Major Nicholas S. Westley is the Special Trial Counsel Team Lead for Camp Pendleton, California. In that capacity he serves as the officer-in-charge of the Camp Pendleton Installation Office of Special Trial Counsel.
Major Westley received his B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of West Florida in 2011, and his J.D. / D.C.L from Louisiana State University in 2014.
Major Westley earned his commission in the United States Marine Corps in August 2013. He attended The Basic School in the winter of 2015 and the Naval Justice School in the summer of 2016. Major Westley completed the Expeditionary Warfare School Blended Seminar Program in June of 2020 and the Command and Staff College Distance Education Program in June of 2023, both in Camp Lejeune, NC.
Major Westley spent his first tour (March 2016 -April 2018) in Okinawa, Japan working for the Staff Judge Advocate, Marine Corps Installations-Pacific, and as a Trial Counsel for Legal Services Support Section Pacific. While in Okinawa, Major Westley deployed to Kuwait and Iraq as an individual augment in support of Combined Joint Task Force, Operation Inherent Resolve.
Major Westley spent his second tour (April 2018- June 2021) in Pensacola, FL working with the U.S. Navy’s Judge Advocate General Corps at Region Legal Service Office Southeast - Detachment Pensacola, as a Core Trial Counsel leading a team of Navy Attorneys and Paralegals engaged in criminal prosecutions.
Major Westley spent the beginning of his third tour (June 2021 - May 2022), serving as an Operational Law Attorney and Assistant Staff Judge Advocate for II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC. He rounded out his third tour (May 2022 to May 2024), as the Staff Judge Advocate for 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Camp Lejeune, NC. In this role, Major Westley also served as the Staff Judge Advocate for Task Force 61/2, located within SIXTH Fleet Headquarters, and forward deployed to Naples, Italy.
In June 2024, Major Westley assumed his current duties.
Major Westley's personal awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (second award), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various other service and campaign medals.