The Article 32 preliminary hearing for Maj. Gen. William T. Cooley, the former head of the Air Force Research Laboratory who faces a sexual assault charge, has been pushed back to Feb. 8.
The Department announced in November that an investigation found evidence of “misconduct” by Cooley, with the referral of one charge. He is accused of “making unwanted sexual advances by kissing and touching a female victim” on Aug. 12, 2018, in Albuquerque, N.M., the Air Force said at the time.
During the hearing, a military judge will review the charge under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice, which includes three specifications of sexual assault under Article 120. The hearing had been scheduled for Jan. 27, and no reason was provided for the rescheduling.
Air Force Materiel Command boss Gen. Arnold W. Bunch Jr. relieved Cooley of command in January 2020 amid the Air Force Office of Special Investigations inquiry. Cooley was then reassigned as Bunch’s special assistant.
Brig. Gen. Heather L. Pringle took over command of AFRL in June.