NSB New London Military Defense Lawyers

Naval Submarine Base New London Military Defense Lawyers

Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC serves Sailors and other service members associated with Naval Submarine Base New London as civilian military defense counsel worldwide. Michael Waddington and Alexandra González-Waddington represent military members facing UCMJ investigations, court-martial defense needs, and administrative representation, including command-driven allegations that can affect a career. The firm’s role is not based on a claimed local office or verified local case history; it is civilian defense counsel for service members connected to SUBASE New London who need serious, independent legal guidance.

Military defense in a submarine force environment

Naval Submarine Base New London, commonly styled SUBASE New London, is a U.S. Navy installation centered on submarine force support, training, and fleet readiness. Official Navy sources describe the base as the Navy’s first submarine base and the Home of the Submarine Force. For a service member facing an allegation here, that context matters because the installation is not just a workplace; it is tied to submarine operations, professional qualification, training pipelines, and commands whose missions depend on trust, discipline, and readiness.

The Navy describes the base mission in two related parts: to homeport and put submarines to sea, and to support the Submarine Center of Excellence that trains Sailors to take submarines to sea. That combination of operational and training responsibilities can make a military legal problem feel urgent from the first notification. A UCMJ investigation, court-martial allegation, or administrative action may affect not only the immediate case, but also a member’s standing within a specialized community.

Local facts that define Naval Submarine Base New London

SUBASE New London is located along the east side of the Thames River in southeastern Connecticut and straddles Groton and Ledyard, about six miles north of Long Island Sound. The Navy identifies Groton as the Submarine Capital of the World. Those local details help define the installation’s identity and the population it serves, including submariners, students, instructors, support personnel, and tenant-command personnel connected to the undersea warfare mission.

Official Navy information states that the base occupies more than 680 acres, includes more than 160 major facilities, supports 15 nuclear submarines, and hosts more than 70 tenant commands and activities. Listed tenant commands include Commander, Undersea Warfighting Development Center, the Submarine Learning Center, Naval Submarine School, Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory, and Naval Undersea Medical Institute. Those facts show why a legal issue involving a service member at Naval Submarine Base New London may arise in a setting shaped by training records, technical responsibilities, command expectations, medical or research communities, and submarine-force readiness.

UCMJ investigations, courts-martial, and administrative representation

When a service member at or associated with Naval Submarine Base New London is accused of misconduct, the first steps can be difficult to evaluate without counsel. A matter may begin as a command concern, a law-enforcement inquiry, a workplace complaint, a training-related allegation, or an off-duty incident. From there, the member may face decisions about statements, documents, interviews, administrative responses, and defense strategy before the full record is clear.

Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC provides civilian military defense for service members worldwide, including those connected to Navy installations such as SUBASE New London. Michael Waddington and Alexandra González-Waddington can be contacted by service members seeking representation in UCMJ investigations, court-martial defense, and administrative military matters. The goal at the opening stage is practical: understand the allegation, protect the member’s rights, identify what evidence must be reviewed, and avoid decisions that may later limit the defense.

This introduction is not an exhaustive installation guide and does not assume that every case at Naval Submarine Base New London involves the same facts. The supported local record shows a major Navy submarine installation in Groton and Ledyard, with a substantial operational, training, and tenant-command footprint. A defense approach should respect that setting while staying focused on the individual facts, the evidence, and the specific military process the service member is facing.

If you are a service member associated with Naval Submarine Base New London and are facing a UCMJ investigation, court-martial concern, or administrative military action, contact Gonzalez & Waddington, LLC to discuss representation. Call 1-800-921-8607.

NSB New London Military Defense Lawyers | UCMJ Court-Martial Defense

Naval Submarine Base New London Connecticut | Military Legal Guide

Naval Submarine Base New London is the Navy’s primary East Coast submarine base and one of the most important undersea warfare training and operational installations in the United States. It is located in Groton, Connecticut near New London, Mystic, Waterford, Ledyard, Gales Ferry, Stonington, Norwich, Montville, the Thames River, Long Island Sound, I-95, Route 12, Route 32, Route 184, Groton-New London Airport, Providence, Hartford, Boston, New York City, and the southeastern Connecticut coastal region.

Service members assigned to NSB New London may face UCMJ investigations arising from:

Submarine force training and operational readiness
Naval Submarine School student, instructor, and staff matters
Submarine Learning Center training and curriculum environments
Submarine squadron and submarine crew issues
Naval Submarine Support Facility New London activity
Naval Branch Health Clinic Groton medical issues
Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory and Naval Undersea Medical Institute matters
Navy Information Operations Detachment issues
Submarine duty, watchstanding, engineering spaces, classified systems, undersea warfare, nuclear-trained personnel, and restricted-area access concerns
Off-base incidents in Groton, New London, Mystic, Waterford, Ledyard, Norwich, Stonington, Montville, Westerly, Newport, Providence, and New London County
DUI stops, domestic calls, hotel allegations, dating-app encounters, casino incidents, downtown Mystic incidents, New London nightlife issues, civilian arrests, digital evidence, clearance concerns, access logs, travel records, command records, and Connecticut court matters

Civilian Court-Martial Attorneys for NSB New London Service Members

Gonzalez & Waddington defends service members stationed at Naval Submarine Base New London in serious UCMJ matters. We handle courts-martial, Article 15 actions, NJP matters, letters of reprimand rebuttals, administrative separation boards, Boards of Inquiry, and security clearance matters.

An allegation can threaten your career before charges are preferred. This applies to Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians, Coast Guardsmen, officers, NCOs, enlisted members, submariners, students, instructors, nuclear-trained personnel, engineering personnel, information operations personnel, medical personnel, security personnel, logistics personnel, Reservists, and members assigned to tenant commands at NSB New London.

NSB New London is different from a routine Navy installation. The official SUBASE New London official website identifies the base as the “Home of the Submarine Force” and states that it provides facilities and services to deploy combat-ready submarines and their crews while training professional submariners. The official SUBASE New London About page states that the base occupies more than 680 acres, has more than 160 major facilities, supports 15 nuclear submarines, and has a twofold mission: to homeport and put submarines to sea and to support the Submarine Center of Excellence that trains Sailors to take submarines to sea.

That changes the shape of a case. A New London military matter may involve NCIS, command witnesses, submarine crew records, training records, student records, instructor records, classified access logs, watch bills, duty rosters, barracks records, medical records, Groton Police reports, New London Police reports, Connecticut State Police records, body-camera footage, 911 calls, casino records, hotel records, gate records, phone extractions, social media, command records, and clearance paperwork.

If you are accused of Article 120 sexual assault or any other UCMJ offense at or near Naval Submarine Base New London, 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, training misconduct, submarine duty misconduct, conduct unbecoming, misuse of government systems, travel-card issues, classified-information concerns, cyber misconduct, nuclear-trained personnel reliability concerns, 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 Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut

Naval Submarine Base New London supports the submarine force through operational readiness, training, medical support, undersea research, information operations, and base support. The official SUBASE New London Tenant Commands page lists tenant commands including Naval Submarine School, Submarine Learning Center, Naval Branch Health Clinic, Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory, Naval Undersea Medical Institute, and Navy Information Operations Detachment.

Military OneSource states that the mission of Naval Submarine Base New London is to provide base operations support infrastructure to operating forces of the Navy and other naval organizations and tenants. See the Military OneSource NSB New London overview. The Submarine Learning Center states that it is the only Naval Education and Training Command learning center responsible for officer and enlisted ratings’ individual training and all shore-based warfare mission area training. See the Submarine Learning Center.

That mission matters in defense cases. New London personnel may be students, instructors, submarine crew members, staff officers, nuclear-trained personnel, information operations personnel, medical personnel, researchers, undersea warfare specialists, logisticians, or personnel assigned to tenant commands. A case that begins as a local police report, workplace complaint, training complaint, academic issue, barracks allegation, hotel allegation, DUI stop, domestic call, phone message, computer-use issue, travel-card concern, watchstanding issue, security issue, or command inquiry can quickly become a career-threatening military matter.

An NSB New London military defense lawyer must understand more than the basic court-martial process. The defense must account for submarine duty, student status, training records, watchstanding records, classified access, restricted areas, New London County civilian evidence, Connecticut court exposure, local police records, digital evidence, workplace messages, command emails, government systems, clearance risk, and the speed with which command-driven investigations turn into NJP, Article 15s, letters of reprimand, administrative separation boards, Boards of Inquiry, clearance reviews, or courts-martial.

Submarine School, Submarine Learning Center, Undersea Medicine & Mission-Sensitive Cases

NSB New London is not only a base. It is the center of submarine training and undersea warfare readiness for much of the Navy. Cases may involve students, instructors, submarine crews, staff officers, medical personnel, information operations personnel, and members assigned to sensitive billets.

Cases may involve:

Naval Submarine School academic records, student records, training records, class rosters, and instructor communications
Submarine Learning Center curriculum records, training data, and course records
Submarine crew duty rosters, watch bills, shipboard records, duty logs, and training records
Submarine squadron records and command communications
Naval Submarine Support Facility records involving repair, logistics, support, and maintenance functions
Naval Branch Health Clinic and undersea medicine records
Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory and Naval Undersea Medical Institute records
Navy Information Operations Detachment records involving communications, cyber, access, and classified duties
Security reports, gate logs, visitor logs, patrol records, and base access records
Government emails, Teams messages, learning-management records, text messages, phone records, restricted-area access records, classified duties, clearance paperwork, and command records

Submarine-force cases are often high stakes. Allegations involving dishonesty, alcohol misuse, drug use, domestic violence, sexual misconduct, cyber misconduct, classified information, professional misconduct, false statements, training misconduct, or misuse of systems can trigger immediate concerns about trust, access, nuclear-trained personnel reliability, watchstanding, submarine duty eligibility, clearance eligibility, promotion, retention, deployment, and future assignments.

**Video:** Article 120 Court-Martial Lawyer | Naval Base New London CT (3:28) — watch on YouTube

Groton, New London, Mystic, Norwich & the Local Connecticut Setting

Naval Submarine Base New London sits along the Thames River in Groton. Service members may live in Groton, New London, Mystic, Waterford, Ledyard, Stonington, Norwich, Montville, Preston, East Lyme, Niantic, Westerly, or other communities across southeastern Connecticut and coastal Rhode Island.

The local environment matters. New London personnel may spend time near downtown New London, downtown Mystic, Mystic Seaport, Olde Mistick Village, Groton restaurants, Thames Street corridors, Ocean Beach Park, Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Westerly beaches, Rhode Island beaches, ferry terminals, train stations, hotels, bars, restaurants, marinas, apartments, short-term rentals, and tourist corridors along I-95 and Long Island Sound.

Local allegations may arise from:

DUI stops in Groton, New London, Mystic, Waterford, Ledyard, Norwich, Stonington, Montville, Westerly, New London County, or coastal Rhode Island
Domestic calls in off-base housing, base housing, apartments, hotels, or temporary lodging
Hotel, apartment, short-term rental, barracks, lodging, casino, marina, waterfront, or dating-app allegations
Bar, nightclub, restaurant, casino, hotel, ferry, train station, parking lot, downtown Mystic, downtown New London, or Providence-area incidents
Traffic accidents on I-95, Route 12, Route 32, Route 184, Route 1, the Gold Star Memorial Bridge, or local commuter routes
Drug, prescription, urinalysis, vehicle-search, room-search, barracks-search, or baggage-search issues
Texts, emails, social media, phone extractions, cloud data, location data, rideshare records, casino records, hotel records, and digital evidence
Workplace, student, instructor, training, submarine crew, watchstanding, medical, cyber, information operations, 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, key-card logs, restaurant receipts, bar tabs, casino records, ferry records, train records, airport records, phone location data, texts, rideshare records, photographs, medical records, gate records, access logs, training records, watch bills, shipboard records, 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.

Connecticut Civilian Courts, Federal Court & Military Consequences Near NSB New London

A service member at Naval Submarine Base New London does not need to be convicted in civilian court before military consequences begin. A single civilian incident may trigger a police report, military law enforcement involvement, a command-directed inquiry, a no-contact order, duty suspension, access suspension, adverse paperwork, NJP, Article 15, administrative separation, Board of Inquiry, clearance review, or court-martial referral.

Off-base cases near Naval Submarine Base New London may involve Connecticut Superior Court, New London Judicial District proceedings, geographical area criminal courts, Groton Police Department records, New London Police Department records, Waterford Police records, Ledyard Police records, Norwich Police records, Connecticut State Police records, or nearby Rhode Island courts depending on where the incident occurred. Connecticut’s Judicial Branch provides information for criminal and motor vehicle cases through official court resources. See the Connecticut Judicial Branch.

Federal jurisdiction may also matter. Some New London-area cases may involve federal property, ships, submarines, classified information, firearms, cyber evidence, child exploitation allegations, fraud, government systems, restricted areas, contractor records, or overlapping civilian and military exposure. Federal matters in Connecticut may involve the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.

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 NJP or 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 command process.

Special Legal Risks for Submariners, Students, Instructors, Nuclear-Trained Personnel & Sensitive-Duty Sailors

Naval Submarine Base New London cases often involve the unique pressures of submarine service. Service members may be evaluated for submarine duty, technical proficiency, watchstanding reliability, security clearance eligibility, medical suitability, crew trust, professional maturity, and future deployment readiness.

Mission-related cases may involve:

Submarine School performance records, class records, training records, and disciplinary documentation
Submarine Learning Center records and warfare mission area training records
Shipboard records, watch bills, duty rosters, and crew communications
Restricted-area access records, badge records, visitor logs, and gate records
Classified system access, information operations records, and cyber logs
Medical records, undersea medicine records, dive-related or submarine-duty screening records, and fitness-for-duty concerns
Security reports, patrol records, and base access records
Travel-card records, TDY documents, lodging records, and reimbursement issues
Contracting files, purchase records, property records, maintenance records, and fraud allegations
Civilian police reports, hotel witnesses, student witnesses, instructor witnesses, crew witnesses, casino witnesses, and off-duty witness issues

A weak allegation can still create immediate consequences. A service member may lose access, be removed from training, be dropped from a course, be removed from submarine duty, lose a deployment opportunity, receive adverse paperwork, face clearance concerns, be placed under investigation, or be processed for separation before the full evidence is reviewed.

How Local NSB New London Incidents Become Military Legal Problems

The following examples are hypothetical. They are not claims about any actual case, business, command, unit, or person. They show how local facts can matter when a service member assigned to Naval Submarine Base New London is accused of misconduct.

Groton or New London DUI: A service member leaves a bar, restaurant, hotel, casino, unit event, Mystic gathering, or New London waterfront location and is stopped by civilian police. The civilian case may trigger a letter of reprimand, NJP, Article 15, driving restrictions, clearance review, adverse evaluation, non-selection concerns, or separation processing.
Hotel, casino, or dating-app allegation: A hotel stay, apartment visit, casino trip, dating-app encounter, waterfront event, student gathering, or off-base social event 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, casino records, bar receipts, social media, and competing accounts.
Submarine School misconduct allegation: A student or instructor is accused of false statements, harassment, alcohol misuse, improper messaging, cheating, hazing, fraternization, retaliation, or conduct inconsistent with submarine-force standards. The issue may threaten both the course and the member’s career.
Shipboard or crew allegation: A Sailor faces allegations involving improper messages, harassment, fraternization, false statements, misuse of authority, watchstanding misconduct, or hostile workplace conduct within a submarine crew or support command.
Domestic call in off-base housing: A family argument in Groton, New London, Mystic, Waterford, Ledyard, Norwich, or Stonington leads to a 911 call, police report, protective order issue, no-contact order, Family Advocacy involvement, and possible Article 128b domestic violence or administrative action.
Training or watchstanding records issue: A service member is accused of falsifying records, improperly accessing systems, lying during an inquiry, violating watchstanding rules, or misusing government computers.
Travel-card or orders issue: A member faces allegations involving travel vouchers, lodging records, mileage claims, rental cars, fuel receipts, reimbursement claims, purchase cards, or misuse of government funds.
Security clearance concern: A member assigned to submarine duty, information operations, or 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.
Drug or urinalysis case: A member faces a positive urinalysis, prescription issue, suspected distribution allegation, vehicle search, room search, baggage issue, or phone messages suggesting drug use.
Digital evidence case: The government relies on Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Teams messages, texts, deleted messages, partial screenshots, photos, videos, metadata, phone records, or a limited phone extraction. Early defense work can preserve context and expose incomplete evidence.

Military Law Issues for Service Members at Naval Submarine Base New London

NSB New London service members may face court-martial charges, Article 32 preliminary hearings, NJP, Article 15 actions, letters of reprimand, administrative separation boards, Boards of Inquiry, command-directed investigations, clearance reviews, unfavorable information files, access suspensions, training consequences, submarine-duty consequences, reliability concerns, and other adverse administrative paperwork. The issue may begin with NCIS, Security Forces, local police, a commander’s inquiry, a SAPR report, a workplace complaint, a student complaint, an instructor 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, classmate, instructor, student, crew member, medical provider, or dating partner.

Article 120 Sexual Assault & Abusive Sexual Contact

These allegations may involve barracks rooms, lodging, hotels, apartments, short-term rentals, parties, unit social events, New London nightlife, Mystic gatherings, casino trips, alcohol, dating apps, delayed reports, text messages, social media, phone extractions, rideshare records, hotel security records, and civilian witnesses. Cases often turn on consent, credibility, intoxication, timing, witness contamination, digital evidence, command assumptions, and the high-trust nature of submarine-force environments.

Domestic Violence & Assault

These cases may involve Connecticut police reports, 911 calls, body-camera footage, photographs, medical records, protective order filings, Family Advocacy records, text messages, no-contact orders, and firearm restrictions. Even if the civilian case is reduced, dismissed, or unresolved, the command may still pursue adverse paperwork, NJP, 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, casino, barracks, apartment, student, crew, or nightlife event may lead to investigation, adverse paperwork, course removal, submarine-duty removal, or separation. For members in submarine duty, nuclear-trained roles, information operations, classified work, 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, lodging records, BAH questions, contracting files, academic records, training records, watch bills, 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

Naval Submarine Base New London supports submarine operations, submarine training, undersea warfare, information operations, undersea medicine, medical research, and sensitive military support missions. A case involving alcohol, drugs, dishonesty, domestic violence, financial problems, foreign contacts, online activity, travel misconduct, or misuse of government systems may create clearance and access risk even if the underlying criminal allegation is weak. Defense strategy should address both the UCMJ issue and the command’s trustworthiness concerns.

Submarine Duty, Student, Instructor & Reliability Issues

New London cases can involve submarine qualification standards, student performance, instructor discretion, crew trust, watchstanding reliability, nuclear-trained personnel reliability, classified access, training records, medical suitability, and career-ending administrative decisions. A defense lawyer must examine the actual records, dates, duty status, reporting requirements, witness timelines, and command assumptions.

Under Investigation at Groton? Know These Rules First

Your rights in an NCIS interview. Article 31(b) of the UCMJ gives you the right to know what you are suspected of and to remain silent, and you may ask for a lawyer before any questioning by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). Declining to answer is not an admission. At Groton, as anywhere, the safest first step is to say you want to speak with counsel and then stop talking.

Titling can follow you. NCIS 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 Groton. 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. Marijuana may be legal for adults under Connecticut law, but it remains prohibited for service members under Article 112a of the UCMJ, on post and off. 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 Groton, 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 Naval Submarine Base New London, civilian counsel may need to review evidence from many sources, including NCIS reports, Security Forces records, command investigations, Groton police records, New London police reports, Waterford police records, Ledyard police reports, Norwich police records, Connecticut State Police records, Connecticut court filings, body-camera footage, 911 calls, phone extractions, workplace messages, Teams messages, command emails, student records, academic records, training records, watch bills, duty rosters, shipboard records, instructor notes, gate records, access logs, travel records, medical records, hotel records, short-term rental records, casino records, rideshare data, train records, airport records, 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 Naval Submarine Base New London

Service members at NSB New London can face military consequences from on-base allegations and off-base incidents in Groton, New London, Mystic, Waterford, Ledyard, Norwich, Stonington, New London County, and the southeastern Connecticut coastal region.

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

Courts-martial and Article 32 hearings
Article 120 sexual assault cases
NJP, Article 15, GOMOR, and letter of reprimand matters
Administrative separation boards and Boards of Inquiry
Security clearance, classified-information, submarine-duty, student, instructor, watchstanding, access, and command investigations

Because Naval Submarine Base New London supports Naval Submarine School, Submarine Learning Center, submarine crews, Naval Submarine Support Facility, undersea medicine, information operations, and sensitive submarine-force missions, defense strategy should account for local Connecticut police evidence, New London and Groton civilian facts, digital evidence, casino records, training records, watch bills, access logs, command pressure, clearance risk, and long-term career consequences.

Video transcript

Transcript of the video “Article 120 Court-Martial Lawyer | Naval Base New London CT,” 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 NSB New London, Connecticut 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 was wrongly accused under articles 120, 128b, and 130, and the legal battle was an incredibly draining experience. Throughout the two-and-a-half-year ordeal, Michael and Alexandra displayed unmatched professionalism, deep legal expertise, and genuine care for my case.

— Chad E. ★★★★★ 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.

Naval Submarine Base New London Military Defense FAQ

Can a DUI in Groton, New London, Mystic, or New London County affect my Navy career?

Yes. A DUI or alcohol-related incident in Groton, New London, Mystic, Waterford, Ledyard, Norwich, Stonington, New London County, or another Connecticut community can trigger civilian court proceedings and military consequences. The command may consider adverse paperwork, NJP, Article 15, separation, clearance review, driving restrictions, submarine-duty consequences, or other administrative action while the civilian case is still pending.

Can a hotel, barracks, casino, apartment, 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, barracks, casinos, unit events, dating apps, workplace messages, rideshares, text messages, social media, civilian witnesses, delayed reports, and phone extractions may all become central evidence.

Do NSB New London 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 commanders at NSB New London act 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, NJP, Article 15, clearance review, discharge processing, duty restriction, access suspension, course removal, or removal from submarine duties while the civilian process is still pending.

Can submarine duty, watchstanding, training, cyber, classified-information, or clearance issues become UCMJ cases?

Yes. Government systems, access logs, communications records, student records, training records, watch bills, classified information, false statements, cyber 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, training dispute, or miscommunication.

Can an NSB New London service member face administrative separation even if civilian charges are dismissed?

Yes. The military may pursue a letter of reprimand, NJP, Article 15, discharge, Board of Inquiry, clearance review, course removal, submarine-duty removal, or other career action even if civilian charges are dismissed, reduced, or unresolved. Administrative decisions often focus on retention, judgment, trustworthiness, crew reliability, mission reliability, and service suitability.

Why do security clearance and access issues matter at NSB New London?

Naval Submarine Base New London supports submarine operations, submarine training, information operations, undersea medicine, and classified or sensitive work. Allegations involving drugs, alcohol, violence, dishonesty, foreign contacts, financial problems, digital misconduct, or misuse of government systems can raise clearance and access concerns even when the criminal case is weak.

Can a New London, Groton, Mystic, or casino incident become a military case?

Yes. A civilian arrest, hotel allegation, DUI, disorderly conduct report, drug allegation, domestic call, or sexual misconduct allegation can be reported to command. The military may then open its own investigation or impose administrative action even while the civilian case is pending.

NCIS wants to interview me at Groton. 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 NCIS 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 Naval Submarine Base New London 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 Naval Submarine Base New London service members facing allegations involving NCIS, local Connecticut civilian evidence, Groton or New London police evidence, digital records, command pressure, submarine records, student records, training records, classified duties, clearance concerns, or serious UCMJ charges, that trial-focused background matters.

Talk to a Civilian Military Defense Lawyer Serving Naval Submarine Base New London

If you are stationed at NSB New London 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 NCIS, Security Forces, or command questioning
Accused of Article 120 sexual assault
Dealing with a DUI or civilian arrest
Receiving NJP, an Article 15, GOMOR, or letter of reprimand
Preparing for an administrative separation board or Board of Inquiry
Worried about security clearance, access, submarine duty, training status, instructor duties, information operations duties, medical suitability, travel-card issues, classified duties, 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, Connecticut civilian courts, local police evidence, New London-area nightlife evidence, workplace records, digital evidence, academic records, training records, watch bills, access issues, clearance 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 Naval Submarine Base New London & Connecticut Legal Resources

Naval Station Newport Court-Martial Lawyers
Westover Air Reserve Base Court-Martial Lawyers
Otis Air National Guard Base Court-Martial Lawyers
Fort Hamilton Court-Martial Lawyers
Naval Station Norfolk Court-Martial Lawyers

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.