As the Air Force works on a "road map" for fixing its nuclear program (see yesterday's post), the service is still meting out punishment for the incidents that caused the mess.
Late last week, the USAF announced administrative sanctions for 15 officers connected to the mistaken shipment of ICBM fuses to Taiwan. The accidental transfer occurred at Hill AFB, Utah in 2006, but wasn't discovered until this year.
The officers who were punished include six generals, in leadership positions with various staff, logistics and operational organizations involved in the shipment. The Air Force flag officers who received administrative actions included:
* Lt. Gen. Kevin J. Sullivan, deputy chief of staff for logistics, installations and mission support, Air Force Headquarters
* Lt. Gen. Michael A. Hamel, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center
* Maj. Gen. Roger W. Burg, commander, 20th Air Force, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo
* Maj. Gen. Kathleen D. Close, commander, Ogden Logistics Center, Utah
* Brig. Gen. Francis M. Bruno, director of logistics, Air Force Material Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
* Brig. Gen. Arthur B. Cameron III, director of Resource Integration, Air Force Headquarters.
The Ogden Logistics Center, located at Hill, was the organization that shipped the ICBM components to Taiwan. General Sullivan was the center commander at the time of the transfer; he was replaced by Major General Close after being selected for promotion, and reassignment to the Pentagon.
Sullivan received a Letter of Reprimand for his actions; the other generals received Letters of Admonishment. Both forms of punishment are usually enough to end the career of a flag officer, virtually eliminating prospects for future promotion.
Along with the generals, at least nine Air Force Colonels also earned administrative punishment. Three of them lost their commands--another career-killer. Additionally, the Army has sanctioned two of its generals who were involved in the mistaken shipment.
The Hill incident--and the subsequent punishment of senior officers--stands in stark contrast to the Air Force's other, recent nuclear mishap. When nuclear-armed cruise missiles were inadvertently flown from North Dakota to Louisiana in August 2007, the list of those sanctioned ended at the grade of Colonel.
Never mind that the operational chain extended well beyond the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot, and the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale. And, never mind that subsequent investigations have revealed serious problems in nuclear operations, assessments and accountability--functions controlled by another set of generals, many of them pilots.
Still, no flag officers at Eighth Air Force (which "owns" the USAF nuclear bomber mission), it's parent organization (Air Combat Command) or the Pentagon have been punished over the missile transfer.
Is this another example of the Air Force "double standard," which often provides preferential treatment for members of the pilot mafia? The p.r. flacks say "no," and they may be right--up to a point. After the Minot incident, it became certain that future nuclear mishaps would result in wider punishment, extending higher up the chain of command. The generals punished last week had the misfortune of presiding over a subsequent screw-up.
On the other hand, we can't help but notice that the six flag officers sanctioned last week have something in common. None of them wear pilots' wings.
Showing posts with label USAF; nuclear incidents; Hill AFB Utah; Air Force Material Command. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USAF; nuclear incidents; Hill AFB Utah; Air Force Material Command. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
More Nuclear Accountability
In the aftermath of the Air Force's high-profile nuclear incidents, most of the media attention focused on the inadvertent shipment of six nuclear-armed cruise missiles between bases in North Dakota and Louisiana.
The event was sensational, by any standard. During their errant transfer, a B-52 carried the nuclear missiles across seven states, and the mistake wasn't discovered until hours after the bomber landed. Described as the worst nuclear incident in more than 20 years, the mishap prompted immediate notification of President Bush and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, triggering investigations and reviews that have continued for more than a year.
A number of officers and NCOs were sanctioned for their roles in the mishap. No less than five commanders (with the rank of Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel) lost their jobs, and scores of lower-ranking personnel received non-judicial punishment; many were also stripped of their certification to work with nuclear weapons, some permanently.
But the missile transfer wasn't the only nuclear incident in recent years. Less than six months after that B-52 took off with its unscheduled cargo, officials found a second, serious mistake involving nuclear components. In 2006, personnel at Hill AFB, Utah, accidentally shipped ICBM fuses to Taiwan, instead of requested helicopter parts. Making matters worse, the error wasn't discovered for almost two years, prompting another series of investigations and inquiries.
Now, the Defense Department is handing out punishment to those deemed responsible for the Hill incident. According to the Associated Press, at least eight generals, ranging in rank from one to three stars, have been disciplined as a result of the fuse shipment:
Defense officials said Wednesday that the six Air Force and two Army generals were given disciplinary letters that vary in seriousness but can often end careers or hopes of promotion.
The officers are mainly in logistical jobs and were involved to some degree in the mistaken shipment to Taiwan of four electrical fuses for ballistic missile nuclear warheads in 2006. The error did not come to light until this past March.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the actions are not being announced until Thursday.
According to officials, at least one Air Force general received a letter of reprimand, which is a more serious rebuke, while others got less severe letters of admonishment or counseling. The two Army brigadier generals, who worked at the Defense Logistics Agency in Virginia, received what are called “memorandums of concern,” also a lower level of punishment.
Nine other lower ranking Air Force officers also were disciplined, but no details were available.
The AP doesn't specify the assignments of the six USAF generals who were sanctioned, but base (and unit) involved in the errant shipment are part of Air Force Material Command, headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
There is some speculation that Lieutenant General Kevin Sullivan, the former commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center, is among those facing punishment. Sullivan was in charge of the center at the time the fuses were shipped in 2006. A major general at the time, Sullivan was subsequently promoted and now serves as the Air Force's Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installation and Mission Support.
The Ogden Air Logistics Center provides worldwide logistical and engineering support to a variety of weapons systems, including ballistic missiles.
The event was sensational, by any standard. During their errant transfer, a B-52 carried the nuclear missiles across seven states, and the mistake wasn't discovered until hours after the bomber landed. Described as the worst nuclear incident in more than 20 years, the mishap prompted immediate notification of President Bush and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, triggering investigations and reviews that have continued for more than a year.
A number of officers and NCOs were sanctioned for their roles in the mishap. No less than five commanders (with the rank of Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel) lost their jobs, and scores of lower-ranking personnel received non-judicial punishment; many were also stripped of their certification to work with nuclear weapons, some permanently.
But the missile transfer wasn't the only nuclear incident in recent years. Less than six months after that B-52 took off with its unscheduled cargo, officials found a second, serious mistake involving nuclear components. In 2006, personnel at Hill AFB, Utah, accidentally shipped ICBM fuses to Taiwan, instead of requested helicopter parts. Making matters worse, the error wasn't discovered for almost two years, prompting another series of investigations and inquiries.
Now, the Defense Department is handing out punishment to those deemed responsible for the Hill incident. According to the Associated Press, at least eight generals, ranging in rank from one to three stars, have been disciplined as a result of the fuse shipment:
Defense officials said Wednesday that the six Air Force and two Army generals were given disciplinary letters that vary in seriousness but can often end careers or hopes of promotion.
The officers are mainly in logistical jobs and were involved to some degree in the mistaken shipment to Taiwan of four electrical fuses for ballistic missile nuclear warheads in 2006. The error did not come to light until this past March.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the actions are not being announced until Thursday.
According to officials, at least one Air Force general received a letter of reprimand, which is a more serious rebuke, while others got less severe letters of admonishment or counseling. The two Army brigadier generals, who worked at the Defense Logistics Agency in Virginia, received what are called “memorandums of concern,” also a lower level of punishment.
Nine other lower ranking Air Force officers also were disciplined, but no details were available.
The AP doesn't specify the assignments of the six USAF generals who were sanctioned, but base (and unit) involved in the errant shipment are part of Air Force Material Command, headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
There is some speculation that Lieutenant General Kevin Sullivan, the former commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center, is among those facing punishment. Sullivan was in charge of the center at the time the fuses were shipped in 2006. A major general at the time, Sullivan was subsequently promoted and now serves as the Air Force's Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installation and Mission Support.
The Ogden Air Logistics Center provides worldwide logistical and engineering support to a variety of weapons systems, including ballistic missiles.
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