Guam Military Defense Lawyers – UCMJ Attorneys
Legal Guide Overview
Guam Military Defense Lawyers – UCMJ Attorneys
Gonzalez & Waddington are civilian military defense lawyers with worldwide defense experience, representing service members stationed in Guam in UCMJ investigations, court-martial cases, and administrative actions. Their practice is exclusively focused on military justice, including matters arising from investigations conducted by CID, NCIS, and OSI.
Watch the military defense lawyers at Gonzalez & Waddington break down how they defend service members worldwide against UCMJ allegations, CID/NCIS/OSI investigations, court-martials, Article 120 cases, administrative separations, and GOMORs. If you’re under investigation or facing charges, this video explains what your rights are and how experienced civilian military counsel can make the difference.
Guam
Gonzalez & Waddington routinely defend service members whose cases originate in Guam, a location that often presents unique logistical and jurisdictional considerations due to its distance from the continental United States. Their attorneys have extensive experience handling high‑stakes UCMJ matters arising from this region and coordinating defense efforts in overseas environments. The firm represents clients both in Guam and worldwide, navigating proceedings that may span multiple commands and jurisdictions.
The firm’s attorneys have defended serious allegations, including Article 120 sexual assault cases, that frequently involve complex evidentiary and investigative issues. Their experience covers court‑martial litigation, Article 32 preliminary hearings, and multifaceted investigations that involve military investigative agencies such as CID, NCIS, OSI, or CGIS operating in Guam’s joint‑service setting. This background enables them to address the procedural and practical challenges presented by high‑consequence military justice actions in the region.
They emphasize early legal intervention to guide service members before official statements are made or charging decisions occur, which can be critical in Guam’s command‑driven legal environment. Their practice includes trial‑level readiness and strategic defense planning within the administrative and criminal frameworks of military justice arising from Guam‑related cases. This experience supports a consistent approach to addressing both immediate investigative concerns and long‑term litigation requirements.
The United States maintains a military presence in Guam to support regional stability, ensure deterrence, and sustain forward readiness across the Indo-Pacific. Its location enables rapid response to emerging contingencies and facilitates coordination with regional partners. The island also provides reliable access to training areas, logistics nodes, and critical maritime and air corridors. These functions collectively reinforce broader U.S. defense objectives in the region.
Guam’s geographic position in the western Pacific places it near major sea lanes and air routes that influence operational planning and force movement. The island’s remote location requires careful management of supply chains, rotation schedules, and equipment sustainment. Its terrain, climate, and surrounding waters impact training availability, basing considerations, and emergency response planning. These geographic factors consistently shape day‑to‑day military activity and long-term operational posture.
Guam hosts a joint-service footprint that commonly includes aviation operations, maritime activities, ground training functions, logistics hubs, medical support, and various headquarters or coordination elements. Units stationed or rotating through the island routinely integrate across service branches to support regional missions. Activities may involve intelligence, cyber, space-related support, or expeditionary readiness tasks aligned with broader operational objectives. Coordination with territorial authorities also influences administrative processes and community interaction.
This operational environment creates conditions where military justice matters can arise quickly due to high accountability standards and the need for clear command oversight. Fast-paced operations often require prompt reporting, immediate preliminary inquiries, and rapid administrative decisions. Commanders may initiate nonjudicial or administrative actions while parallel investigative processes continue. Understanding this context is essential for assessing how UCMJ responsibilities intersect with Guam’s unique operational demands.
Guam hosts several major U.S. military installations whose missions, operational environments, and surrounding communities create distinct patterns of military justice exposure for service members stationed on the island.
Andersen Air Force Base (U.S. Air Force)
Andersen AFB supports bomber, airlift, and tanker operations, with rotational forces conducting high‑tempo missions across the Indo‑Pacific. The base functions as a strategic launch point for long‑range aviation and expeditionary units, creating sustained periods of preparation, flight operations, and mobility exercises. Personnel frequently balance mission-readiness requirements with transient deployments and joint training events.
The combination of demanding flight schedules, late‑night operational cycles, and extended rotations can contribute to allegations of misconduct, orders violations, and UCMJ investigations. Off‑duty liberty in Guam’s tourist‑heavy districts and nightlife areas can lead to alcohol‑related incidents, relationship‑driven disputes, and command-directed inquiries. High visibility of aviation units also results in prompt oversight by military investigators such as CID, NCIS, OSI, or CGIS, depending on branch.
Naval Base Guam (U.S. Navy)
Naval Base Guam supports submarine operations, surface ship visits, and extensive logistics activity for Pacific naval forces. The installation hosts rotational crews, visiting fleets, and maintenance elements operating under tight schedules and mission-readiness requirements. Operational tempo often increases during port calls and surge periods tied to fleet movements.
These conditions commonly generate legal exposure related to long work hours, high operational pressure, and the integration of transient sailors into the local community. Liberty in port-adjacent entertainment areas can give rise to alcohol-related allegations, interpersonal conflicts, or administrative action tied to off‑base conduct. Submarine crew turnovers and visiting units also create circumstances where rapid command oversight and UCMJ investigations are initiated soon after reported incidents.
Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz (U.S. Marine Corps)
Camp Blaz supports the Marine Corps’ realignment in the Indo‑Pacific and serves as a hub for rotational training, construction activity, and joint-force integration. Units operating here often undergo intensive field preparation and coordination with regional partners, with periods of heightened training tempo. The installation’s mission combines developing infrastructure with supporting operational forces transiting the region.
High‑stress field training, extended days in rugged environments, and the integration of newly arrived units can lead to allegations of misconduct, orders violations, or court‑martial exposure. Off‑duty liberty in rural and tourist areas of Guam may contribute to alcohol‑related incidents or relationship-driven complaints, especially for Marines adjusting to an overseas environment. Frequent interaction with local communities and rotational personnel increases the likelihood of command‑directed inquiries when incidents occur.
Question: Does the UCMJ apply to service members stationed in Guam?
Answer: The UCMJ applies to all service members regardless of duty station, including those assigned to Guam. Its authority extends to conduct on and off duty while subject to military orders.
Question: How does command authority affect where a military justice case in Guam is handled?
Answer: Commanders make key decisions regarding administrative actions and court-martial processes, which can determine where a case is initiated or adjudicated. Because Guam is an overseas location, some matters may involve coordination across commands and added jurisdictional complexity.
Question: How do civilian laws interact with military jurisdiction in Guam?
Answer: An incident may fall under both civilian and military jurisdiction, and each authority can evaluate the matter independently. The specific response depends on the facts, location, and the respective interests of civilian authorities and the military.
Question: How are military investigations conducted for incidents involving service members in Guam?
Answer: Investigations may be conducted by CID, NCIS, OSI, or CGIS, depending on the service affiliation involved. These inquiries typically review statements, digital evidence, and witness accounts to document the facts.
Question: What is the role of civilian military defense lawyers for service members in Guam?
Answer: Civilian military defense counsel can assist in court-martial proceedings and administrative actions while working alongside appointed military defense counsel. They provide independent representation and support within the military justice framework.
Gonzalez & Waddington are civilian military defense lawyers representing service members stationed in Guam in UCMJ investigations, court-martial charges, Article 15 nonjudicial punishment actions, administrative separation proceedings, and Boards of Inquiry. The firm’s practice is exclusively focused on military justice, drawing on extensive experience in cases involving CID, NCIS, and OSI. Their background working across multiple branches and locations allows them to address the procedural, operational, and evidentiary challenges unique to military justice systems in overseas and Pacific-based commands.
Guam hosts a significant military presence that supports air, naval, and joint-force operations across the Indo-Pacific region, creating a fast-paced environment in which disciplinary actions can escalate quickly. Allegations involving Article 120 sexual assault, domestic violence, fraternization, drug offenses, and other forms of misconduct regularly arise in settings where operational demands intersect with close-knit duty stations. Because the military justice process is command-controlled, cases can advance rapidly once an accusation surfaces, and adverse outcomes can affect rank, pay, clearance eligibility, benefits, and long-term career trajectory for service members and their families.
Comprehensive defense in Guam requires early legal intervention, ideally before statements are made or charging decisions occur, to protect rights and prevent irreversible missteps. Effective representation includes identifying and challenging unlawful, incomplete, or rushed investigations, as well as preparing a trial-ready strategy for court-martial litigation and administrative actions worldwide. This approach aligns with the informational needs of those seeking clarity through searches for “Guam military defense lawyer” and “UCMJ attorney,” reflecting an effort to understand the process rather than a request for direct engagement.
