Office of Area Defense Counsel welcomes new attorney, paralegal Published June 29, 2012 By Capt. Matthew Ream Area Defense Counsel F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- With the summer permanent-change-of-station season officially upon the Mighty Ninety, the Office of the Area Defense Counsel is no different. It is my pleasure to welcome and introduce F. E. Warren's newest Area Defense Counsel, Capt. Justin Lonergan, and Staff Sgt. Ashton Brown, defense paralegal. Lonergan is coming to us from the base legal office where he served as Chief of Adverse Actions for almost two years. He is a fully-qualified attorney, licensed to practice law in the state of Massachusetts. Before coming to F. E. Warren, Lonergan served as the Chief of Civil Law, legal assistance, and claims at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Lonergan brings more than four years of military justice and trial experience to the position of the ADC. Brown also has an extensive military justice background, and comes to the position from the base legal office where she served as the noncommissioned officer in charge of Administrative Law. Brown enlisted in the Air Force in June 2005 and began her Air Force career at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, as a personnelist. She retrained into the paralegal career field in February 2010. We are truly excited to have her as part of our team. As you may know, the Office of the ADC consists of one active-duty attorney and paralegal. Our mission is to provide all active duty military members with the best possible legal representation in actions arising under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, to include representation at courts-martial and non-judicial punishment actions. We also represent active duty members in a number of adverse proceedings including, but not limited to, administrative discharges and demotions, referral performance reports, and letters of counseling, admonishment, and reprimand. As the Office of the ADC transitions this summer, keep in mind that we are a detachment of the Air Force Legal Operations Agency and are a tenant unit on this base. Neither the ADC nor the DP reports to anyone in Air Force Global Strike Command, 20th Air Force, or the 90th Missile Wing. All client conversations with the ADC or DP are privileged and confidential. Remember, under military law, an Air Force member suspected of committing a criminal offense has the right to remain silent and the right to consult with a military lawyer free of charge prior to making any statement. Any statement that is made, whether oral or written, may be used against the member in a court-martial, non-judicial punishment action, or administrative action. The fact that a member exercises either the right to remain silent or the right to consult with an attorney cannot be held against the member by Air Force authorities. There is no harm consulting with the ADC - we are here for you and are committed to providing the best defense available! The ADC's office is located at 6500 10th Cavalry Avenue in building 292. To contact us by phone, call 773-3248.