Military / UCMJ

Forensic Reconstruction Expert for Military Court-Martial Proceedings

Serving Judge Advocate General attorneys — prosecution and defense — across all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Air Force veteran. Qualified in U.S. military courts. Available worldwide. Retainer waived for UCMJ cases.

Professional Background

Forensic Reconstruction & Forensic Mapping Expert

Gerald C. McDevitt is a forensic reconstruction and forensic mapping expert with more than 32 years of professional experience who provides expert analysis, reporting, and testimony for military court-martial proceedings under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

A United States Air Force veteran, Gerald McDevitt understands the military justice system, the demands placed on Judge Advocate General attorneys, and the unique challenges of cases that arise at military installations — both stateside and overseas.

Gerald McDevitt has been retained by both trial counsel (prosecution) and defense counsel in UCMJ proceedings, providing objective, scientifically defensible analysis regardless of the retaining party. His work follows the evidence.

His opinions are expressed to a reasonable degree of scientific and engineering certainty, and his methodology has consistently met the admissibility standards applied in military courts under Military Rule of Evidence 702.

All Branches Served

Gerald McDevitt provides forensic reconstruction services for court-martial and military justice proceedings across all branches of the United States Armed Forces.

Whether the case originates at Fort Liberty, Camp Pendleton, Norfolk Naval Station, Joint Base Charleston, Ramstein Air Base, Camp Humphreys, or any other installation worldwide, Gerald McDevitt is prepared to respond.

Military Case Types

Gerald McDevitt has provided forensic reconstruction analysis for military cases involving

Negligent homicide (UCMJ Article 134)

Vehicle-pedestrian collisions involving military personnel or dependents

Vehicular manslaughter (UCMJ Article 119) — both voluntary and involuntary

Felony and misdemeanor DUI / DWI resulting in death or serious bodily injury

Reckless driving causing death or injury on or near military installations

Hit-and-run offenses under the UCMJ

Commercial and military vehicle collisions (convoy, tactical vehicle, POV)

Emergency vehicle and military police pursuit-related collisions

Fatal and serious injury collisions on military installations and adjacent roadways

Collision events requiring forensic scene documentation and 3D reconstruction for court presentation

Other UCMJ matters involving collision events, scene reconstruction, or expert reconstruction analysis are evaluated case by case.

For both prosecution and defense, Gerald McDevitt applies the same rigorous scientific methodology used in state and federal proceedings:
Recon3D (iOS-based LiDAR scanning application for detailed 3D documentation…), FARO Zone 3D Expert Plus (for importing and processing third-party LiDAR data), Total Station surveying, Emlid RS3 GNSS, Racelogic VBOX GPS data logger for speed and motion data, Autel EVO II Pro RTK V3 drone / UAV photogrammetry, high-resolution digital cameras, and 3D forensic animation. Every analysis is designed to withstand cross-examination and admissibility challenges.

Worldwide Availability

Military cases do not stay within U.S. borders. Service members are stationed at installations across the globe, and collisions involving military personnel on foreign roadways present unique investigative challenges: unfamiliar jurisdictions, foreign law enforcement documentation, language barriers, and the need for an expert who can deploy internationally on short notice.

Gerald McDevitt has traveled internationally for military cases, including multiple deployments to Germany and to Panama (South America). Gerald McDevitt is prepared to respond to any location worldwide, including but not limited to:

Europe

Germany (Ramstein, Stuttgart, Grafenwöhr, Vilseck, Wiesbaden) Italy (Aviano, Vicenza, Naples) United Kingdom (RAF Lakenheath, Mildenhall) Spain (Rota) Belgium (SHAPE, Brussels) Turkey (Incirlik)

Pacific / Asia

Japan (Yokosuka, Okinawa, Yokota,Iwakuni, Sasebo) South Korea (Camp Humphreys, Yongsan, Osan) Guam (Andersen AFB) Hawaii (Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Schofield) Australia (Pine Gap, Darwin)

Americas

Panama, Honduras (Soto Cano), Cuba (Guantánamo Bay), all CONUS installations, Alaska (JBER, Fort Wainwright), Puerto Rico.

Why Choose

WHY MILITARY ATTORNEYS CHOOSE GERALD MCDEVITT

Air Force Veteran

Gerald McDevitt served in the United States Air Force as an Integrated Avionics Systems Specialist. He understands military culture, rank structure, the chain of command, and the weight that a court-martial conviction carries for a service member’s career, benefits, and future.

Retainer Waived for UCMJ Cases

Gerald McDevitt waives the standard retainer fee for all UCMJ cases. This eliminates a common barrier when JAG attorneys request expert assistance through the convening authority and simplifies the approval process for government-funded expert support.

Prosecution & Defense

Gerald McDevitt serves both trial counsel and defense counsel. This dual-role experience demonstrates the objectivity and scientific integrity that military judges expect. Gerald McDevitt’s opinions follow the evidence, not the party that retained him.

Qualified in Military Courts

Gerald McDevitt has been accepted as an expert witness in U.S. military court proceedings. His methodology meets Military Rule of Evidence 702 admissibility standards. JAG attorneys can retain Gerald McDevitt with confidence that the expert will survive qualification challenges.

Worldwide Deployment

Gerald McDevitt responds to cases at military installations worldwide, including multiple prior engagements in Germany and Panama. OCONUS cases receive the same level of service, technology, and thoroughness as domestic cases.

Advanced Forensic Technology

Gerald McDevitt deploys the same technology used in the most complex domestic cases to military installations worldwide: FARO Zone 3D Expert Plus, Emlid RS3 GNSS systems, Bosch CDR tools for event data recorder extraction, photogrammetry, and 3D forensic animation for courtroom presentation.

HOW TO RETAIN GERALD MCDEVITT FOR A MILITARY CASE

The process for retaining Gerald McDevitt in a UCMJ proceeding is straightforward:

Initial Consultation (Confidential) 01

Contact Gerald McDevitt by phone at (843) 343-4542 or by email at gerry@mda-recon.com. All initial consultations are confidential and protected under attorney-client privilege and the work product doctrine pursuant to RCM 701(f). There is no charge for the initial case evaluation.

Case Materials Review 02

Provide available discovery materials: collision reports (military police, CID, NCIS, OSI, or host nation law enforcement), witness statements, photographs, vehicle inspection records, EDR data, and any existing reconstruction work.

Scope & Authorization 03

Gerald McDevitt will outline the recommended scope of work. In defense cases, this supports the three-prong Gonzalez test for expert necessity requests to the convening authority. The UCMJ retainer requirement is waived.

Analysis & Scene Work 04

Gerald McDevitt conducts independent forensic analysis and, when appropriate, deploys to the scene using LiDAR-based tools, GNSS systems, and Total Station surveying equipment for precise forensic mapping and documentation.

Expert Report & Testimony 05

Gerald McDevitt provides a detailed, court-ready expert report and is prepared to testify at the Article 32 hearing, court-martial, or sentencing phase as required.