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 U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
