Posted on 04/05/2014 8:22:57 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
The vice commander of the Air Force's 12th Flying Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph has been relieved after investigators learned he exchanged emails with the wife of a subordinate officer.
The messages were sent in 2007 while Col. James Gifford Jr. served at Vance AFB in Oklahoma, where he was director of operations with the 8th Flying Training Squadron. A major at the time, he rose to lieutenant colonel in October of that year and was the squadron's commander from 2009 to 2010.
He left the base to become military assistant to Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
“The internal investigation found no evidence of a sexual relationship between the two people involved,” the Air Education and Training Command said in a statement. “However, the correspondence sent between them was determined to be unprofessional and Colonel Gifford showed poor judgment as an Air Force member, leading to his commander's decision to remove him from his post.”
The Air Force said the 12th Flying Training Wing's commander, Col. Gerald Goodfellow, relieved Gifford, a fighter and tanker pilot with more than 3,500 hours in the air, on March 24.
The action was taken because of a “loss of confidence in his ability to lead” the wing, but the statement did not explain how the emails were unprofessional. The Air Force did not elaborate after the San Antonio Express-News sent a list of questions asking about the nature of the messages, citing “privacy rights and concerns.”
The Air Force also wouldn't say how many messages were exchanged and said it has not been determined why the email relationship ended. An AETC spokeswoman, Amy Bartholomew, did say that Gifford did not review the officer's performance evaluations.
Gifford was reassigned to AETC's headquarters. His abrupt exit apparently marks the first time a vice commander at the wing has been relieved. Bartholomew said she did not know of an incident like it.
A relationship involving commanders and the wives of their subordinates - even by electronic mail — would be highly unusual and strictly prohibited.
“Unprofessional relationships, particularly by Air Force leaders, stand to undermine our entire team, damage good order and discipline, and threaten the trust people have in us,” the AETC statement said. “They simply aren't tolerated.”
A graduate of Rutgers University, Gifford came to the 12th Flying Training Wing in June 2012 after graduating from the Marine Corps War College, where he was honored for submitting the best thesis.
The Randolph-based wing, with 1,456 military and civilian workers, trains instructor pilots, combat systems officers and those who will fly drone aircraft. It also screens Air Force officers who enter pilot, combat systems and drone aircraft training, and has an average of 745 students a day.
I dunno if it is an actual purge. Perhaps, we are just hearing of this more because it is being reported more.
But, it is very unusual in my eyes.
What is this one, that the guy sent emails to the wife of a subordinate?
And yet, we have the gay push for acceptance while purging anyone who shows heterosexual activity?
-PJ
If the truth were known, I’ll bet it wasn’t the emails to a “subordinate officer’s wife” from seven years ago that got him. I’ll bet it has something to do with the Kenyan. JMO.
at least he was involved with the opposite sex
I think you may be on to something. Maybe like a continuing purge. But, time will tell.
well Patreaus sure as hell did
Yes.
Prove otherwise.
My thought also, that was a long time ago.
Very unusual in my eyes.
My thoughts also.
This guy was an aid to Gates. I doubt he is anti-obama.
The purge continues. Be back soon :-)
right. had to go back to 07 to get the excuse.
“This guy was an aid to Gates. I doubt he is anti-obama.”
Don’t be too sure. Gates just had his book published that wasn’t very flattering to Obama. Obama couldn’t get Gates back now, but he could get one of his righthand men relieved of duty in retribution. I smell more purge.
Yeah a story that’s missing much details.
2007: BO running for POTUS, not yet POTUS, questions about BO's eligibility for the office were freely circulating.
And for all you talking about "keeping it in his pants"--they found nothing but emails.
Something tells me they are searching for reasons to purge the forces of competent officers.
Just so you know, I'm ex military spouse. My husband was a pilot.
vaudine
As I live here in San Antonio, I actually believe that I had heard something about this Colonel: Specifically, that he was a jiu-jitsu enthusiast — meaning that he was probably a bad-ass.... Something not in keeping with today’s feminized, homosexualized, AF.
I have heard of a lot of firings and courts martial in my day, but none reaching back some seven years.... and, for ‘electronic adultery’ at that!
Very, very fishy.
My guess: Purged.
Just so you know, I’m ex military spouse. My husband was a pilot.
vaudine
37 posted on Saturday, April 05, 2014 11:22:56 PM by vaudine
////////////////
I think you are spot on.
That happened awhile ago.Why are they bringing it up now?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.