still affect command decisions. A weak civilian case can still become a career-threatening military case if the defense fails to address both the civilian record and the chain of command.

Special Legal Risks for Secure Facility, Missile Warning, Cyber, Intelligence, Allied & Headquarters Personnel

Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station cases often involve the unique pressures of a secure mountain complex and joint command environment. Service members may work with senior leaders, joint-service staff, allied personnel, Canadian personnel, civilian employees, contractors, classified information, command-and-control systems, travel systems, communications networks, and high-visibility national defense functions.

Mission-related cases may involve:

Government computer use and network access
Classified or sensitive information
Communications records, cyber logs, and access records
Security Forces reports, gate logs, patrol records, and base access records
Badge records, facility entry records, and restricted-area movement records
NORAD and USNORTHCOM alternate command center records
Mission partner, allied, Canadian, contractor, and civilian witness issues
Travel-card records, TDY documents, lodging records, and reimbursement issues
Contracting files, purchase records, property records, and fraud allegations
Joint-service headquarters communications and staff records

A weak allegation can still create immediate consequences. A service member may lose access, be removed from duties, be restricted from government systems, face clearance reporting, receive a no-contact order, be placed under investigation, or be processed for separation before the full evidence is reviewed.

How Local Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station Incidents Become Military Legal Problems

The following examples are hypothetical. They are not claims about any actual case, business, command, or person. They illustrate how local facts can matter when a service member stationed at Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station is accused of misconduct.

Colorado Springs DUI: A service member leaves a restaurant, bar, brewery, unit event, hotel, or downtown Colorado Springs location and is stopped by civilian police. The civilian case may trigger a letter of reprimand, Article 15, driving restrictions, access suspension, UIF, control roster action, clearance review, or discharge processing.
Off-base domestic call: A family argument in Colorado Springs, Fountain, Manitou Springs, Monument, Pueblo, or another Front Range community leads to a 911 call, police report, protective order issue, no-contact order, firearm restriction, Family Advocacy involvement, and possible Article 128b domestic violence or administrative action.
Hotel, apartment, or dating-app allegation: A hotel stay, apartment visit, dating-app encounter, downtown nightlife event, or off-base social gathering leads to an Article 120 sexual assault or abusive sexual contact allegation involving text messages, phone location data, hotel records, key-card logs, rideshare data, bar receipts, social media, and competing accounts.
Secure facility access issue: A member is accused of violating access rules, entering a controlled area without authorization, mishandling a badge, using an unauthorized device, or failing to report a security concern.
Classified information or mission-data issue: A member is accused of mishandling classified information, discussing sensitive mission data, using unauthorized devices, transferring files improperly, or failing to follow information-security rules.
Communications or cyber issue: A member is accused of improper system access, misuse of government email, unauthorized file transfer, inappropriate messages, data mishandling, or violating access rules on a military system.
Headquarters or joint-service workplace allegation: A member assigned to a staff or mission partner organization is accused of harassment, bullying, retaliation, false statements, improper communications, hostile workplace conduct, or misuse of authority.
Travel-card or TDY allegation: A service member faces allegations involving travel vouchers, lodging records, rental cars, fuel receipts, reimbursement claims, purchase cards, or misuse of government funds.
Security clearance concern: A member assigned to a sensitive billet is accused of foreign-contact issues, financial misconduct, alcohol misuse, drug use, dishonesty, misuse of government systems, or conduct that raises clearance concerns.
Digital evidence case: The government relies on Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Teams messages, texts, deleted messages, partial screenshots, photos, videos, metadata, location data, or a limited phone extraction. Early defense work can preserve context and expose incomplete evidence.

Military Law Issues for Service Members at Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station

Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station service members may face court-martial charges, Article 32 preliminary hearings, Article 15 actions, letters of reprimand, administrative discharge boards, Boards of Inquiry, command-directed investigations, clearance reviews, unfavorable information files, access suspensions, control roster actions, and other adverse administrative paperwork. The issue may begin with OSI, Security Forces, local police, a commander’s inquiry, a SAPR report, a workplace complaint, a spouse allegation, a civilian protective order, a positive urinalysis, or an allegation from another member, civilian employee, contractor, family member, hotel witness, coworker, headquarters staff member, allied partner, Canadian personnel, or dating partner.

Article 120 Sexual Assault & Abusive Sexual Contact

These allegations may involve off-base apartments, hotels, short-term rentals, parties, unit social events, alcohol, dating apps, delayed reports, text messages, social media, phone extractions, rideshare records, hotel security records, or civilian witnesses from Colorado Springs, Fountain, Manitou Springs, Monument, Pueblo, El Paso County, Teller County, or the Front Range. Cases often turn on consent, credibility, intoxication, timing, witness contamination, digital evidence, and command assumptions.

Domestic Violence & Assault

These cases may involve Colorado police reports, 911 calls, body-camera footage, photographs, medical records, protective order filings, Family Advocacy records, text messages, no-contact orders, and firearms restrictions. Even if the civilian case is reduced, dismissed, or unresolved, the command may still pursue a letter of reprimand, Article 15, discharge, Board of Inquiry, or clearance action.

Drug & Alcohol Cases

A positive urinalysis, prescription issue, suspected distribution allegation, DUI, drunk-and-disorderly incident, or alcohol-related hotel, apartment, downtown, brewery, or nightlife event may lead to investigation, adverse paperwork, or separation. For members in secure facility operations, missile warning support, NORAD support, USNORTHCOM support, cyber, communications, headquarters staff, logistics, medical, command support, or clearance-sensitive jobs, administrative consequences can move faster than the criminal process.

Fraud, Larceny, False Statements, Cyber & Property Offenses

These allegations may involve government property, travel cards, purchase cards, TDY claims, BAH questions, hotel records, contracting records, mission records, government computers, digital messages, access logs, classified systems, inspection documents, or command-directed inquiries. The defense must evaluate whether the government can prove intent, whether records are complete, whether witnesses are reliable, and whether administrative mistakes are being framed as crimes.

Security Clearance, Classified Duties & Restricted Access

Cheyenne Mountain’s mission makes clearance and access issues serious. A case involving alcohol, drugs, dishonesty, domestic violence, financial problems, foreign contacts, online activity, travel misconduct, or misuse of government systems may create clearance risk even if the underlying criminal allegation is weak. Defense strategy should address both the UCMJ issue and the command’s trustworthiness concerns.

Secure Facility, Cyber, Joint Headquarters & Mission Partner Allegations

Cheyenne Mountain’s secure mountain facility and joint mission environment create special risks in cases involving government systems, classified or sensitive information, improper messaging, data handling, access logs, badge records, command emails, mission records, cyber records, and staff communications. A misunderstanding, policy violation, system error, or poor judgment can be wrongly framed as criminal intent or dishonesty.

If You're Investigated at F.E. Warren AFB: What to Know First

Before you answer OSI's questions. Under Article 31(b) of the UCMJ, agents of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) must advise you of the suspected offense and of your right to remain silent before questioning you as a suspect. You can decline the interview and ask for counsel, and your silence cannot be used as evidence of guilt. Statements made to "explain your side" are one of the most common reasons service members at F.E. Warren AFB end up charged.

Titling can follow you. OSI can title you as the subject of an investigation, which indexes your name in the Defense Central Index of Investigations, on a low "credible information" standard. Titling is not a finding of guilt, but the record can surface in later background and security clearance checks even if no charges are ever brought.

Who decides whether you are charged. For covered offenses, including sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, kidnapping, murder, child pornography and, since 2025, sexual harassment, the decision to prefer and refer charges belongs to an independent special trial counsel rather than your commander at F.E. Warren AFB. For other offenses the command still decides. Which track a case is on shapes the defense from the first day.

Family and relationship allegations. Domestic violence is charged under Article 128b, and strangulation or suffocation can be charged as aggravated assault whether or not there is a mark. The hidden cost is the Lautenberg Amendment: a qualifying conviction bars possession of firearms and ammunition, which few military careers survive.

Drug allegations. Article 112a of the UCMJ applies to service members at F.E. Warren AFB on post and off, separately from Wyoming law. A positive urinalysis is serious but contestable: the chain of custody, the testing process and innocent ingestion can all be challenged, and the government must prove the use was knowing and wrongful.

BAH and allowance cases. An overpayment is a debt, not a crime. To convict under Article 121 (larceny) or Article 124 (frauds against the United States), the government must prove intent, and that is where many BAH cases fall apart once the paperwork history is reconstructed.

If you are under investigation at F.E. Warren AFB, talk to a military defense lawyer before you make any statement. Call Gonzalez & Waddington at 1-800-921-8607.

Working Alongside Detailed Military Defense Counsel

A service member facing court-martial generally has the right to detailed military defense counsel. Civilian counsel does not replace that lawyer. Civilian counsel works alongside them.

At Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, civilian counsel may need to review evidence from many sources, including OSI reports, Security Forces records, Colorado Springs police reports, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office records, Colorado State Patrol records, El Paso County filings, Teller County records, body-camera footage, 911 calls, phone extractions, workplace messages, Teams messages, command emails, gate records, badge records, access logs, travel records, communications records, mission records, medical records, hotel records, rideshare data, social media, protective order filings, urinalysis documents, clearance paperwork, and adverse administrative files.

Gonzalez & Waddington is a civilian military defense firm focused on military criminal defense and UCMJ litigation. We represent members of every branch, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force, Reserve, and National Guard. The firm defends courts-martial, Article 120/120b/120c cases, Article 128 and 128b assault and domestic violence cases, CSAM and online sting cases, investigations, Article 15/NJP actions, Boards of Inquiry, administrative separations, GOMOR and letter of reprimand rebuttals, clearance matters, and serious felony-level military cases.

Quick Answer: Military Defense Lawyers for Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station

Service members at Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station can face military consequences from on-base allegations and off-base incidents in Colorado Springs, Fountain, Manitou Springs, Monument, Pueblo, El Paso County, and the Front Range.

A civilian military defense lawyer can work alongside detailed military counsel in:

Courts-martial and Article 32 hearings
Article 120 sexual assault cases
Article 15 actions and letters of reprimand
Administrative discharge boards and Boards of Inquiry
Classified-information, cyber, access, travel-card, and command investigations

Because Cheyenne Mountain supports NORAD and USNORTHCOM alternate command center functions, missile warning, aerospace warning, secure facility operations, communications, cyber, joint-service work, allied personnel, and restricted-access missions, defense strategy should account for classified duties, badge records, access logs, local Colorado police evidence, digital evidence, clearance risk, command pressure, and long-term career consequences.

Video transcript

Transcript of the video “Fort Carson Civilian Military Defense Lawyer | CID, OSI & Colorado Springs UCMJ Defense,” with Alexandra González-Waddington of Gonzalez & Waddington.

Read the full transcript of this video

If you’re stationed at Fort Carson, or you’re serving at Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever, the Air Force Academy, or elsewhere in Colorado Springs, and you’ve just learned that you’re under investigation, facing military charges, or being threatened with administrative action, this video is for you. I’m Alexandra González-Waddington, a civilian military defense lawyer and co-founder of Gonzalez & Waddington, also known as UCMJ Defense Lawyers. My partner, Michael Waddington, and I have defended soldiers, airmen, guardians, officers, senior NCOs, and special operations personnel in serious military cases for more than 20 years. Here’s the short answer. Don’t make a statement to CID, OSI, police, or your chain of command before you talk to a lawyer.

Don’t consent to searches. Preserve evidence. Follow any protective order. And get counsel early. In this video, I’ll cover the basics, the community, how cases are handled here, and what to do first.

Why is Colorado Springs different from almost any other military town? Fort Carson began as Camp Carson in 1942, named for the frontier scout Kit Carson. It became Fort Carson in 1954. The post stretches south from Colorado Springs across El Paso, Pueblo, and Fremont counties, and the Army also trains at the Pinion Canyon Maneuver Site in southeastern Colorado. Today, Carson is home to the 4th Infantry Division, which moved its headquarters here from Fort Hood around 2009, and to the 10th Special Forces Group, which arrived in the mid-1990s.

There’s also a Security Force Assistance Brigade, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, and a large medical and sustainment presence. Then, there’s everything else. Peterson Space Force Base hosts the headquarters of NORAD and US Northern Command. Schriever Space Force Base, east of the city, runs GPS and other satellite operations. Cheyenne Mountain is just southwest of town, and the Air Force Academy, founded in 1954, sits on the north side.

That matters for your case. Within one metro area, you have Army, Air Force, Space Force, cadets, and special operations personnel, many holding high-level clearances. One allegation can involve several agencies, and the collateral damage to a clearance or a space operations career can be as serious as the charge. Where do service members here actually live and go out? Fountain and Security Widefield sit right outside Fort Carson’s southern gates.

Downtown Colorado Springs, especially the bars along Tejon Street, is the main nightlife. People go up to Manitou Springs, south on Interstate 25 to Pueblo, north to Denver, out to the casinos in Creek, or into the mountains on ski weekends. Off post, you may be dealing with the Colorado Springs Police Department, the El Paso County Sheriff, Fountain Police, or Colorado State Patrol. State criminal cases in El Paso and Teller counties are prosecuted by the Fourth Judicial District Attorney. A few Colorado rules matter.

Colorado can charge driving while ability impaired at a blood alcohol level well below 0. 08. Colorado is a mandatory arrest state for domestic violence when police find probable cause, and a protection order typically follows automatically. That means a 10-minute argument can become an arrest, a no-contact order, and a military investigation before Monday morning. And then, there’s marijuana.

Colorado law permits marijuana use by civilians in circumstances where federal law and military regulations do not. If you’re serving in the military, Colorado legalization does not give you permission. Article 112 Alpha, federal law, and Department of Defense drug policy still apply. Who investigates and prosecutes cases here? At Fort Carson, serious allegations go to Army CID, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.

At Peterson, Schriever, and the Academy, airmen, guardians, and cadets are investigated by Air Force OSI, the Office of Special Investigations, which handles both Air Force and Space Force cases. Lesser matters may go to military police, security forces, or a command investigation. For most Fort Carson soldiers, the commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division is the general court-martial convening authority. 10th Special Forces Group soldiers may fall under the Special Operations chain. Air Force and Space Force cases go through their own senior commanders.

And Academy cases typically go through the superintendent. For covered offenses, including Article 120 sexual assault, Article 128 Bravo domestic violence, and child pornography, the Office of Special Trial Counsel, not your commander, decides whether charges are preferred and referred. That’s been the law since December 27th, 2023. Before a general court-martial, there’s an Article 32 preliminary hearing, unless you waive it. And for offenses after December 2023, the military judge decides the sentence in most cases.

What kinds of cases come out of Fort Carson and the Springs? First, drug cases under Article 112 Alpha, especially positive urinalysis. A soldier eats an edible at a friend’s house in Manitou Springs, or buys a CBD product at a store, and assumes it’s fine. It isn’t. DOD bans hemp and CBD products regardless of the label.

Colorado’s natural medicine law has brought psilocybin mushrooms into the picture, too. They’re still prohibited for service members, and military drug testing has expanded to look for them. Second, Article 120, sexual assault allegations. Usually after a night downtown or a party off post, where alcohol and capacity to consent are the central issues. At the academy, these cases can overlap with cadet discipline and the honor system.

Third, Article 128 Bravo, domestic violence. Often beginning with a mandatory arrest in Fountain or Colorado Springs. A qualifying conviction can trigger the federal firearms ban under the Lautenberg Amendment. Fourth, drunk driving under Article 113. Often on Interstate 25 or coming back from the mountains.

And fifth, for space operations and special operations personnel, false official statements, mishandling classified information, and clearance cases. Those may never go to trial, but they can end a career just as surely. Here’s a fictional composite example, not an actual client case. Imagine a Fort Carson soldier accused under Article 120 following a night out in downtown Colorado Springs. The soldier and the complaining witness knew one another and had exchanged messages earlier in the evening.

Alcohol was involved. The complaining witness later alleged that she did not consent. The soldier denied committing sexual assault. In a case like that, the defense should not wait until trial to investigate. Relevant evidence may include bar surveillance, texts, photographs, rideshare records, receipts, witnesses who saw the parties together, communications afterward, location information, and any changes in the allegation over time.

Those details matter because an Article 120 case often comes down to reconstructing what happened during a short period of time. If you’re under investigation at Fort Carson or anywhere in Colorado Springs, here’s where I would start. Number one, don’t give CID, OSI, Colorado Springs police, or your chain of command a statement before getting legal advice. Article 31 rights apply when your commander or first sergeant questions you as a suspect, not just investigators. Number two, don’t voluntarily consent to a search of your phone, vehicle, room, or accounts simply because you’re asked.

If authorities have lawful authorization, don’t interfere. But, you don’t have to volunteer consent. Number three, if the case involves a urinalysis, your lawyer should obtain the testing and collection records. Collection procedures, lab documentation, chain of custody, cutoff levels, innocent ingestion, and medications can all matter. Number four, preserve evidence.

Don’t delete messages. Tell your lawyer exactly what products, medications, supplements, or CBD you used, if any. Number five, if you’ve been issued a military protective order or a Colorado protection order, follow it exactly. Don’t contact the other person directly or through friends. Number six, tell your attorney immediately about any flag, suspension, or security clearance action.

Those move independently of the criminal case. What if your case never goes to court-martial? Many cases here end administratively, and the consequences can still be severe. Soldiers can receive a general officer memorandum of reprimand. Airmen and guardians can receive a letter of reprimand and an unfavorable information file.

Cadets can face disenrollment from the academy. Non-judicial punishment under Article 15 can be refused in favor of court-martial, but that decision requires careful advice. Administrative separation boards decide by a preponderance of the evidence, a much lower standard than trial. Enlisted members generally get a board with six or more years of service or when an other than honorable discharge is possible. Officers face a board of inquiry and clearance revocation can end a space or special operations career on its own.

If you’re under investigation in Colorado Springs, you can contact Gonzalez & Waddington and speak with me, Alexandra González-Waddington, or my partner, Michael Waddington, before you make a statement. Whether it’s a positive urinalysis, an Article 120 allegation from downtown, a domestic arrest in Fountain, or a clearance case at Peterson or Schriever, what you do first in Colorado Springs matters. I’m civilian military defense lawyer Alexandra González-Waddington with Gonzalez & Waddington. My law partner is Michael Waddington. We defend soldiers, airmen, and Guardians at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs and worldwide.

You can learn more at ucmjdefense.com or call 1-800-921-8607 for a free confidential consultation.

As a retired military officer, I know how serious the military justice system is and how much is at stake when a service member faces false allegations. When my brother-in-law found himself in that position, our family knew we needed an attorney with extensive experience in military law.

— L A. ★★★★★ Google review · More client reviews

Prior results and client testimonials do not guarantee a similar outcome, and you may not obtain the same or similar results. Every case is different. No client was paid for a review.

Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station Military Defense FAQ

Can a DUI in Colorado Springs, Fountain, Manitou Springs, or El Paso County affect my Space Force career?

Yes. A DUI or alcohol-related incident in Colorado Springs, Fountain, Manitou Springs, Monument, Pueblo, El Paso County, or another Colorado community can trigger civilian court proceedings and military consequences. The command may consider a letter of reprimand, Article 15, discharge processing, clearance review, access suspension, driving restrictions, UIF, or control roster action while the civilian case is still pending.

Can a hotel, apartment, nightlife, workplace, or dating-app allegation become an Article 120 case?

Yes. An off-base or on-base allegation can become a military sexual assault investigation if the accused is subject to the UCMJ. Hotels, apartments, short-term rentals, parties, dating apps, workplace messages, rideshares, text messages, social media, civilian witnesses, delayed reports, and phone extractions may all become central evidence in an Article 120 case.

Do Cheyenne Mountain service members need civilian military defense counsel if they already have military counsel?

They may. Detailed military counsel can be an important part of the defense team. Civilian counsel can add independent investigation, family communication, digital evidence review, witness preparation, cross-examination strategy, and continuity outside the command structure.

Can Cheyenne Mountain commanders take action before civilian charges are resolved?

Yes. The command may act before a civilian case is complete. A service member may face a no-contact order, letter of reprimand, Article 15, clearance review, discharge processing, duty restriction, access suspension, or removal from sensitive duties while the civilian process is still pending.

Can classified-information, cyber, access, or clearance issues become UCMJ cases at Cheyenne Mountain?

Yes. Government systems, access logs, badge records, communications records, classified information, false statements, cyber records, mission partner records, and security records can become UCMJ issues. The defense must determine whether the matter is criminal misconduct, negligence, documentation error, policy confusion, system error, or miscommunication.

Can a Cheyenne Mountain service member face administrative discharge even if civilian charges are dismissed?

Yes. The Space Force or Air Force may pursue a letter of reprimand, Article 15, discharge, Board of Inquiry, clearance review, or other career action even if civilian charges are dismissed, reduced, or unresolved. Administrative decisions often focus on retention, judgment, trustworthiness, mission reliability, and service suitability.

Why do security clearance and access issues matter at Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station?

Cheyenne Mountain supports NORAD and USNORTHCOM alternate command center operations, secure facility work, cyber, communications, joint-service missions, and other sensitive defense functions. Allegations involving drugs, alcohol, violence, dishonesty, foreign contacts, financial problems, digital misconduct, or misuse of government systems can raise clearance and access concerns. Those concerns may move through command channels even when a criminal case is weak.

Can a Colorado Springs nightlife or hotel incident become a military case?

Yes. A civilian arrest, bar fight, hotel allegation, DUI, disorderly conduct report, drug allegation, or sexual misconduct allegation in Colorado Springs or the Front Range can be reported to command. The military may then open its own investigation or impose administrative action even while the civilian case is still pending.

OSI wants to interview me at F.E. Warren AFB. Do I have to talk to them?

No. Article 31(b) of the UCMJ requires investigators to tell you what you are suspected of and that you have the right to remain silent, and you can ask for a lawyer before answering anything. An interview is evidence collection, and OSI can title you as a subject on a low "credible information" standard that can follow you into background and clearance checks even if the case is dropped. Politely decline, ask for counsel, and call a military defense lawyer before you say anything.

Why Choose Gonzalez & Waddington for Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station Military Defense

Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC is a civilian military defense firm representing service members worldwide. The firm is led by Michael Waddington and Alexandra González-Waddington, a husband-and-wife defense team focused on military criminal defense, court-martial litigation, UCMJ investigations, separation boards, Boards of Inquiry, GOMOR and letter of reprimand rebuttals, Article 15/NJP matters, sexual assault defense, violent offense defense, and cyber and digital-evidence cases.

Michael Waddington

Michael Waddington is a former Army officer and former Army JAG. He served as an Army Trial Defense Counsel, Senior Defense Counsel, Army prosecutor, Special Assistant United States Attorney, and Chief of Military Justice. He has more than 25 years of military defense experience. He is licensed in Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and South Carolina. He is admitted to all U.S. military trial courts worldwide.

Alexandra González-Waddington

Alexandra González-Waddington is a founding partner, former public defender, and experienced military defense lawyer licensed in Florida and Georgia. She is admitted to all U.S. military trial courts worldwide. She has defended service members in sexual assault, violent crime, war crimes, murder, classified-information, domestic violence, and white-collar cases. She co-tries the firm’s cases with Michael Waddington and is bilingual in English and Spanish.

The firm’s attorneys have defended service members in the United States, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Guam, the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other deployed environments. For Cheyenne Mountain service members facing allegations involving OSI investigations, local Colorado civilian evidence, digital records, command pressure, secure facility records, mission partner records, communications systems, travel records, government systems, classified duties, clearance concerns, or serious UCMJ charges, that trial-focused background matters.

Talk to a Civilian Military Defense Lawyer Serving Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station

If you are stationed at Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station and are under investigation or facing command action, get legal guidance before making statements or submitting paperwork that may be used against you later. This includes situations where you are:

Facing OSI or command questioning
Accused of Article 120 sexual assault
Dealing with a DUI or civilian arrest
Receiving an Article 15 or fighting a letter of reprimand
Preparing for an administrative discharge board or Board of Inquiry
Worried about access, secure facility duties, cyber duties, communications duties, headquarters staff work, travel-card issues, classified duties, mission partner work, or future assignments

Gonzalez & Waddington defends service members in serious military cases worldwide. The firm can work alongside detailed military counsel, review the evidence, preserve favorable information, prepare for command decisions, and build a strategy that accounts for the military case, Cheyenne Mountain’s secure facility environment, Colorado civilian courts, local police evidence, workplace records, digital evidence, access issues, clearance issues, allied witness issues, and long-term consequences to your rank, clearance, retirement, and future.

Call Gonzalez & Waddington at 1-800-921-8607 or text 954-799-4019 to request a confidential consultation. No attorney can guarantee a result. The goal is to intervene early, protect your rights, and help you make informed decisions before the command or prosecution theory hardens.

Helpful Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station & Colorado Legal Resources

Aggressive Criminal Defense Lawyers

This video explains what your rights are and how experienced criminal defense lawyers can make a difference.

Facing a military investigation, UCMJ allegation, or serious criminal charge? Gonzalez & Waddington provides trial-focused defense for high-stakes cases. Call 1-800-921-8607 or text 954-799-4019 for a confidential, no-cost consultation.