Marines


Marine Corps Installations West
MCI- WEST Seal

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

 

 

Billet

Phone

Counsel, Western Area

(760) 725-5958

Deputy Counsel, Western Area

(760) 725-9055

Counsel, MCAS Miramar

(858) 303-1885

Counsel, MCAGCC/MAGTFTC, 29 Palms

(760) 830-5261

Associate Counsel, MCAGCC/MAGTFTC, 29 Palms

(760) 830-5568

Counsel, MCAS Yuma

(928) 269-6800

Associate Counsel, MCAS Yuma

(858) 307-1916

Associate Counsel, Labor and Employment Law

(760) 725-9055

Labor and Employment Law Counsel

(760) 725-5168

Associate Counsel, Procurement Law

(760) 725-5491

Contingency Contracting Attorney

(760) 725-5610

Associate Counsel, Water Law

(760) 725-5461

Associate Counsel, Land Use Law

(760) 763-6892

Environmental Law Counsel

(760) 725-5196

Associate Counsel, MCCS

(760) 763-9590


 Legacy

On 29 January 1988, the Commandant of the Marine Corps began a test program to determine the suitability, acceptability, and feasibility of instituting regionally-organized area counsel offices.  Following the program’s successful completion, the Western Area Counsel Office (WACO) was established on 15 July 1988.  While originally organized to provide regional installation law support, WACO currently supports all Marine Corps installation and tenant commands by providing legal services in accordance with its mission.  The main WACO office is located in Building 1254 on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.  The building is one of two remaining structures on the site of the 25 September 1942 presidential dedication of Camp Pendleton.  The dedication ceremony was attended by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Major General Joseph Fegan (the installation’s first Commanding General), and Mary Fay Pendleton, widow of Major General Joseph H. Pendleton, the installation’s namesake.


Mailing Address 
 Western Area Counsel Office
Box 555231
Camp Pendleton, CA 92055-5231

Support Staff
Admin Support - (760) 725-3776
Financial Mgmt Analyst - (760) 725-5328
Paralegal Specialist - (760) 725-3776

Command Counsels

MCAS Miramar
http://www.miramar.marines.mil/Departments/Office-of-Counsel

MCAS Yuma
http://www.mcasyuma.marines.mil/Staff-and-Agencies/Western-Area-Counsel-Office/

MCAGCC/MAGTFTC 29 Palms
http://www.29palms.marines.mil/Offices/Western-Area-Counsel-Office/

Marine Corps Installations West