The previous commander of the U.S. Army Garrison on the West Level service academy, Col. Anthony Bianchi, was fired from his submit, the service confirmed to Navy.com on Thursday.
Bianchi was suspended from his West Level submit in July after which eliminated on Aug. 30, however his firing had not been beforehand reported. He was relieved from his place as garrison commander by Lt. Gen. Omar Jones, commanding basic of U.S. Army Set up Administration Command, “on account of a lack of belief and confidence in his skill to command,” Christina Bhatti, a service spokesperson, mentioned in an announcement to Navy.com.
A high-profile firing of a colonel is comparatively uncommon and is often reserved for main lapses in judgment, systemic abuse of subordinates or legal motion. When reached by Navy.com, Bianchi’s lawyer declined to touch upon what Bianchi was accused of earlier than he was fired.
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It is unclear whether or not Bianchi intends to remain within the Army, however shedding command as a field-grade officer in a high-profile place generally is a army profession killer. Bianchi himself didn’t return a number of requests for remark.
Bianchi, an artillery officer, was commissioned out of West Level in 1997, and he took command of the garrison in 2022. His awards embrace two Army Commendation Medals and 4 Army Achievement Medals.
The Army has seen a handful of colonels shedding their jobs lately.
In Could, Navy.com revealed an investigation on the command local weather of the fifth Safety Pressure Help Brigade. Its commander, Col. Jonathan Chung, was relieved of command following accusations of counterproductive management.
Col. Meghann Sullivan, a prime officer inside that brigade, was suspended and continues to be beneath investigation over allegations she sexually assaulted at the very least two subordinate males, and harassed others inside her formation.
Col. Jon Meredith, commander of the first Cavalry Division’s 1st Armored Brigade Fight Group at Fort Cavazos, Texas, was fired in October 2022 and was charged with abusive sexual contact for allegedly kissing and groping a subordinate officer’s spouse. These costs had been dropped, and he now simply faces allegations of conduct unbecoming an officer.
His spouse, Col. Ann Meredith, was additionally fired from her position as commander of the 89th Navy Police Brigade for allegedly interfering in her husband’s investigation.
— Steve Beynon might be reached at Steve.Beynon@army.com. Observe him on X @StevenBeynon.
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