The Air Force has demoted a brigadier general to colonel in nonjudicial punishment meted out because it said the officer—Brig. Gen. Richard S. Hassan—engaged in “an unprofessional relationship” and acted in a “sexually harassing” manner with subordinates. The service also cited Hassan for “maltreatment of a subordinate.” Hassan, who was the head of the service’s senior leader management office, accepted the reduction in rank and agreed to retire on March 1, instead of facing a court-martial. This is the second such high-profile case of sexual misconduct within the Air Force in the past year. In January 2005, the Air Force demoted its Judge Advocate General, Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Fiscus, to colonel and directed his retirment.
The two Collaborative Combat Aircraft prototypes are expected to fly very soon, as Anduril Industries and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems conclude ground tests. The two aircraft will fly from commercial airports in the desert areas north of Los Angeles, California, not far from Edwards Air Force Base.