Mon, Nov 02, 2009
Superiors Cited "Loss Of Confidence In Ability To Command"
The commander of the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base,
North Dakota, was relieved of command October 30th due to loss of
confidence in his ability to command.
Col. Joel S. Westa was removed by Maj. Gen. Floyd L. Carpenter,
commander of 8th Air Force. Colonel Westa assumed command in
November 2007.
Colonel Westa was not relieved for any alleged misconduct or
wrongdoing. The inability to foster a culture of excellence, a lack
of focus on the strategic mission during his command and
substandard performance during several nuclear surety inspections,
including the newly activated 69th Bomb Squadron deemed "not ready"
to perform its nuclear mission, contributed to the loss of
confidence.
The new commander of the 5th Bomb Wing is Col. Douglas Cox,
former vice commander of Andersen AFB, Guam.
"Perfection is the standard," General Carpenter said. "We will
continue to demand exacting focus, attention to detail, discipline
and dedication to the highest principles and standards for all
activities surrounding the nuclear enterprise."
Although multiple deficiencies in the adherence of stringent
nuclear standards were identified during several inspections, the
safety and security of nuclear operations at Minot were never
compromised.
"While the shortcomings in recent inspections did not translate
to an inability to accomplish the mission, they did show a
departure from the standards of perfection that we demand in the
nuclear enterprise," said Gen. William M. Fraser III, commander of
Air Combat Command. "Our leaders must set and enforce the standards
across all of our mission areas. The nation expects and deserves
nothing less."
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