David M. Cisek

David Cisek is a highly regarded attorney whose practice focuses on military justice, federal employment law, and security clearance. With nearly 12 years of active-duty service, David has held pivotal roles including Military Trial Judge, District Chief Prosecutor for the Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC), and Area Defense Counsel.

Over the course of his career, David has defended, prosecuted, and presided over approximately 150 felony-level trials involving complex charges such as homicide, sexual assault, human trafficking, domestic violence, and child abuse. He has worked closely with agencies such as the FBI, NCIS, and DOJ.

David began his legal career after being admitted to the Illinois State Bar and commissioning into the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps. In 2013, he was assigned to his first duty station at Hurlburt Field, Florida, where he quickly distinguished himself as a top litigator. He was consistently selected to serve as lead counsel in courts-martial and administrative hearings, and was named the top-performing trial counsel among eight peers.

In 2015, David deployed to Afghanistan as part of the Special Operations Joint Task Force/NATO Special Operations Component Command in support of Operation Resolute Support. There, he served as the primary legal advisor to a two-star general on issues involving targeting, tactical guidance, death investigations, administrative law, and adverse actions. For his exceptional service, David was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in 2016.

Following his deployment, David was competitively selected to serve as an Area Defense Counsel, where he represented over 150 airmen worldwide facing courts-martial, investigations, and administrative actions. He earned the #1 overall ranking among new defense attorneys and was fast-tracked into senior prosecution roles.

For the next six years, David served as a federal prosecutor, holding key positions including Senior Trial Counsel – Special Victims Unit (SVU), Director of Trial Operations, and District Chief Special Trial Counsel. In his final prosecutorial role, David was among the first cadre of attorneys certified as Special Counsel within the newly formed Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC). He prosecuted the Air Force’s most serious offenses and served as the sole Chief overseeing junior prosecutors across both Europe and the United States. During this time, he was recognized as “Senior Trial Counsel of the Year” and received the #1 ranking as District Chief Special Trial Counsel.

David’s last active-duty assignment was as a Military Trial Judge. Despite being the most junior officer in the judiciary, he quickly earned a reputation for excellence, receiving a #2 ranking out of five judges in his first year on the bench.

In addition to his trial work, David is a certified instructor in trial advocacy and regularly trains attorneys and federal law enforcement personnel in investigative and litigation strategies. He brings to each case a deep commitment to justice, proven leadership, and practical insight into federal legal practice.

Bar Admissions:

• Illinois
• Texas
• U.S. Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
• Supreme Court of the United States

Practice Areas:

• Federal Employment Law – Federal employee disputes, disciplinary actions, and appeals
• Security Clearance Law – Clearance applications, suspensions, revocations, and appeals
• Military Administrative Law – Adverse actions, Article 15s, separations, discharge upgrades, and correction board petitions
• Military Justice – Courts-martial and criminal investigations

David is committed to helping military members and federal employees navigate the complex legal challenges they face. Whether advocating for fair compensation in military pay matters or protecting a client’s security clearance, David applies his extensive knowledge of military and federal law with care and precision.

If you are facing a federal employment issue, security clearance concern, or military discipline, David provides experienced and determined representation focused on protecting your rights and securing your future.