Air Force takes action against officers for Donald Report Deficiencies

  • Published
  • By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON --  Acting Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Chief of Staff General Norton A. Schwartz have taken administrative action against 15 Air Force officers in connection with deficiencies outlined in Admiral Kirkland H. Donald's May report to the Secretary of Defense. The report is the result of a comprehensive review of the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) force following the mistaken shipment of four ICBM nose-cone fuse assemblies to Taiwan in August 2006.

"The Air Force has no more solemn obligation than the security and reliability of the Nation's nuclear arsenal," General Schwartz said. "Commanders are accountable for all aspects of their commands, as are general officers for their functional responsibilities."

The administrative actions taken against the six general officers involved in the investigation are as follows:

· Lt. Gen. Kevin J. Sullivan received a letter of reprimand for not adequately addressing logistics policy deficiencies and for not taking adequate action to correct previously identified systemic issues in ICBM logistics in his position as Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support. He was also cited for not exercising effective command oversight to recognize and correct deficiencies in ICBM depot maintenance and materiel control while serving as Commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center. General Sullivan has requested retirement.

· Lt. Gen. Michael A. Hamel received a letter of admonishment for not effectively exercising responsibility for ICBM system sustainment matters within his authority and for not effectively acting to correct recurring deficiencies in engineering support of ICBM components while Commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center and Air Force Program Executive Officer for Space. General Hamel had previously requested retirement.

· Maj. Gen. Roger W. Burg received a letter of admonishment for not exercising effective command oversight of ICBM sustainment-related activities and for not effectively identifying and correcting deficiencies in shipping and receiving sensitive components at ICBM bases in his current position as Commander of Twentieth Air Force. The Acting Secretary and the Chief of Staff have determined that General Burg is needed to restore effective stewardship of the ICBM force, and he will remain in command to continue corrective actions he has initiated.

· Maj. Gen. Kathleen D. Close received a letter of admonishment for not exercising effective command oversight of depot maintenance, engineering activities and materiel control of sensitive components, for not recognizing systemic weaknesses in supply chain management of sensitive components, and for not taking adequate action to correct previously identified materiel control and maintenance deficiencies in her current position as Commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center. The Acting Secretary and the Chief of Staff have determined that General Close is needed to restore Air Force stewardship of the ICBM force, and she will remain in command to continue corrective actions she has initiated.

· Brig. Gen. Francis M. Bruno received a letter of admonishment for not exercising proper oversight to identify and correct weaknesses in logistics management and maintenance support for ICBM components and for not taking adequate action to correct previously identified deficiencies at Air Logistics Centers in his position as Director of Logistics for Air Force Materiel Command. General Bruno previously requested retirement.

· Brig. Gen. Arthur B. Cameron III received a letter of admonishment for not identifying and correcting deficiencies in depot maintenance operations involving sensitive components, for not ensuring proper materiel control of sensitive components when in the custody of maintenance personnel, and for not taking adequate action to correct previously identified discrepancies in materiel control and maintenance while he served as Commander of the 309th Maintenance Wing. General Cameron was routinely reassigned at the normal end of his tour before the Acting Secretary and the Chief of Staff reviewed Admiral Donald's report.

"We recognize the years of dedicated service these officers have given, but we cannot ignore the breaches of trust that have occurred on their watch," Acting Secretary Donley said. In reference to the decision to retain certain officers, the Acting Secretary explained that because some officers "are important to our ongoing efforts to revitalize the nuclear enterprise, and because their ability to serve effectively has not been compromised, it is appropriate for these officers to continue to serve in leadership positions."

The Air Force previously did not release the names of the general officers to allow each individual the opportunity to comment or provide any additional, clarifying information before the actions were finalized, and to respect the officers' privacy while matters were under review.

The Acting Secretary and Chief of Staff also have taken administrative actions against a total of nine colonels as part of the Air Force's review of Admiral Donald's Report. The administrative actions taken against the colonels involved in the investigation are as follows:

· Five colonels received letters of reprimand for not exercising effective command oversight to detect and correct deficiencies in materiel control, engineering, or maintenance activities associated with the ICBM force. All five officers were commanders of units that contributed to the improper shipment of sensitive components during the Taiwan incident, or were units with deficient performance as shown by Admiral Donald's investigation. Two of the five have been removed from command; of these, one is retiring. The remaining three officers, who earlier left their commands, will be retained in their current positions.

· Three colonels received letters of admonishment for failing to exercise effective command oversight to detect and correct deficiencies in their units that continued after the Taiwan incident. All three officers were commanders. One officer was removed from command; one officer was routinely reassigned at the normal end of tour and will remain in that new position and the third officer will be retained in the current position held.

· One colonel received a letter of counseling for failing to exercise effective command oversight to detect and correct deficient ICBM materiel control practices in a unit not involved in the Taiwan incident. The colonel is retiring from the current position held.

The Acting Secretary and the Chief of Staff proceeded with the administrative actions against these officers after evaluating recommendations in Admiral Donald's Report and other documentation. Air Force leaders carefully considered each officer's record as well as the Air Force's need to retain the expertise necessary to assist its ongoing efforts to continue to provide a safe, secure, reliable and capable nuclear deterrent force.

"These officers are good people with otherwise distinguished careers spent in faithful service to our country," General Schwartz said. "They are not accused of intentional wrongdoing, but they did not do enough to carry out their leadership responsibilities for nuclear oversight. For that, they must be held accountable."

An advisory panel appointed by Acting Secretary Donley assisted Air Force leaders in the service's internal review of Admiral Donald's Report recommendations. Chaired by General (retired) Thomas S. Moorman Jr., former Air Force Vice Chief of Staff and Commander, Air Force Space Command, the panel also included the Honorable Martin C. Faga, former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space and retired president and chief executive officer, MITRE Corporation, and General Stephen R. Lorenz, Commander, Air Education and Training Command.

"General Schwartz and I--together with the rest of the Air Force team--have been moving forward to rebuild confidence in Air Force stewardship of the nuclear mission," Acting Secretary Donley said. "In addition to the Donald Report, we will use recent recommendations from the Air Force Nuclear Task Force and the Secretary of Defense's Task Force on Nuclear Weapons Management, headed by Dr. Schlesinger, to develop a roadmap for our nuclear enterprise. We will announce the details of this nuclear roadmap in the next few weeks."