"These personnel actions were necessary to maintain the very high standards we demand of those units entrusted with supporting our nation's nuclear mission," Gebara said Monday in a command statement. ", An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Biographical details about Welch's career were not immediately available. Marc Crawford, the commander of the Navys Surface Division 11, the Navy said in a statement. Surface Division 21 Commodore Capt. The 35th Signal Brigade, a separate brigade of the 18th Airborne Corps, is stationed at Fort Gordon. He was commissioned in the Air Force after graduating from Texas A&M University's ROTC program in 1999 and had deployments to Iraq, Kuwait and Oman in various roles. An Air Force biography about Mayer's career has been removed from the base's website, but an archived copy on the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine shows he took on his role as commander of the 5th Mission Support Group in June 2022. Previous command removals at Minot AFB included the dismissal of the 91st Missile Wing Operations Support Squadron commander in 2021 and the 69th Bomb Squadron and 91st Security Forces Group commanders in 2018. Two commanders and four subordinate leaders at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, have been relieved of command, according to a terse news release from 8th Air Force. BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. Dustin Lonero, from the littoral combat ship Coronado, was assigned as the Montgomerys skipper until a permanent replacement is named. "If they do, they must ensure that all of the means of communication within the chain of command have been thoroughly exhausted and that they have a full understanding of all the facts, and that they include all members of their chain of command in that communication," he said. Simon McKeon was relieved as commanding officer of the guided-missile cruiser Normandy on Tuesday. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets Col. Gregory Mayer, center, accepts the command guidon of the 5th Mission Support Group on June 30, 2022, at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. Mayer is one of two Gebara relieved the Commanders of the 5th Mission Support Group and the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron. Crozier was relieved of duty April 2 following the leak of a letter he wrote to those higher up in his chain of command. 0:05. Col. Gregory Mayer, who ran the 5th Mission Support Group; Maj. Jonathan Welch, the -- Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, commander of 8th Air Force, relieved two commanders today from their positions of Two commanders and four subordinate leaders at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, have been relieved of command, according to a terse news release from "These personnel actions were necessary to maintain the very high standards we demand of those units entrusted with supporting our Nation's nuclear mission," said Gebara. A Marine officer has been relieved of duty after he was seen in a viral video demanding accountability from military leaders following Thursday's attack in Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, commander of 8th Air Force, relieved two commanders today from their positions of leadership at Minot Air Force Base, North Brett Crozier, who 2023 Stars and Stripes. Sailors wait in line to dispose of trash in a waste room aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, June 17, 2020. Col. Gregory Mayer, shown in an official photo from 2022, was recently dismissed from his position as commander of the 5th Mission Support Group at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. On December 10, 2021, Commander, Naval Surface Squadron 14, Capt. Instead, he will be reassigned to other work. They were dismissed due to a loss of confidence in their ability to complete their assigned duties, an Air Force statement said. "The much broader, deeper investigation that we conducted in the weeks following that had a much deeper scope. Rear Admiral Husband E. Kimmel was relieved of his command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet as part of a shake-up of officers in the wake of the Pearl Harbor disaster. "Their outstanding efforts greatly contributed to the health, safety and recovery of the crew of USS Theodore Roosevelt," Braithwaite said. Two top-ranking officers on a U.S. Navy vessel were relieved of duty on Thursday due to a "loss of confidence in their ability to command," the Navy announced. Col. Joe Buccino, spokesman for the corps, declined to comment on the nature of the allegations or provide any additional information regarding the investigation into Foulk, the ArmyTimes reported. 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All rights reserved. America is still the light shining in a fog of chaos. In addition, Navy Rear Adm. Stuart Baker's pending promotion to two-star rank has been put on hold, pending further review, Gilday said. The Navy has dealt with other command issues related to sexual harassment in recent months. The Air Force has relieved six leaders assigned to a North Dakota base in charge of nuclear missiles and bombers over a loss of confidence, the military branch Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller relieved of duty today for posting video criticizing military leaders for failing to take responsibility for disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. The two officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the continuing inquiry. Phillip Lundberg, the executive officer, were both relieved of duty in a rare termination of two high-ranking officials. Col. Gregory Mayer, the commander of the 5th Mission Support Group, and Maj. Jonathan Welch, the commander of the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron, were both relieved of their jobs, a Minot Air Force Base spokeswoman confirmed to Military.com on Tuesday morning. Jozsef Papp. Waryas declined to verify details of the alleged incident, which Army Times could not independently confirm. Six leaders from the North Dakata base have been relieved over a lack of confidence, the Air Force said Monday. It is my belief that both Admiral Baker and Captain Crozier fell well short of what we expect of those in command. Their names were withheld to protect the privacy of the individuals in the initial statement but later released. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Depreo previously served in various engineering-oriented staff roles across the Army, including in Iraq, the Pentagon and Germany. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Lieutenant Colonel Scheller posted on Facebook that he has been relieved of duty and will leave the Marine Corps for cause based on lack of trust and confidence If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. He was relieved of his duties as commander of the 11th Space Warning Squadron at Buckley Air Force Base in Colorado on Friday, May 14, by order of Lt. Gen. Steven Whiting. It is unusual for the Navy to relieve a ships commander, much less its two top officers, for any reason. Related: Special Operations Commander Fired After Being Arrested for Alleged Drunk Driving, Hit and Run. Space Command. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael M. Gilday answers questions during a Pentagon news conference on the results of the USS Theodore Roosevelt Command investigation, June 19, 2020. The U.S. Air Force announced that Col. Gary Donovan, 552nd Operations Group commander, was relieved from command on Monday. The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt flies a replica of Capt. BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (U.S. Air Force). (Michael Richmond/U.S. Davis studied history at Vanderbilt University and UNC-Chapel Hill, writing a master's thesis about how the Cold War-era Defense Department influenced Hollywood's WWII movies. UPDATE (3/1): Report: failed nuclear inspections led to firings within 5th Bomb Wing. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, commander of 8th Air Force, relieved two commanders today from their positions of leadership at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, due to a loss of confidence in their ability to complete their assigned duties. Mayer was responsible for $4.3 billion in base and missile field assets, according to his biography, which has since been removed from the units website. Col. Michael Maginness will be stepping in as interim Mission Support Group Commander, MAFB Public Affairs said. Copyright 2023 KFYR. Braithwaite said he's satisfied with the depth and fairness of the report, and its conclusions. The engineer officer took over the Steel Spike battalion in June 2021, according to unit social media. WASHINGTON The Navy has fired the commander and the second in charge of the littoral combat ship Montgomery because of a loss of confidence in their ability to command, the service said on Thursday. "As Captain Crozier stated in his email, he should have been more decisive when the ship pulled into Guam," Gilday said. Small and agile with crews of about 80 sailors, Independence-class littoral warships like the Montgomery have a futuristic-looking, all-aluminum trimaran design. Air Force expands cancer review of nuclear missile personnel, Gallantry: Biden presents Medal of Honor to retired Army Col. Paris Davis for his heroics in Vietnam, US to send bridge-launching vehicles for tank deployments to Ukraine in new $400M aid package, Japan complains to US over Utah senators remarks on imprisoned Navy officer, Military, VA provide troops, vets more gun safety options to help reduce suicides, Pentagon tells service members to stop displaying giant US flags at major events, K-Town Now features the latest news from the Kaiserslautern Military Community. Based on facts found in the report, which Gilday and Navy Secretary Kenneth J. Braithwaite characterized as both thorough and fair, Gilday said his initial recommendation that Crozier reinstated was proven wrong. Baker, the commander of Strike Group 9, was Crozier's immediate superior. Col. Matt Foulk, commander of the Army's 35th Signal Brigade (Lion Brigade), was removed from command Monday. from around the world. Lt. Gen. Erik Kurilla, the 18th Airborne Corps Commander, stated there was "a loss ofconfidence" in Foulk's ability to command after the misconduct probe was conducted. To protect the privacy of the individuals, further details will not be released. The Pentagon services typically release the names of commanders when announcing reliefs for cause. The Navy did not elaborate on the circumstances of the firings, but two Navy officials said the officers removal had resulted from their handling of a sexual harassment investigation. The decision was made by Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, commander of 8th Air Force, which oversees the Air Forces fleet of nuclear-capable strategic bombers and comes amid heightened scrutiny of the U.S. military's nuclear readiness. Littoral combat ships like the Montgomery are a relatively new class of Navy warship. The 5th Bomb Wing operates the B-52H Stratofortress aircraft, which is one of the two types of nuclear-capable bombers that the Air Force uses, the news outlet reported. Had I known then what I know today, I would have not made that recommendation to reinstate Captain Crozier. Army veteran Allison Jaslow also is the first LGBTQ leader of a major veterans service organization. That firing was reported earlier by USNI News. The 5th Bomb Wing maintains a fleet of 28 nuclear-capable B-52H Stratofortress bombers. Ryan 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Commander of the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine visited the units defending the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk Oblast on 3 March. The relief comes on the heels of local authorities arresting five soldiers stationed at the Louisiana post on rape charges. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, [Depreo] was relieved of command for [a] loss of trust and confidence in his judgment and ability to command, amid allegations of misconduct, Waryas said in a statement. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Additionally, he said, Crozier "exercised questionable judgment when he released sailors from quarantine on the ship, which put his crew at higher risk and may have increased the spread of the virus aboard the Theodore Roosevelt.". Col. Gregory Mayer, center, accepts the command guidon of the 5th Mission Support Group on June 30, 2022, at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. Mayer is one of two commanders at the base who were recently relieved. Greg Steele/U.S. "These personnel actions were necessary to maintain the very high standards we demand of those units entrusted with supporting our Nation's nuclear mission," said Gebara. Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, commander of 8th Air Force, relieved Col. Gregory Mayer of the 5th Mission Support Group and Maj. Jonathan Welch of the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron, both based at Minot Air Force Base. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. A Marine spokesman confirmed Scheller Lt Col. Matthew Lohmeier, 11th Space Warning Squadron Commander, was relieved of command in May after controversial remarks on a Cmdr. Its unclear at this point who will take over interim leadership of the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron. Pair of commanders within 5th Bomb Wing fired Monday, UPDATE: Bismarck Police Release re incident at BHS, North Dakota schools and law enforcement agencies receive false threat Thursday, Teen killed in collision with train in Mountrail County, News release from Williston Police Department, Two men convicted of murder in 2021 shooting death, Closed Caption Inquiries - (701) 255-5757. (Master Sgt. Richard J. Zamberlan, the ships skipper, and Cmdr. Navy Fires Warships Top Two Officers, Citing Loss of Confidence, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/30/us/politics/uss-montgomery-captain-fired.html. Navy Secretary Kenneth J. Braithwaite answers questions during a news conference on the results of the USS Theodore Roosevelt Command Investigation in the Pentagon Briefing Room, June 19, 2020. Mayer took command of the 5th Mission Support Group in June last year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Cmdr. Depreos relief is linked to an incident that occurred at the battalions Dec. 14 holiday ball at a casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana, according to a source familiar with the move. Crozier will not be reassigned as the commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, nor will he be eligible for future command opportunities. Base public affairs confirmed that Col. Daniel Hoadley remains in command of the 5th Bomb Wing. Legal Statement. Actions were already underway to acquire [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]-compliant off-base hotel rooms for the crew before he sent that email.". Air Force Global Strike Command added that, in addition to the two commanders, four subordinate leaders were fired by other officials at Minot. Foulk assumed command of the brigade on July 2019. Phillip Lundberg, the vessels executive officer, were relieved by Capt. "In reviewing both Admiral Baker and Captain Crozier's actions, they did not do enough, soon enough, to fulfill their primary obligation. All rights reserved. Manman Dejeto/Agence France-Presse Getty Images. Gilday said it's rare for ship commanders to directly communicate as high up in their chain of command as Crozier did. Two commanders among those relieved of duty at Minot Air Force Base. -- Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, commander of 8th Air Force, relieved two commanders today from their positions of leadership at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, due to a loss of confidence in their ability to complete their assigned duties. Lt. Col. Jon-Paul Depreo, former commander of the 46th Engineer Battalion, pictured at the battalion's military ball on Dec. 13, 2022 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Moreover, if Captain Crozier were still in command today, I would be relieving him.". Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. Bradford Tonder, who had served as the commanding officer since December 2020, according to a Navy release. The firings come as the Air Force is expanding a review of whether nine instances of blood cancer found in officers over decades are linked to nuclear silo work. Task & Purpose identified the commanders who were relieved of duty but the subordinates were not named. WebCmdr. Gen. Andrew Gebara, commander of 8th Air Force, Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller relieved of duty for calling out brass over Afghanistan A Marine Corps battalion commander said he was relieved of his duties The Montgomery has in recent years patrolled contested waterways like the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea in what Navy officials say is a signal to allies and adversaries that the United States is committed to protecting free and open international waters. The 5th Mission Support Group assists and supports the "5th Bomb Wing's 28 B-52 strategic bombers, the 91st Missile Wing's 165 Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic missiles and Launch control centers, and the 54th Helicopter Squadron's eight UH-1 helicopters," according to Mayer's biography. Lt. Mayer, Welch and four subordinate leaders were relieved of command "due to a loss of confidence in their ability to complete their assigned duties," the Air Force said. Following the release of a report into the events surrounding an outbreak of COVID-19 on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Navy Capt. ", An official website of the United States government, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Richard Zamberlan, the commanding officer, and Cmdr. Gilday said it is the findings of the more detailed investigation, rather than the existence of the leaked letter, that have prevented Crozier from being reinstated as commander of the Roosevelt. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., discusses what led to his and other lawmakers Air Force service records to be released and calls for a further investigation. Ken Anderson, relieved Cmdr. A B-52H Stratofortress aircraft assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, arrives May 4, 2021, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Gen. Stephen Whiting, Space Operations Command commander, relieved Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier of command of the 11th Space Warning Squadron, You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. At the time the letter was sent, Gilday said, the Navy already had made arrangements for off-ship lodging for Roosevelt sailors. Greg Erwin), Operatives who duped Air Force into releasing service records committed identity theft: Rep. Don Bacon. Maj. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Cmdr. ORIGINAL STORY (2/27): MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (KMOT) Leadership with the 8th Air Force relieved a pair of commanders within the 5th Bomb Wing Monday, along with four subordinates, according to a report from Global Strike Command. We stand with you brother. Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. 2023 www.augustachronicle.com. "Captain Crozier's primary responsibility was the safety and the well-being of the crew, so that the ship could remain as operationally ready as possible," he said. A Navy official told USNI News that he was relieved due to subtantiated sexual harassment concerns. They entered the fleet in the past two years to operate in littoral areas, or waters close to shore, where larger vessels may have difficulty maneuvering. He was the only sailor aboard the Roosevelt to die from COVID-19. Capt. Greg Erwin). ", Both Crozier and Baker failed to move sailors off the aircraft carrier as quickly as they could have, and failed to move them to a safer environment more quickly, Gilday said. The littoral combat ship Montgomery has in recent years patrolled contested waterways like the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. The Air Force relieved 6 leaders assigned to Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. Jeffrey Grimes, commander of Naval Base Guam, for work related to finding facilities on Guam to house sailors from the Roosevelt. To protect the privacy of the individuals, further details will not be released. The names of the subordinates are not being publicized by base leaders. Col. Gregory Mayer, commander of the 5th Mission Support Group, and Maj. Jonathan Welch, the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, were dismissed from their jobs along with four of their subordinates, a base spokesperson told Stars and Stripes on Monday. Brett E. Crozier, the ship's former commander, will not be reinstated, Navy Adm. Michael M. Gilday, chief of naval operations said at a Pentagon news conference. Story tips can be sent tolouis.casiano@fox.com. The broadened review includes all personnel who worked on, guarded, supported or operated ground-based warheads, Global Strike Command announced last week. A lieutenant colonel commanding an engineer battalion at Fort Polk, Louisiana, has been fired amid a criminal investigation, an installation spokesperson confirmed to Army Times. Lt. Col. Jon-Paul Depreo was relieved as commander of the 46th Engineer Battalion, a separate battalion of the Fort Bragg, North Carolina-based 20th Engineer Brigade, according to a statement from Fort Polk spokesperson Shelby Waryas. The enlisted advisers for the five Department of Defense branches called on Congress to help them advocate for military Col. Gregory Mayer, the commander of the 5th Mission Support Group, and Maj. Jonathan Welch, the commander of the 5th VA medical patients who have gone to a non-VA emergency room since 2010 can get their out-of-pocket coinsurance costs Russia has declared that a group of saboteurs from Ukraine crossed into its territory and attacked border villages, a raid Copyright 2023 Military.com. "I previously believed that Captain Crozier should be reinstated following his relief in April, after conducting an initial investigation,"Gilday said at today's news conference. Air Force). The Air Force has relieved six leaders assigned to a North Dakota base in charge of nuclear missiles and bombers over a loss of confidence, the military branch said Monday. The Department of Defense provides the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security. Ex-soldier, a neo-Nazi, gets 45 years for plot to ambush his own unit, Issues with the Armys Europe-based equipment trigger readiness alarms, Veterans Affairs drops mask requirement for all agency medical offices, Finnish Armys winter uniforms make US Army digs look like trash bags, Tax scams How to report them Money Minute, Capitol Hill weighs action on two controversial topics: medical marijuana and abortion, Lockheed wins hypersonics contract | Defense Dollars, Go inside a secret nuclear fallout bunker sealed for decades, Black Vietnam vet at last getting his due: Medal of Honor, Junior NCO promotions have collapsed heres the data, and why, Army artillery officer dies during assignment in Thailand. In April, the admiral in charge of naval aviation maintenance depots, Rear Adm. Trent DeMoss, was removed from command pending a Navy inspector general inquiry into sexual harassment complaints. "These personnel actions were necessary to maintain the very high standards we demand of those units entrusted with supporting our Nation's nuclear mission," Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, commander of 8th Air Force, said in an Air Force Global Strike Command press release Monday. Lt. Col. David Burnham, the deputy commander of the 35th Signal brigade, will assume interim command responsibility. A brigade commander at Fort Gordon has been fired following allegations of personal misconduct, the Army announced Tuesday. The report says that Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, the commander of the 8th Air Force, relieved the two commanders due to a loss of confidence in their ability to complete their assigned duties. Additionally, four additional subordinate leaders were relieved by commanders assigned to Minot Air Force Base. Oliver Hazard Perrys Dont Give Up the Ship flag as the Theodore Roosevelt approaches Apra Harbor, Guam June 3, 2020. An official website of the United States Government.