The Air Force on Monday fired two more nuclear commanders and disciplined a third, fresh evidence of leadership lapses in a nuclear missile corps that has suffered a rash of recent setbacks, including the firing last year of its top commander.
The
most senior officer to be relieved Monday was Col. Carl Jones, the No. 2
commander of the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base,
Wyoming, in charge of 150 of the Air Force's 450 Minuteman 3 nuclear
intercontinental ballistic missiles. He was dismissed "for a loss of
trust and confidence in his leadership abilities," and has been
reassigned as a special assistant to the wing commander.
The
actions Monday were confirmed to The Associated Press in response to an
AP inquiry about an internal Air Force investigation of two commanders
at the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, which
also is responsible for 150 Minuteman 3 missiles.
It
is unusual for disciplinary action to be taken against senior officers
at two of the Air Force's three nuclear missile bases on the same day.
Officials said the timing was a coincidence. It extends a pattern of
leadership failures in the ICBM force over the past year.
Last
March nine officers were fired at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana,
which is the third of the three nuclear missile bases, in response to an
exam-cheating scandal there. Last year, Maj. Gen. Michael Carey,
commander of the entire ICBM force, was fired after an investigation
into a drinking binge and other misconduct while he was in Russia as
head of a visiting U.S. government delegation.
The
nuclear missile force, whose work is arguably the most sensitive in the
military, has been beset with problems in discipline, training,
leadership and morale, prompting Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in
February to order an independent review. The results of that review are
expected to be announced in coming weeks.
In
response to an AP inquiry Monday, Lt. Col. John Sheets, spokesman for
Air Force Global Strike Command, which is in charge of the Air Force
Minuteman 3 force as well as its nuclear bomber fleet, said that as a
result of the Minot investigation a missile squadron commander, Lt. Col.
Jimmy "Keith" Brown, was relieved of command Monday "because of a loss
of confidence in Brown's ability to lead his squadron."
Sheets
said the investigation was directed by Maj. Gen. Jack Weinstein,
commander of the 20th Air Force, and "substantiated that Brown engaged
in unlawful discrimination or harassment." He added that the probe found
that Brown "made statements to subordinates that created a perception
within his squadron that pregnancy would negatively affect a woman's
career."
The
probe also substantiated allegations that Brown had failed to ensure
the well-being of his troops. In March a two-person crew operating a
Minuteman 3 launch control center at Minot felt ill from fumes created
by a refurbishment project, but the crew remained at their post because
they believed Brown would have taken action against them had they left.
They later were hospitalized, Sheets said.
There
are three missile squadrons at each of the three nuclear missile wings.
Each squadron is responsible for 50 missiles operated by officers in
five underground launch control centers.
The
second officer targeted in the Minot investigation was Col. Richard
Pagliuco, commander of the 91st Operations Group, which is in charge of
the three missile squadrons at Minot, including Brown's.
Sheets
said the investigation confirmed that Pagliuco "failed to promote and
safeguard the morale, well-being and welfare of the airmen under his
command." Pagliuco received administrative punishment in the form of a
letter in his personnel file, but Sheets said he could not be more
specific about the punishment.
The
complaints against Jones, the vice commander of the 90th Missile Wing
at F.E. Warren, were the most extensive, according to Sheets'
description of the case.
Sheets
said Jones' immediate superior, Col. Tracey Hayes, commander of the
90th, removed him following an internal investigation that substantiated
allegations of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, and
cruelty and maltreatment of a subordinate.
"In
four separate instances, Jones acted in a manner that degraded his
status as a senior officer and wing leader including maltreating a
subordinate," Sheets said.
The
most recent incident involving Jones was in September and occurred at a
thrift store operated on F.E. Warren by volunteers, Sheets said.
According to the investigation report as described by Sheets, Jones went
to the shop, called Airman's Attic, to discuss shopping hour policies.
"He
hit the sign on the Airman's Attic door and repeatedly hit the shop's
front counter while raising his voice, using profanity" and threatening
to shut down the place, Sheets said.
It
was this incident which prompted a complaint to the 90th Missile Wing's
inspector general, leading to the investigation and the decision by
Hayes to remove Jones.
Three
other incidents of allegedly inappropriate behavior on base by Jones
during 2014 were substantiated in the investigation, including one in
May in which his behavior was described by one officer and a witness as
shocking.
Sheets
said the disciplinary actions at Minot and Warren reflect an effort to
ensure that commanders do not behave in ways that detract from the
mission.
"Our people must treat each other with dignity and respect," Sheets said. "That applies up and down the chain of command."