Davis-Monthan Air Force Base sits five miles southeast of downtown Tucson, Arizona, and operates one of the most distinctive mission sets in the Air Force. The 355th Wing flies the A-10 Thunderbolt II for close air support, air interdiction, and combat search and rescue, while the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) maintains the largest aircraft storage facility in the world, with more than 4,400 retired airframes spread across the desert floor. An OSI investigation or UCMJ action at an installation this specialized can threaten the career and freedom of any airman stationed here. If you are under investigation or facing charges, you need a military defense attorney who understands what is at stake and has the court-martial experience to defend your rights.
Joseph L. Jordan, attorney at law, is a former Army JAG officer who has represented more than 1,000 service members and tried over 250 courts-martial at installations worldwide. With over twenty years of military law experience, he has been featured on Fox News, ABC, Anderson Cooper, and in the Wall Street Journal.
Call (888) 367-9489 for a free, confidential consultation.
The 355th Wing is assigned to Air Combat Command’s Fifteenth Air Force and has operated the A-10 Thunderbolt II from Davis-Monthan since 1976. For nearly five decades, the wing provided close air support, forward air control, and combat search and rescue capability to ground forces deployed around the world. The 55th Electronic Combat Group, also stationed at Davis-Monthan, flies the EC-130H Compass Call and is transitioning to the EA-37B, adding electronic warfare depth to the base’s mission portfolio. These specialized career fields carry security clearance requirements, demanding maintenance certifications, and operational tempos that make a UCMJ charge especially consequential.
Alongside the flying mission, AMARG processes, stores, and regenerates aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and NASA. The facility employs roughly 550 civilian personnel and manages an inventory valued in the billions. Airmen and civilians working at or near AMARG operate under strict accountability standards, and any criminal allegation can trigger administrative reviews that jeopardize both military careers and civilian employment on base.
The Air Force is also transitioning Davis-Monthan toward a special operations mission, with plans to stand up the 492nd Special Operations Wing in the coming years. That transition means personnel reassignments, new unit activations, and shifting command structures, all of which can affect how UCMJ cases are handled and who exercises disposition authority over charges.
Tucson is a city of roughly one million people in the metropolitan area, located approximately 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The combination of a large military population, a college town atmosphere near the University of Arizona, and border proximity creates a distinct set of legal risks for airmen stationed at Davis-Monthan. Off-base incidents involving alcohol, controlled substances, or altercations in the entertainment districts along Fourth Avenue and downtown Tucson regularly lead to dual-jurisdiction situations where both civilian authorities and military commanders pursue action.
Drug offenses carry particular weight at Davis-Monthan. Tucson’s location along a major smuggling corridor means that military law enforcement and OSI maintain heightened awareness of drug activity. A positive urinalysis, a possession allegation, or even association with individuals under investigation can result in charges under Article 112a and immediate suspension of security clearances.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base was established in 1925 as Davis-Monthan Landing Field, making it one of the oldest continuously operating air installations in the United States. The base is named after two Tucson natives, First Lieutenant Samuel H. Davis and Second Lieutenant Oscar Monthan, both killed in separate military aviation accidents in the 1920s. During World War II, the base served as a heavy bomber training facility. After the war, its arid desert climate, low humidity, and hard alkaline soil made it the ideal location for the military aircraft storage facility now known as the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, often referred to as “the Boneyard.” Aircraft storage operations began at Davis-Monthan in 1945, and the facility has grown into the sole aircraft boneyard and parts reclamation center for the entire Department of Defense.
Airmen at Davis-Monthan face the full range of UCMJ offenses:
Sexual assault under Article 120. Sexual assault allegations are investigated and prosecuted with priority resources at Davis-Monthan. A military sexual assault defense attorney with trial experience can challenge the government’s evidence and build an effective defense against these charges.
Drug offenses. Tucson’s proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border creates unique drug-related risks for service members. Positive urinalysis results and possession charges are prosecuted aggressively, and the consequences extend well beyond the courtroom to clearance revocations and career termination.
Domestic violence. Domestic violence charges carry criminal and administrative consequences, including protective orders and potential loss of firearms privileges that can disqualify an airman from their duty position.
DUI and off-base misconduct. The Tucson metropolitan area presents opportunities for off-duty incidents that result in both civilian and military charges, creating dual-jurisdiction complications that require experienced counsel.
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) maintains an active presence at Davis-Monthan and investigates felony-level criminal matters, fraud, and counterintelligence concerns. Given the base’s specialized missions and the security clearances held by much of its workforce, OSI investigations at Davis-Monthan can move quickly and carry severe collateral consequences. Airmen contacted by OSI should exercise their Article 31 rights and speak with a defense attorney before making any statement. What you say during an OSI interview can and will be used against you at court-martial.
Airmen at Davis-Monthan can receive representation from an Area Defense Counsel (ADC) assigned through the Air Force legal system. A civilian court-martial lawyer provides independent representation outside the chain of command, with the ability to dedicate full resources to a single case without competing caseload demands. When confinement, a punitive discharge, or a felony conviction is at stake, experienced civilian counsel provides a critical advantage that can make the difference between a conviction and an acquittal.
Commanders may impose nonjudicial punishment under the Air Force NJP process for lesser offenses. While NJP may appear to be a minor proceeding, the consequences are real: reduction in rank, forfeiture of pay, and a record that can trigger a separation board. An involuntary separation with an other-than-honorable characterization follows an airman for life, affecting veterans’ benefits, future employment, and the ability to hold a security clearance in the civilian sector.
If you are facing an OSI investigation, court-martial, NJP, or adverse action at Davis-Monthan AFB, contact Mr. Jordan today. With more than 250 courts-martial tried at installations worldwide, he has the experience to take on the government and defend your career, your freedom, and your future. Review his case results to see the outcomes he has achieved for service members.
Free consultation. Confidential. No obligation. Call or text (888) 367-9489.
Can I choose my own lawyer if I am facing a court-martial at Davis-Monthan?
Yes. Under the UCMJ, you have the right to be represented by a military defense counsel at no cost, and you also have the right to retain a civilian defense attorney at your own expense. Many airmen choose civilian counsel for the independence and dedicated attention a private attorney can provide.
Should I talk to OSI before consulting an attorney?
No. You have the right to remain silent under Article 31 of the UCMJ. Anything you say to OSI can be used against you. Contact a defense attorney before agreeing to any interview or providing any statement.
What happens if I receive NJP at Davis-Monthan?
Under the Air Force NJP process, your commander can impose reduction in rank, forfeiture of pay, extra duties, and restriction. You have the right to consult with an attorney before deciding whether to accept NJP or demand trial by court-martial.
Will a UCMJ charge affect my security clearance?
In most cases, yes. Criminal charges or adverse administrative actions at Davis-Monthan typically trigger a review of your security clearance. Loss of a clearance can end your military career and limit civilian employment opportunities in the defense and intelligence sectors.
