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 Space Force is finalizing its first contracts for the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve and plans to award them early in 2025—giving the service access to commercial satellites and other space systems in times of conflict or crisis—officials said Nov. 21.