Attorney-Adviser (general)

United States Space Force•Colorado, 18 86690-000, BR• Part Time

Posted 6 hours ago• Legal & Compliance

Compensation

$129,096–$197,200/year

Job Description

Summary

The primary purpose of this position is to ?????provide operations, international, and intelligence legal services, as directed by the Office of the Staff Judge
Advocate, Headquarters, United States Space Force Combat Forces Command (CFC), to Headquarters CFC, a U.S. Space Force Field Command. The incumbent advises the Staff Judge Advocate, commanders, government officials, staffs, and subordinate organizations on all operations, international, and intelligence legal issues affecting CFC.

Open & closing dates

03/19/2026 to 03/30/2026

Salary $129,096 to - $197,200 per year

The NH-04 pay band is equivalent to GS-14 and 15 grade levels and includes locality.

Pay scale & grade NH 4

Location

Who Can Apply

Applications will be accepted from U.S. Citizens (U.S. citizenship required at time of application).

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Duties

Advise the Combat Forces Command CFC Commander, Deputy Commanders, staff, and subordinate organizations on the law of war pertaining to space operations. Advise the CFC Commander on all aspects of space operations in the Commander's various roles and responsibilities. Draft, review and interpret international, domestic, U.S. Government, DoW, Air Force, Space Force, and CFC law, policies, regulations, doctrine, concepts of operation, and other documents regarding space operations, training, testing, exercises, and military organizational construct involving U.S. and foreign military, civilian, intelligence, and commercial space users/operators and the development of space capabilities. Ensure all concerned parties are thoroughly briefed on legal issues relating to space operations.

Advise the CFC Commander, Deputy Commanders, staff, and subordinate organizations on international law, foreign disclosure of information, and foreign criminal jurisdiction. Draft international agreements and other documents related to international agreements including, but not limited to, acquisition and cross-servicing agreements, status of forces agreements (SOFA), SOFA supplementary agreements, implementing agreements, memorandums of agreement and understanding, basing agreements, exercise support arrangements, military personnel exchange agreements, and similar documents. These agreements and documents have widespread economic, social, military, and political impact and may have similar impact on a significant segment of private or public interests and are used as a basis for decisions at the Command, higher headquarters, and/or U.S. Government level.

Advise the CFC Commander, Deputy Commanders staff, and subordinate organizations on intelligence law. Analyze and interpret intelligence law, executive orders, directives, and regulations relevant to space operations and CFC. Ensure the Commands' intelligence and intelligence related activities are conducted in accordance with all applicable legal authority. Responsible for negotiating and conferring with other agencies of the Federal government, as appropriate, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, the Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, and the Department of State, concerning the administration and regulation of intelligence and counterintelligence operations in the United States and abroad. Support and assist the Commander, Deputy Commanders, staff, and subordinate organizations in providing legal advice concerning the intelligence activities of the Command, which can involve the most sensitive activities of DoW and which may affect the entire Executive Branch.

Other duties as assigned by the HQ CFC SJA, as necessary to support CFC and subordinate units. Fulfill the professional responsibilities of an attorney and supports other divisions, functions, and activities of HQ CFC/JA as required. Serve as backup advisor on acquisitions, administrative law, civil law, fiscal law, government ethics, personnel law, privacy, and real property law. Provide advice to CFC leadership and prepares legal memos and other documents related to acquisitions, administrative law, civil law, fiscal law, government ethics, personnel law, privacy, and real property law. When required, assist in providing oversight of the Command Ethics Program under the DoD Joint Ethics Regulation (JER) and providing ethics advice under the JER to CFC personnel.

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship is required
If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance as a condition of employment.
This is an Air Force Testing Designated Position (TDP). As such, the incumbent is subject to random drug testing and other requirements associated with the program.
Appointee must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. State or territory.
Appointee must possess a Juris Doctor degree or equivalent from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
Appointee must comply with all other requirements specified in Department of the Air Force Instruction 51-101.
Attorney appointments are subject to serve a one-year trial period.
Candidates are not required to have active duty service or veterans’ preference to be referred and considered. All qualified candidates who meet the recruitment assessment criteria will be referred to the selecting official.
Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station utilizing any or all modes of transportation, both commercial and military.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

You MUST have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD).
In addition, at the time of application, you must provide proof, dated within four months of application, of "active" status with a bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. On-line information is allowed as long as it shows that you are in "active" status.

DAFI51-101 The following grade-level guidelines shall be applicable to initial appointments and promotions to civilian attorney positions in the indicated grade or equivalent:
A4.2.5. GS-14 or GS-15.
A4.2.5.1. Qualifications Required at GS-14 or GS-15 Level. General requirements set forth under paragraph A4.1. In addition, the attorney shall have professional legal experience in excess of three years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

A4.2.5.2. Level of Supervision. Attorneys performing duties in GS-15 positions are expected to perform with substantial independence, even when working on the most complex or difficult matters.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
1. Professional knowledge of operations, international, and intelligence law to advise senior decision makers at Command level.
2. Ability to furnish legal advice on questions related to interpretation of international law, federal and state statutes, judicial decisions, Air Force and Space Force policy directives and instructions, DoW directives, and delegation of authority.
3. Knowledge of theories, principles, and techniques of legal research, general legal resource materials, and the skill to apply this knowledge.
4. Skill in applying the law to specific federal situations, resulting in a conclusion, which is legally supportable by international law, US domestic law, relevant judicial case law, and implementing policy and regulations.
5. Broad and in-depth knowledge of the organization, mission and functions of the Department of War, Joint Staff, Combatant Commands, Air Force, and Space Force.
6. Ability to effectively engage in extensive interactions with senior military and civilian officials on a significant number of complex issues.

At the time of application, you must provide proof, dated within four months of application, of "active" status and in good standing with a bar of the highest court of a State, US commonwealth, US territory, or the District of Columbia. On-line information is allowed as long as it shows that you are in "active" status and dated within four months of application.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, and be currently licensed as an attorney, in active (or equivalent) status and in good standing, with the bar of a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth. The attorney must maintain such bar membership in at least one jurisdiction during the entire course of employment with the Air Force.

Evaluation

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The resume/documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.

Applications who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be provided with your application. Applicants who do not submit required documentation to determine eligibility and qualifications will be eliminated from consideration. Other documents may be required based on the eligibility/eligibilities you are claiming. Click here to view the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide and the required documents you must submit to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming.

Online Application: Questionnaire
Resume: Your resume may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts. You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume is illegible/unreadable. Additional information on resume requirements can be located under "How To Apply".
License: At the time of application, you must provide proof, dated within four months of application, of "active" status with a bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. On-line information is allowed as long as it shows that you are in "active" status.

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: The VOW Act requires federal agencies to treat an eligible active duty service member as a veteran, disabled veteran, and preference eligible (as applicable) when applying for civil service positions before the effective release or discharge date. Appointment of military members before the release or discharge date is permissible if the member is on terminal leave. At the time the active duty member applies for a civil position, he or she must submit a "certification" memo in lieu of a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. The certification memo must originate from the member's military service branch on official letterhead and contain the following:

Name/Rank/Grade of Service Member
Branch of Armed Forces
Dates of Active Service (Start and End Date(s)
Expected Date of Discharge/Release from Active Duty
Terminal leave start date (if applicable)
Expected character of service/discharge (honorable/general) and type of separation (i.e. separation or retirement)
Must be certified within 120 days of anticipated discharge
Signature by, or by direction of the adjutant, personnel office, unit commander, or higher headquarters commander

NOTE: The VOW Act provides tentative preference. If appointed, a DD Form 214 must be submitted upon receipt.

NOTICE OF VETERANS' PREFERENCE:
There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation to their submissions.

Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim Veterans Preference must submit VOW certification memo or copy of the official DD Form 214, which must include the character of service, and a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. (SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website at www.opm.gov.)

NOTE: Applicants for attorney appointments do not require veterans' preference in order to be eligible for consideration.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.