KIRTLAND AFB MILITARY CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

Military establishments consistently maintain an environment of discipline and honesty. But, there are bound to be incidents in these establishments where military personnel have to face questions about their integrity. In this case, it is very important to have a Kirtland AFB military criminal defense lawyer on your side, who can defend you and fight aggressively to get you justice.

HISTORY OF KIRTLAND AFB

In January 1941, construction of the Albuquerque Airport began and the airport was completed on August 1941. In the month of March that same year, Col. Frank D. Hackett arrived at the airfield as the army base's first commander. After a month, the first military aircraft also arrived at the airfield, which was flown in by Lt. Sid Young. The airfield was officially activated when five soldiers were allocated to the aircraft.

During the summer, the airfield saw the arrival of its first set of troops by train. The 19th Bombardment Group and the 500 other base support personnel came to the army air base. Lt. Col. Eugene L. Eubank commanded the 19th Bombardment Group. The army air base actually picked up pace when navigator trainees reached with the B-17 Flying Fortress, along with 2,195 pilots and bombardiers. A short time later, the 19th Bombardment Group was shipped off to Philippines and the South Pacific where many of the soldiers were awarded medals for their bravery.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the first class of Bombardiers launched an advanced flying school. This was the Army's first flying school during the War. The army air base was renamed in honor of Col. Ray C. Kirtland, who is considered to be one of the forerunners of aviation.

In 1946, Kirtland Army Air Field was put under the Air Material Command after which the training sessions for flying came to an end. Instead, the airfield received a new mission of testing flights for the Manhattan Engineering District. It is the same organization that is responsible for designing the atomic bomb. The air force personnel worked on airplane modifications to allow weapons to be safely placed in the aircraft.

In 1947, the Kirtland Army Air Field was changed to Kirtland Air Force Base. At that time, it had a population of almost 972 including military and civilian personnel.

In 1971, Kirtland AFB merged with three other bases: Kirtland, Manzano and Sandia Base. After the change of name, Kirtland AFB became the third largest base in the AFMC, and the sixth largest base in the history of the American Air Force.

PRESENT DAY KIRTLAND AFB

Today, the Kirtland AFB is also a shared civilian airport, because it is also used as an international airport. It is the headquarters for the Air Material Command Nuclear Weapons Center. This center ensures that the nuclear weapons used by the military are safe, and dependable and that the weapons system is ready to support the National Command Structure and Air Force.

The 58th Special Operations Wing is the host unit at Kirtland AFB. This wing is an Air Education and Training Command unit, which trains the Air Force Special Operations Command forces, and the Air Combat Command, which is a search and rescue unit. It operates two helicopters, and three C-130 airplanes. The unit is currently providing training to its personnel on the CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. The unit also has the 58th Mission Support Group, 58th Operations Group as well as the 336th Training Group.

Kirtland AFB is also home to Headquarters Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, the 498th Armament Systems Wing and the 377th Air Base Wing.

The base population is made up of 23,000 employees. This includes 4,200 active duty personnel, 3,200 part-time Air Force Reserve as well as 1,000 National Guard personnel.

LEGAL COUNSEL AT KIRTLAND AFB

Accomplished Kirtland AFB military criminal defense lawyer, Joseph. L. Jordan is an experienced military defense attorney, who investigates his client's cases thoroughly. If you have been charged of UCMJ crimes, or if you are facing court martial proceedings, consult Joseph L. Jordan. He is well informed about military life and is experienced in military justice and military defense of service members.