Travis Air Force Base is in Fairfield, California, just northeast of San Francisco. It is one of the largest mobility hubs in the U.S. military and is part of Air Mobility Command. Its mission is to move people, cargo, and fuel across long-range flights worldwide. The base supports operations in peacetime, during crisis response, and in combat zones.
Travis is often called the “Gateway to the Pacific.” It houses the 60th Air Mobility Wing, the largest air mobility wing in the Air Force, and the 621st Contingency Response Wing. These units handle rapid deployment for humanitarian missions, disaster relief, and combat logistics.
Travis is also one of a small number of bases that host an Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC) district office. This means OSTC has direct visibility into everything happening at Travis and can quickly assign experienced prosecutors to cases. The OSTC handles certain categories of court-martial cases, primarily sex offenses and other special victim charges. It operates as a separate authority that does not report to command. While OSTC functions the same way everywhere under the UCMJ, having a physical office here means closer oversight.
Travis is also unique in another way. It is in California, but many key decisions are reviewed through Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. The location of your command, the location of the base, and the location where decisions are made about your case might not match. Your attorney needs to understand how these connections work.
Our firm knows California. One of us was born in San Francisco, stationed at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, and has family in Newport. We’ve handled cases at every major military installation in the state: Travis, Camp Pendleton, Lemoore, the Naval Postgraduate School, MCAS Miramar, Naval Base San Diego, Vandenberg, Edwards, and more.
I’m looking for a civilian military attorney who has an office in Fairfield, Napa, Sacramento, or San Francisco for a case at Travis AFB.
You’re doing this wrong. Hiring an attorney primarily because their office is a drivable distance from base is understandable, but it’s a mistake in a UCMJ case. For military justice, which is a specialized and federal practice, physical proximity is irrelevant. The quality of your defense is determined by the lawyer’s national-level trial experience and reputation within the military justice system, not their zip code. The outcomes are too severe to make a decision based on convenience over proven expertise.
What a Civilian Military Lawyer Costs at Travis AFB
Civilian defense for a UCMJ case is almost always billed as a flat fee, not by the hour. Each phase of the case has its own price, agreed upon in advance, so there are no surprises later.
Most cases at Travis end in the first stage, before trial, when early work with OSI or the Office of Special Trial Counsel changes the course of the case. Still, here’s how the structure works across stages:
Stage One: The Investigation
This covers all early defense work: consultation, communication with investigators, you, and anyone else, plus strategy and evidentiary review before charges are filed.
- Typical market range: $5,000–$8,000
- Our standard fee: $6,500
Stage Two: The Article 32 Process (Only in a GCM)
This stage includes written submissions, analysis of discovery, and representation at the preliminary hearing.
- Typical market range: $8,000–$20,000
- Our usual fee: $10,000–$12,000
Stage Three: Trial
Full preparation and representation through verdict.
- Typical market range: $15,000–$100,000+
- Our typical trial fee: $25,000
Legal fees cover attorney work only. Separate costs, like travel, are billed separately. Again, most cases don’t require in-person travel but if you are likely headed to a trial, discuss these costs with the attorney.
This approach lets you focus on your defense, not your invoice. You’ll work directly with two senior litigators, each with more than twenty years of courtroom experience, from the first call to the final verdict.
Travis AFB is a Focal Point for OSTC, So Fight Fire With Fire
One of the bosses in the OSTC community is stationed at Travis, which signals the base’s importance in the system. The need for a high-quality civilian military attorney with a strong reputation throughout the Air Force JAG Corps is as high at Travis as anywhere.
Why UCMJ Defense Requires a National Practice
A lawyer’s proximity to a military base is not an indicator of their trustworthiness or skill in this highly specialized area of law. Court-martial law is a niche within a niche within a niche. Many local military lawyers run general practices, handling divorces or DUIs and treating UCMJ cases as a small part of their business. They are often taking cases locally rather than committing their entire practice to the hardest fights, wherever they may be. Hiring someone just because they are close and might seem cheaper is a mistake when your career and freedom are at stake.
While there are legitimate UCMJ lawyers in California, the value in hiring our firm is distinct:
- You get two senior UCMJ specialists for the price of one.
- We bring over 20 years of experience conducting courts-martial in California, across the U.S., and overseas.
- We have litigated in all branches of the service for two decades.
- Our team has over 20 years of trial experience in the “new” federal-style paradigm that the military justice system is just now getting used to.
- We are well-known to senior OSTC counsel and the judges.
Q: Why is Article 133 considered the check-mate for prosecuting military officers?
A: Because it is the most subjective charge in the UCMJ and carries total career consequences. The definition of “unbecoming” is essentially created from scratch for each case, and its legal purpose is to end an officer’s career.
No Specific Crime Required: Your conduct does not need to violate another UCMJ article or even be a civilian crime to be charged under Article 133.
“Felony”: All officer cases are prosecuted as a General Court-Martial (GCM). The only punitive discharge available is a Dismissal, which is the officer equivalent of a Dishonorable Discharge and results in a felony-level criminal record.
The Ultimate Punishment: Your rank and distinguished service record is used against you, not as mitigation, but as proof of the high standard you knowingly forfeited.
The OSTC’s Role in Defense Strategy
The creation of the Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC) has fundamentally changed the landscape of military justice, especially for cases with sexual assault and crimes against children.
Commander’s discretion no longer exists: For serious offenses like Article 120, the charging decision is now made by an independent OSTC prosecutor, not your local General. You cannot rely on local relationships or command empathy to make a case go away.
Unlimited resources: The OSTC has nearly unlimited access to specialized prosecutors and investigators dedicated only to these crimes. You are fighting the best talent the government can offer.
The New Defense Mandate: Early Comms with OSTC
This is the most critical strategic point your defense lawyer must understand. The OSTC is under pressure to maintain a high conviction rate, not just to file charges. They have the professional independence and operational mandate to dump a weak case they believe will result in an acquittal.
Holding helpful information until trial no longer works. With the OSTC, the defense must present exculpatory evidence early. If we can show the OSTC weaknesses in their evidence or inconsistencies in witness accounts, we create a high-risk scenario for them. When the OSTC sees a high-risk case, they will often dismiss it, negotiate a non-criminal resolution, or send it back to the command for lesser action. This strategy requires a reputation for trustworthiness with the OSTC, which we have spent our careers earning.
The Preliminary Hearing is For You, Not Against You
For cases moving toward a General Court-Martial, you are entitled to a preliminary hearing under Article 32 of the UCMJ. The hearing’s formal purpose is to determine if probable cause exists to take the case to trial. Probable cause is a low legal standard, meaning the evidence only needs to suggest the allegations are likely true.
Because this standard is so easy for the government to meet, some inexperienced lawyers advise their clients to waive the hearing. This is a strategic error. The true value of the hearing is not in challenging probable cause, but in gaining intelligence. It is the first opportunity to see the government’s evidence presented formally and to observe how a neutral, legally trained officer reacts to it. A hearing officer’s skepticism or concerns, even if not binding, can create significant influence on the OSTC’s decision to proceed. It’s a valuable discovery tool that should almost never be surrendered.
Anticipating the Court-Martial Timeline at Travis AFB
A court-martial is a formal, adversarial process with distinct phases, each requiring a specific defensive approach. Once charges move forward, here’s how the rest of the process unfolds.
- Investigation and Preferral: A case begins with an investigation by agencies like OSI. If they believe an offense occurred, they forward their findings to the command or OSTC. If the command decides to proceed, charges are formally “preferred” against the service member.
- Arraignment: This is the first formal court appearance. The charges are read, and you, through your counsel, enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.
- Pre-Trial Motions: This is a critical phase where your attorney can challenge the legality of the government’s actions. Motions can be filed to suppress illegally obtained evidence, challenge procedural errors, or even seek to have charges dismissed entirely.
- The Trial (Merits): Both the prosecution and defense present their cases. This includes opening statements, presenting evidence, and questioning witnesses. The government must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Findings (Verdict): After both sides have rested, the panel (jury) or military judge deliberates to reach a verdict of guilty or not guilty on each charge.
- Sentencing: If you are found guilty, a separate sentencing phase occurs. Both sides can present evidence and arguments regarding what an appropriate punishment should be. The military judge determines the final sentence.
- Post-Trial and Appeals: A conviction is not the end. The case is automatically reviewed, and multiple levels of appeal exist to address any legal errors from trial.
Q: Is consent irrelevant in all cases under Article 120b? That doesn’t seem fair.
A: Consent is legally impossible and therefore not a defense. The law presumes a person below a certain age cannot consent to a sexual act, creating a “strict liability” situation. The legal battle in these cases is not about consent, but about the reliability of the evidence presented.
Article 119b, 120b, and 134 Defense is for Very Few Attorneys
A: These cases require extraordinary psychological fortitude and tactical wisdom. The attorney must remain clinically objective while reviewing disturbing evidence. Furthermore, cross-examining a child places the attorney in an almost impossible position: you must test the evidence without appearing to attack a vulnerable child. A single misstep can alienate the judge or panel and lose the entire case.
Q: Can command issue an MPO and remove me from my home before an investigation is complete?
A: Yes. In cases related to child safety, the command’s primary obligation is to protect the alleged victim. Issuing an MPO is often an immediate administrative measure. While considered non-punitive, it has devastating real-world effects. You must comply with the order without exception.
FAP or CPS: Pretend They’re the Police
You should never speak to any official about the facts of an allegation without a lawyer. Military child abuse investigations are a joint effort between criminal investigators and agencies like FAP or CPS. Any statement you make to a counselor or social worker will be shared with criminal investigators and used against you.
Restoring Your Voice: The Psychological Benefit of Experienced Counsel
Being the subject of a military investigation is an intensely isolating experience. You are expected to continue performing your duties at Travis AFB, all while your career, reputation, and freedom are under threat. You will be correctly advised not to speak about the case to anyone—not your peers, not your supervisor, not even your family. This necessary silence can create immense psychological strain.
Hiring an experienced civilian UCMJ lawyer does more than start a legal defense; it immediately breaks that isolation. It gives you a confidential expert to talk to, someone who can demystify the process, manage expectations, and advocate on your behalf. Our clients often report their stress drops the moment we are retained. Simply knowing that a dedicated team is monitoring the investigation, communicating with the government, and preparing your defense restores a sense of control and gives you a voice when you feel powerless.
Our Firm’s Comms Policy and Flat-Fee Offer
You will work directly with a partner, Keith Scherer or Greg Gagne, not a junior lawyer or a call screener. We use a flat-fee billing system to keep the relationship focused on your case without tension over hourly bills. A flat fee covers all legal work for that stage of the case, from calls and emails to research and strategy. If travel is required for in-person representation, those expenses are billed separately under terms set out in the agreement.
Call a Travis AFB UCMJ Lawyer Now
If you’re facing UCMJ charges or a court-martial at Travis AFB, call us at 800-319-3134 for a free consultation. We’ve defended Airmen at Travis AFB, the Navy Post-Graduate School, Camp Pendleton, and installations throughout California and the U.S. for over 20 years.