On September 30, the Senate Armed Services Committee heard testimony on the Air Force leadership’s response to sexual misconduct at the Air Force Academy and a report released last week by the Panel to Review Allegations of Sexual Misconduct at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
In March 2003, Air Force Secretary James Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff General John Jumper testified before the committee to address mounting allegations of sexual harassment and systemic indifference toward alleged assault victims (see The Source, 4/04/03). Though Secretary Roche created an internal fact-finding working group with Air Force General Counsel Mary Walker as chair, Congress established its own seven-member civilian panel in April 2003 to investigate Academy policies, procedures, and culture that allowed sexual misconduct, including sexual assaults and rape, to occur. The panel, headed by former Rep. Tillie Fowler, found serious flaws existing in current Academy policies (see The Source, 9/26/03).
Committee Chair John Warner (R-VA) explained that the committee wanted to provide an opportunity for the witnesses to respond to “issues identified by the Fowler panel.” He described the hearing “as an important step in the difficult process of ensuring that the problems of sexual harassment, sexual assault, hostile attitudes towards women at the Air Force Academy…are eliminated once and for all.”
The issue of accountability was raised by Ranking Member Carl Levin (D-MI). “It is important that the actions of all the leaders, past and present, be documented and assessed,” he said. “Only after the facts are known can issues of accountability be appropriately determined.” Sen. Levin assured the witnesses that “our minds are open.”
Secretary Roche commended “the work of Congresswoman Fowler and her distinguished team of experts,” and indicated his support for “the recommendations contained in her report.” Responding to the panel’s allegation that the Air Force leadership was shielded from criticism, Secretary Roche stated categorically, “There was no shielding.” He said that, until January 2003, he and General Jumper had no knowledge “about a major problem with gender relations or sexual assault” at the Academy.
Acknowledging that “there have been failures,” Sec. Roche nevertheless assured the committee that “cadets at the Air Force Academy this night are safe…”
General Jumper also expressed his appreciation to the panel and his support for their recommendations. He pointed out that although he is “the one responsible” for what happens at the Air Force Academy, he and Secretary Roche “worked on these things from the very beginning.” General Jumper praised the Secretary’s response to the problem. “Dr. Roche reacted …with an immediate answer to the general counsel to get underway with the appropriate committees and boards that conducted subsequent investigations,” he said.
General Counsel Mary Walker clarified that the mission of the working group was to “find the facts, no matter what the facts revealed,” not to address “leadership accountability.” “The working group did not engage in a protective mentality to shield Air Force leaders past or present,” she said. Concerning the omission of details of 1996-1997 sexual assault issues at the Academy, Ms. Walker said that she was “not aware” of these facts at that time, but “would have included them in the report…” She praised the working group for providing “invaluable information which served as a foundation for the important changes that have been made for the good of the academy and the cadets it prepares to become officers.”
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) asked Secretary Roche, “If you did an in-depth review of the Academy with General Jumper, how did all these reports year after year going back to 1993, from credible sources such as the General Accounting Office, such as the Surgeon General, such as the Chief of Assault Services, such as the cadet surveys…How could you miss this?” Dr. Roche explained, “There was no process in the Air Force for any of that material to come to headquarters…Right now, they exist. This can never happen again.”
Focusing on solutions, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) voiced her support for a system of reporting used at the Naval Academy, which would allow a victim to consult a psychotherapist confidentially. She also mentioned the need for “permanent, consistent oversight by Air Force headquarters leadership, as well as external oversight by the Academy’s board of visitors.” Additionally, Sen. Clinton suggested that women leaders be invited to speak at the Academy. “I really do think these young men, to be very blunt about this, need to see women in positions of leadership and…need to hear from women of stature and position that times have changed and that to be a leader today means more perhaps than it did in the past in terms of sensitivity.”
