Former Army JAG and Senior Defense Counsel 25+ years defending service members Courts-martial defense worldwide
Reviewed by Michael Waddington, Founding Partner Updated October 8, 2026
Gonzalez & Waddington defends Michigan Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Reserve, and Coast Guard service members facing UCMJ investigations, court-martial proceedings, and adverse administrative actions at installations across Michigan, including Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Camp Grayling, and Battle Creek.
Attorneys Michael Waddington and Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington are civilian defense counsel who fight investigators and commands on behalf of service members throughout Michigan and worldwide. Because Michigan’s military presence spans National Guard, Reserve, and Coast Guard components, cases draw on CID, OSI, CGIS, and civilian law enforcement simultaneously — and the firm is prepared for all of them.
Michigan cases frequently involve off-post conduct in communities surrounding Selfridge near Harrison Township, Camp Grayling near Grayling, and Coast Guard stations from Detroit to Sault Ste. Marie. Charges include Article 120 sexual assault, Article 128 assault and domestic violence, drug offenses, false official statements, financial misconduct, and security clearance violations — often with civilian police reports and multi-agency investigations.
Contact Gonzalez & Waddington at 1-800-921-8607 for a free, confidential consultation.
If you are searching for a Michigan military defense lawyer or a court-martial attorney in Michigan, you are likely dealing with a serious military justice issue. Michigan hosts significant National Guard, Air National Guard, Coast Guard, Reserve, and military training operations throughout the state. Service members assigned to Michigan units remain subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) when serving on federal active-duty orders and may face investigations that rapidly escalate from command inquiry to court-martial proceedings.
Gonzalez & Waddington represents service members stationed throughout Michigan and worldwide who face felony-level military charges, command investigations, adverse administrative actions, and contested courts-martial. The firm focuses exclusively on military criminal defense. Early representation allows defense counsel to protect constitutional rights, preserve favorable evidence, challenge investigative assumptions, and develop a trial strategy before command decisions become final.
Michigan’s military footprint differs from many states because it combines large National Guard operations, major aviation units, Coast Guard missions across the Great Lakes, cyber operations, reserve commands, and one of the nation’s largest military training centers.
Military personnel in Michigan operate throughout:
Because many Michigan service members serve in National Guard and Reserve units, investigations often involve a combination of military authorities, civilian law enforcement agencies, state authorities, and federal investigators.
Military personnel assigned to Michigan units frequently face investigations involving:
Camp Grayling is one of the most important military training facilities in the United States. Thousands of service members from across the Army, National Guard, Air National Guard, and allied nations train there each year.
Because of its size and operational tempo, investigations frequently arise from:
Many investigations involve large numbers of witnesses and significant documentary evidence collected during exercises.
Located near Detroit, Selfridge Air National Guard Base supports multiple aviation and intelligence missions. The installation hosts Air National Guard, Coast Guard, Reserve, and active-duty personnel.
Cases originating at Selfridge often involve:
Michigan’s location along four Great Lakes creates one of the largest Coast Guard operational footprints in the country. Coast Guard personnel stationed in Detroit, Sault Ste. Marie, Grand Haven, Traverse City, and other locations remain subject to the UCMJ.
Common Coast Guard investigations involve:
The following examples are entirely fictional and are provided solely to illustrate common Michigan military fact patterns.
Many military justice cases arise off base in communities where service members live, socialize, and work.
Common locations include:
These cases often involve civilian police reports, surveillance footage, cell phone evidence, social media communications, and civilian witnesses.
Michigan has one of the largest National Guard footprints in the country. Many service members face legal issues involving:
These matters often require a defense strategy that addresses both criminal and career consequences.
Military investigations frequently begin weeks or months before formal charges are preferred. During that period investigators often interview witnesses, seize electronic devices, collect records, and develop a prosecution theory.
Early intervention may allow defense counsel to:
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.
