Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Air Force Global Strike Command boss Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson released the results of a command-directed investigation into widespread cheating at Malmstrom AFB, Mont., Thursday afternoon. Ultimately, 100 officers were implicated in the cheating scandal, up from the 92 last reported. Nine of those allegations were “unsubstantiated” and the officers will be recertified and returned to duty as soon as possible, Wilson told reporters at the Pentagon. The remaining officers—all lieutenants and captains—will face a range of punishments from letters of counseling to courts-martial, said Wilson. In addition, the Air Force has accepted the resignation of 341st Missile Wing Commander Col. Robert Stanley, who will be allowed to retire in the “coming weeks.” Col. John Wilcox assumed command of the 341st MW on Thursday, said Wilson. Wilcox served as the group’s interim security forces commander when Col. David Lynch was relieved of command for a “loss of confidence” in his ability to lead in August 2013. Nine other Malmstrom leaders have been reassigned to staff positions at AFGSC or 20th Air Force, but they will be allowed to continue serving, said James and Wilson. They include the commander and deputy commander of the 341st Operations Group, all three missile squadron commanders, the commander of the 341st Operations Support Group, the directors of operation for the 341st Operational Support Squadron and the 10th Missile Squadron, and the 341st Operations Group’s standardization and evaluation officer. These officers weren’t “directly involved” in the cheating, but they “failed” to adequately oversee “the crew force,” said Wilson. Each will receive nonjudicial punishment.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.