Marines


Western Area Counsel Office

MISSION

To operate world-class legal offices composed of diverse, talented, 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-Ground Combat Center, Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, Twentynine Palms, California, represents its respective installations and tenant commands in all practice areas under the cognizance of the Office of General Counsel for the Department of the Navy.  The WACO main office directly supporting Camp Pendleton also provides specialized legal support to installation command counsels.


PRACTICE AREAS

Environmental/Land Use
Provides the MCAGCC/MAGTFTC 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 resource management, water rights, and real estate.

Ethics
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
Supports the MCAGCC/MAGTFTC commanders and staff accurate, effective, and timely legal advice and counsel regarding civilian personnel policy and administration.  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)
Provides accurate, effective, and timely legal advice and counsel to support western area command MCCS activities and their business operations.

Procurement
Supports the command’s missions by providing the regional contracting office, contracting office, and other government contracting officials accurate, effective, and timely legal advice and counsel regarding supplies and services acquisition, litigation support, fiscal law, and ethics regarding procurement, use, and disposition of government resources.

Camp Pendleton Western Area Counsel Office

contacts

Associate Counsel 760-830-8772
Counsel 760-830-5261
Paralegal 830-760-7674
Office of General Counsel
MCAGCC/MAGTFTC
PO Box 788188
Twentynine Palms, CA 92278
WACO Logo

History

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 on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.  The Office of Counsel, MCAGCC/MAGTFTC Twentynine Palms remains a satellite office of WACO.

Camp Pendleton Western Area Counsel Office

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms