Marine Corps Installations West

Western Area Counsel Office (WACO)

MISSION
As an area office of the Counsel for the Commandant, the Western Area Counsel Office and each of its  installation command counsel offices enable western area Marine Corps commands to fulfill their missions by providing timely and candid legal advice and counsel, effective advocacy, and creative problem solving.


VISION
To operate world-class legal offices composed of diverse, talented, trained, and dedicated professionals working together within the western area to support the Marine Corps mission.


INSTALLATION COMMAND COUNSEL
WACO installation command counsel located at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma; Marine Corps Air Station Miramar; and the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, Twentynine Palms, California, represent their respective installations and tenant commands in all practice areas under the cognizance of the Office of the General Counsel for the Department of the Navy.  The WACO main office directly supporting Camp Pendleton also provides specialized legal support to installation command counsel.


PRACTICE AREAS

Environmental/Land Use
WACO supports the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), Marine Corps Installations West-Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCIWEST-MCB CPEN), and other western area Marine Corps command missions by providing commanders and staff accurate, effective, and timely legal advice and counsel on highly complex and often unusual environmental and land use issues, including environmental compliance and natural and cultural resources management, water rights, and real estate.  

Ethics
WACO shares responsibility and coordinates with command Staff Judge Advocates to provide commanders and staff accurate, effective, and timely legal advice and counsel regarding ethics issues, including the use of government resources, conflicts of interest, logistical support to non-Federal entities, fundraising, travel and transportation, procurement integrity, and gifts.

Labor and Employment
WACO supports the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), Marine Corps Installations West-Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCIWEST-MCB CPEN), and other western area Marine Corps command missions by providing commanders and staff accurate, effective, and timely legal advice and counsel regarding civilian personnel policy and administration.  WACO proactively coordinates with and supports the Civilian Human Resources Office on legal and policy issues and serves as the agency representative on labor and employment litigation.

Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS)
WACO non-appropriated fund counsel, together with installation command counsel, provides accurate, effective, and timely legal advice and counsel to support western area command MCCS activities and their business operations.    

Procurement
Through its civilian attorneys, contingency contracting military counsel, and installation command counsel, WACO supports the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), Marine Corps Installations West-Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCIWEST-MCB CPEN), and other western area Marine Corps command missions by providing the regional contracting office, contracting officers, and other government contracting officials  accurate, effective, and timely legal advice and counsel regarding supplies and services acquisition, litigation support, fiscal law, and ethics advice regarding procurement, use, and disposition of government resources.

Contact Information