Ellsworth Air Force Base Military Defense Counsel in South Dakota
Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC, through Michael Waddington and Alexandra González-Waddington, serves as civilian military defense counsel for Airmen and other service members associated with Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. The firm represents service members worldwide in UCMJ investigations, court-martial defense, and administrative representation. For those stationed at, assigned to, or connected with Ellsworth AFB, civilian counsel can help evaluate the allegation, evidence, and command process without suggesting a verified local office or prior local case history.
A strategic Air Force installation near Rapid City
Ellsworth Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation in western South Dakota, near the Black Hills, about 10 miles east of Rapid City and adjacent to Box Elder. That geographic setting matters for military defense intake because a service member’s legal problem may arise on the installation, during duty connected to an Air Force unit, or in the civilian communities where Ellsworth personnel live, travel, and interact off duty. The location is not simply a mailing address; it helps frame potential witnesses, records, timelines, travel, and the practical pressures surrounding a military allegation.
Official sources identify Ellsworth as home to the 28th Bomb Wing. The wing is assigned to Eighth Air Force under Air Force Global Strike Command, giving the base a distinctive bomber mission environment. Those facts do not change the burden in a UCMJ case, and they do not prove anything about an individual allegation. They can, however, affect what records may exist, which units may have information, and how command decision-makers think about reliability, access, readiness, and professional judgment.
Mission context: B-1 operations, MQ-9 support and the B-21 transition
The 28th Bomb Wing is described by official sources as a B-1 bomber organization with a long-range strike mission, and Ellsworth is identified as one of two B-1 main operating bases. The installation also supports MQ-9 Reaper missions through the 89th Attack Squadron as a tenant unit. In 2021, the Air Force selected Ellsworth AFB as the first B-21 Raider main operating base and the location for the Formal Training Unit, adding a major future bomber role to its existing mission.
For a service member facing a UCMJ investigation or court-martial risk, this mission context should be handled carefully. A defense review may need to distinguish mission-sensitive facts from speculation, separate administrative concerns from proof of misconduct, and account for the possibility that duty schedules, access records, digital communications, training records, or workplace witnesses could become relevant. The point is not to assume guilt or innocence from the mission. The point is to identify what evidence actually exists and what it does, or does not, show.
How the local South Dakota setting can shape the evidence
Ellsworth’s position near Rapid City, Box Elder, and the Black Hills means that some matters involving Ellsworth personnel may have both military and civilian evidence components. An allegation may begin with a command report, a workplace issue, a social interaction, a family dispute, an off-base incident, or a civilian record that later becomes important to the military process. A polished defense strategy should avoid assumptions at the start. It should sort confirmed facts from rumor, preserve favorable material where possible, and review the timing, context, and reliability of each source of information.
This is especially important when an investigation is still developing. Service members may feel pressure to explain everything immediately, respond informally, or submit paperwork before they understand the theory of the case. Civilian military defense counsel can help assess what stage the matter is in, what rights and choices may be implicated, and how to approach communications with the command or investigators in a measured way.
Speak with civilian military defense counsel serving Ellsworth AFB
Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC represents service members worldwide in serious military legal matters. For Airmen and other service members connected to Ellsworth Air Force Base, Michael Waddington and Alexandra González-Waddington can provide civilian military defense representation for UCMJ investigations, court-martial defense, and administrative matters without claiming a base office or verified local case history. The goal at the opening stage is clarity: what is alleged, what evidence exists, what process is underway, and what decisions must be made before the matter hardens.
If you are associated with Ellsworth Air Force Base and need to discuss a military investigation, court-martial exposure, or administrative action, contact Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC to request a confidential consultation at 1-800-921-8607.
Ellsworth Air Force Base South Dakota | Military Legal Guide
Ellsworth Air Force Base is a major Air Force Global Strike Command bomber installation in western South Dakota. It is located near Box Elder, Rapid City, Pennington County, Meade County, Black Hawk, Sturgis, Spearfish, the Black Hills, I-90, Mount Rushmore, and the broader western South Dakota region.
Airmen and service members stationed at Ellsworth AFB may face UCMJ investigations arising from:
- 28th Bomb Wing operations
- B-1B Lancer long-range strike missions
- Air Force Global Strike Command and Eighth Air Force mission requirements
- B-21 Raider transition, construction, and future bomber mission growth
- 89th Attack Squadron MQ-9 Reaper tenant operations
- Maintenance, munitions, security forces, intelligence, logistics, medical, cyber, and mission support duties
- Off-base incidents in Box Elder, Rapid City, Sturgis, Black Hawk, Spearfish, and Pennington County
- DUI stops, domestic calls, hotel allegations, dating-app encounters, civilian arrests, digital evidence, and South Dakota law enforcement contact
Civilian Court-Martial Attorneys for Ellsworth AFB Airmen
Gonzalez & Waddington defends service members stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in serious UCMJ matters. We handle courts-martial, Article 15 actions, letters of reprimand rebuttals, administrative discharge boards, Boards of Inquiry, and security clearance matters.
An allegation can threaten your career before charges are preferred. This applies to Airmen, officers, NCOs, enlisted members, B-1B aircrew, maintainers, munitions personnel, security forces members, intelligence professionals, cyber personnel, logistics personnel, medical personnel, and service members assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing or tenant organizations. Affected mission areas may include:
- 28th Bomb Wing
- 28th Operations Group
- 28th Maintenance Group
- 28th Mission Support Group
- 28th Medical Group
- B-1B Lancer bomber operations
- B-21 Raider beddown and future bomber operations
- 89th Attack Squadron MQ-9 Reaper operations
Ellsworth AFB is different from a routine Air Force installation. It is a strategic bomber base tied to long-range strike, global deterrence, weapons systems, munitions, classified or sensitive duties, operational security, aircraft maintenance, and major transition planning for the B-21 Raider.
That changes the shape of a case. An Ellsworth matter may involve OSI, Security Forces, command witnesses, Rapid City police reports, Pennington County court records, body-camera footage, 911 calls, gate records, flight schedules, munitions records, maintenance documentation, phone extractions, social media, hotel records, rideshare data, clearance paperwork, and command concerns tied to bomber readiness and mission reliability.
If you are accused of Article 120 sexual assault or any other UCMJ offense at or near Ellsworth Air Force Base, 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, weapons misconduct, child exploitation, online misconduct, misuse of government systems, aviation misconduct, and classified-information concerns.
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 Airmen at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
Ellsworth Air Force Base is home to the 28th Bomb Wing. The Air Force fact sheet identifies the 28th Bomb Wing as an Air Force Global Strike Command wing located at Ellsworth AFB and as one of two bases responsible for operation and maintenance of the B-1B Lancer. See the 28th Bomb Wing fact sheet.
The official Ellsworth units page states that the 28th Bomb Wing is assigned to Eighth Air Force under Air Force Global Strike Command. It also states that the wing is home to 27 B-1B Lancers and that the 89th Attack Squadron is a tenant unit assigned to Air Combat Command. See the Ellsworth AFB Units page.
That mission matters in defense cases. Ellsworth personnel often work in high-trust environments involving long-range strike, bomber readiness, maintenance documentation, munitions accountability, weapons safety, classified or sensitive information, flight-line access, and operational security. A case that begins as a local police report, dorm complaint, domestic call, hotel allegation, DUI stop, phone message, or command inquiry can quickly become a career-threatening matter involving OSI, command leadership, legal offices, clearance managers, and administrative decision-makers.
An Ellsworth AFB military defense lawyer must understand more than the basic court-martial process. The defense must account for the base’s bomber mission, the local Rapid City and Box Elder setting, military-civilian evidence, flight and maintenance records, digital evidence, munitions issues, B-21 transition pressures, 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.
Ellsworth AFB, the 28th Bomb Wing, B-1B Lancer & B-21 Transition
The 28th Bomb Wing is a core long-range strike organization. Ellsworth’s official site describes current news involving the 28th Bomb Wing’s long-range strike mission and the base’s ongoing role in the future bomber force. See the Ellsworth Air Force Base Official Website.
Ellsworth is also central to the Air Force’s B-21 Raider future. The base has been identified as the first main operating base for the B-21 Raider. That transition can affect the command environment. Construction, runway work, mission growth, new facilities, additional personnel, security requirements, and changing operational demands can increase scrutiny on discipline, reliability, access, and readiness.
This mission environment affects military justice strategy. A misconduct allegation may occur in a bomber community where witnesses know each other, units work long hours, and mistakes can be framed as readiness, security, or reliability problems. Cases may involve operational stress, alcohol use, family pressure, deployment tempo, maintenance documentation, munitions accountability, access records, or sensitive mission duties.
For Airmen at Ellsworth, allegations involving dishonesty, drugs, alcohol misuse, domestic violence, sexual misconduct, weapons issues, classified information, digital misconduct, or poor judgment can trigger immediate concerns about trust, reliability, mission access, deployment status, and clearance eligibility.
Rapid City, Box Elder, Sturgis, Spearfish & the Local South Dakota Setting
Ellsworth AFB is located near Box Elder and Rapid City in western South Dakota. Military OneSource notes that the Rapid City and Box Elder areas are growing and that new housing is being built as the community responds to housing demand. See the Military OneSource Ellsworth AFB Overview.
This local setting matters because many Ellsworth legal problems begin off base. Airmen may live in Box Elder, Rapid City, Black Hawk, Summerset, Sturgis, Spearfish, or nearby rural areas. They may drive I-90, attend local bars or restaurants, stay in hotels, travel to the Black Hills, attend the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, or interact with Rapid City police, Pennington County law enforcement, Meade County law enforcement, or South Dakota Highway Patrol.
Local allegations may arise from:
- DUI stops in Rapid City, Box Elder, Sturgis, Spearfish, or along I-90
- Domestic calls in off-base housing
- Hotel, apartment, dorm, barracks, or dating-app allegations
- Bar, restaurant, casino, parking lot, rally, or party incidents
- Traffic accidents involving rural roads, winter weather, or motorcycles
- Weapons, hunting, firearm, or alcohol-related incidents
- Drug, prescription, or urinalysis issues
- Texts, social media, phone extractions, and digital evidence
For defense purposes, local evidence matters. Body-camera footage, 911 calls, dash-camera video, booking records, hotel records, restaurant receipts, bar tabs, phone location data, texts, photographs, medical records, weather 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.
South Dakota Civilian Courts, Federal Court & Military Consequences Near Ellsworth AFB
A service member at Ellsworth AFB 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, 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 Ellsworth AFB may involve the South Dakota Unified Judicial System in Pennington County, Meade County, municipal courts, traffic proceedings, protective order proceedings, or other local court systems depending on where the incident occurred. The South Dakota Unified Judicial System lists Pennington County court information in Rapid City. See the Pennington County Court.
Federal jurisdiction may also matter in some Ellsworth-related cases. The U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota handles federal matters in South Dakota. See the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota. Most Ellsworth discipline still moves through the UCMJ and the chain of command, but some cases may involve federal property, firearms issues, cyber evidence, fraud allegations, child exploitation allegations, classified information, or overlapping civilian and military exposure.
The key point for an Airman 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 Bomber, Maintenance, Munitions, Security & B-21 Transition Personnel
Ellsworth AFB cases often involve the unique pressures of strategic bomber operations and the coming B-21 mission. Service members may work in sensitive areas, handle weapons or munitions, maintain bomber aircraft, support classified or controlled systems, or work in mission environments where documentation and reliability matter.
Bomber and mission-related cases may involve:
- Flight schedules, training records, and sortie generation documents
- B-1B maintenance records, aircraft forms, tool control, and safety reporting
- Munitions accountability, weapons handling, and range procedures
- Security Forces reports, gate logs, restricted-area access, and patrol records
- Classified or sensitive information and clearance reporting
- False official statement allegations during safety, security, maintenance, or mission inquiries
- Government computer use, messaging systems, phone extractions, and digital records
- Construction, transition, access, and mission-growth issues tied to the B-21 Raider beddown
A weak allegation can still create immediate consequences. An Airman may lose access, be removed from flight-line duties, be restricted from weapons, be taken off a deployment schedule, face a clearance review, receive a no-contact order, be placed under investigation, or be processed for separation before the full evidence is reviewed.
How Local Ellsworth AFB 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 an Airman or service member stationed at Ellsworth AFB is accused of misconduct.
- Rapid City or Box Elder DUI: An Airman leaves a restaurant, bar, casino, dorm event, unit gathering, or Black Hills event and is stopped by civilian police. The civilian case may trigger a letter of reprimand, Article 15, driving restrictions, UIF, control roster action, clearance review, or discharge processing.
- Hotel or dating-app allegation: A hotel stay, off-base apartment visit, dating-app encounter, rally weekend, or social event leads to an Article 120 sexual assault or abusive sexual contact allegation involving text messages, phone location data, hotel records, rideshare data, and competing accounts.
- Off-base domestic call: A family argument in Rapid City, Box Elder, Black Hawk, Sturgis, Spearfish, or rural Pennington County 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.
- B-1B maintenance or munitions issue: A maintainer, supervisor, weapons Airman, or crew member is accused of falsifying records, failing to follow technical guidance, mishandling equipment, violating safety procedures, or making a false statement during a safety-sensitive inquiry.
- Security or access allegation: A service member is accused of mishandling information, violating restricted-area rules, making a false statement, misusing a government system, or engaging in conduct that raises clearance concerns.
- Drug or urinalysis case: A member faces a positive urinalysis, prescription issue, suspected distribution allegation, vehicle search, dorm search, or phone messages suggesting drug use.
- Weapons or hunting-related incident: A firearm, hunting trip, off-base weapons complaint, negligent discharge allegation, or alcohol-related weapons issue becomes both a civilian and military concern.
- Digital evidence case: The government relies on Snapchat, Instagram, 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 Ellsworth Air Force Base
Ellsworth AFB 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, control roster actions, and other adverse administrative paperwork. The issue may begin with OSI, Security Forces, local police, South Dakota Highway Patrol, a commander’s inquiry, a SAPR report, a dormitory complaint, a spouse allegation, a civilian protective order, a positive urinalysis, or an allegation from another member, civilian, family member, hotel witness, contractor, coworker, or dating partner.
Article 120 Sexual Assault & Abusive Sexual Contact
These allegations may involve dorm rooms, off-base apartments, hotels, parties, unit social events, rally weekends, alcohol, dating apps, delayed reports, text messages, social media, phone extractions, rideshare records, hotel security records, or civilian witnesses from Rapid City, Box Elder, Sturgis, Spearfish, Black Hawk, or visiting military units. Cases often turn on consent, credibility, intoxication, timing, witness contamination, digital evidence, and command assumptions.
Domestic Violence & Assault
These cases may involve South Dakota 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 dorm, hotel, rally, or weapons event may lead to investigation, adverse paperwork, or separation. For members in bomber operations, maintenance, munitions, security forces, intelligence, cyber, command, 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, TDY claims, BAH questions, hotel records, aircraft maintenance documentation, munitions records, government computers, digital messages, access logs, classified systems, 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.
What to Know If OSI Contacts You at Ellsworth AFB
OSI wants to talk to you. An interview request from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) at Ellsworth AFB is evidence collection, not a chance to clear things up. 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 before they question you, and you can ask for a lawyer before answering anything. Exercising those rights cannot be used as evidence against you.
Being titled is not the same as being charged. Investigators can title a service member and index the name in the Defense Central Index of Investigations on only "credible information." The case may go nowhere, yet the entry can resurface years later in background investigations and clearance reviews, so how the investigation is handled from the start matters.
Your commander may not be the one deciding. Covered offenses such as sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, kidnapping, murder, child pornography and (since 2025) sexual harassment are now controlled by an independent Office of Special Trial Counsel, which decides whether charges are preferred and referred. Other allegations at Ellsworth AFB still go through the chain of command.
Domestic violence allegations. Article 128b covers violence against a spouse, intimate partner or family member, and an allegation of strangulation or suffocation can be charged as aggravated assault even without a visible injury. A qualifying conviction can also trigger the federal firearms ban under the Lautenberg Amendment, which can end a career that requires carrying a weapon.
Drug allegations. Article 112a of the UCMJ applies to service members at Ellsworth AFB on post and off, separately from South Dakota 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.
Pay and allowance allegations. BAH and other allowance cases are usually charged as larceny under Article 121 or as frauds against the United States under Article 124. An overpayment by itself is not a crime: the government must prove you intended to steal or defraud, and many of these cases begin as paperwork errors.
If you are under investigation at Ellsworth 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 Ellsworth AFB, civilian counsel may need to review evidence from many sources, including OSI reports, Security Forces records, Rapid City police reports, Pennington County filings, Meade County records, body-camera footage, 911 calls, phone extractions, dorm witness statements, training schedules, flight records, maintenance documentation, munitions records, command emails, counseling records, medical records, hotel records, weather records, rideshare data, social media, protective order filings, urinalysis documents, weapons records, 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 — 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 Ellsworth Air Force Base
Service members stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base can face military consequences from both on-base allegations and off-base incidents in Rapid City, Box Elder, Sturgis, Spearfish, Black Hawk, Pennington County, Meade County, and the surrounding western South Dakota region. A civilian military defense lawyer can work alongside detailed military counsel in courts-martial, Article 120 cases, Article 15 matters, letters of reprimand, administrative discharge boards, Boards of Inquiry, clearance matters, and command investigations. Because Ellsworth AFB is home to the 28th Bomb Wing and supports B-1B Lancer operations, Air Force Global Strike Command missions, MQ-9 tenant operations, and B-21 Raider transition planning, defense strategy should account for OSI involvement, command pressure, local South Dakota civilian court exposure, digital evidence, access records, maintenance records, munitions issues, clearance risk, and long-term military career consequences.
Video transcript
Transcript of the video “Ellsworth AFB Court-Martial & Article 120 Defense Lawyers,” with Michael Waddington of Gonzalez & Waddington.
Read the full transcript of this video
My name is Michael Waddington, and I’m a criminal defense attorney. I have been aggressively defending military service members for over 20 years. If you or a loved one are stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, and you’re suspected or accused of any crime under the UCMJ, such as an Article 120 sexual assault or sexual harassment, and your career’s in jeopardy, then reach out and speak with one of our experienced military lawyers today.
If you are accused of any serious offense under the UCMJ, such as a UCMJ Article 120 sexual assault, then you should be concerned. Right now, the military is waging a war on sexual assault. You can expect a zealous and determined prosecution team coming after you and trying to win their case. These elite military prosecution teams are well funded, well trained, and bound and determined to win convictions. They are on a mission to prove to Congress that the military does not tolerate any form of sexual assault, domestic violence, or sexual harassment. Military prosecutors will be relentless in seeking a conviction and serious jail time once they have you in their sights.
To make matters worse, under new laws that went into effect in December of 2023, the new military justice system is victim-centered. What that means to you, if you’re accused, is that if a person makes an allegation against you, they are believed from the start. They won’t probe the credibility of a person making an allegation. They won’t look for any evidence that could disprove the allegation. They’re taking anyone who claims to be a victim, and they’re taking their word for it.
That also means that people who have made false or exaggerated allegations will not be punished, even if their allegation is proven to be false. If anything, they may be allowed to retire and get military benefits for military sexual trauma, even if the allegation is proven false in court. You could expect to encounter law enforcement trained to start by believing. Therefore, you’re presumed to be guilty once the investigation has started, and the law enforcement and prosecutors will act accordingly. Yes, that cuts against your constitutional rights, and that cuts against what our country was founded upon and what we stand for, but that’s what you can expect in the military justice system in this new victim-centered approach.
The victim, even if the victim is a lying victim, plays a key role in determining what happens to you. What could end up happening is, in a case where there’s no evidence, or if you’re in fact innocent, the victim may still insist that you get some sort of punishment. Even if you’re innocent and there is no evidence, do not be surprised that you end up at a court-martial, an administrative separation board, or receiving some sort of negative paperwork, such as a letter of reprimand.
If you are under investigation for any crime under the UCMJ, then you need to stand up and take responsibility for your defense. Don’t become another statistic. Don’t play the victim. Don’t sit back hoping that someone comes to the rescue or that things are going to work out. It’s time to stand up, fight for your freedom, fight for your career, and fight for your reputation.
I highly recommend the law firm of Gonzalez and Waddington if you are ever faced with the need for strong representation. Michael handled my son’s case efficiently and thoroughly. Alexandra was prompt to reply to my concerns and I truly felt as though they cared about my son.
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.
Ellsworth Air Force Base Military Defense FAQ
Can a DUI in Rapid City or Box Elder affect my Air Force career?
Can a hotel, dorm, party, or dating-app allegation become an Article 120 case?
Do Ellsworth AFB Airmen need civilian military defense counsel if they already have military counsel?
Can Ellsworth commanders take action before civilian charges are resolved?
Can B-1B maintenance, weapons, access, or security issues become UCMJ cases at Ellsworth AFB?
Can an Ellsworth AFB service member face administrative discharge even if civilian charges are dismissed?
OSI wants to interview me at Ellsworth 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 Ellsworth Air Force Base 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 Ellsworth AFB Airmen facing allegations involving B-1B operations, B-21 transition issues, maintenance records, munitions, weapons, OSI investigations, local South Dakota civilian evidence, digital records, command pressure, or serious UCMJ charges, that trial-focused background matters.
Talk to a Civilian Military Defense Lawyer Serving Ellsworth Air Force Base
If you are stationed at Ellsworth AFB 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 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 your security clearance, access, flight-line duties, weapons duties, deployment status, or future assignment
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, Ellsworth’s bomber environment, South Dakota civilian courts, local police evidence, B-1B records, B-21 transition issues, digital evidence, access issues, mission pressure, 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 Ellsworth Air Force Base & South Dakota Legal Resources
- Ellsworth Air Force Base Official Website
- Ellsworth AFB Units
- 28th Bomb Wing Fact Sheet
- Military OneSource Ellsworth AFB Overview
- South Dakota Unified Judicial System: Pennington County Court
- South Dakota Unified Judicial System
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota
Related Military Legal Guides
- South Dakota Military Defense Lawyers
- Air Force Military Defense Lawyers
- Global Military Base Directory
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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.