Air Force removes commander from duty
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lt. Col. Scott Foley (Photo: Airman 1st Class Kayla Newman/Air Force)
An Air Force lieutenant colonel was removed from command this month, pending the outcome of an inquiry, the Air Force Times reported.
Lt. Col. Scott Foley, commander of the 802nd Security Forces Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, reportedly was removed from his assignment on May 10.
In a May 21 email to Air Force Times, Oscar Balladares, spokesman for the 502nd Air Base Wing, said Col. Michael Gimbrone, commander of the 502nd Security Forces and Logistics Support Group, said Foley was removed “due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command and lead his unit."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Command is a privilege," Balladares said. "When commanders fail to meet the Air Force's expectations and standards, senior leaders have the responsibility to address the performance and hold them accountable."
"Lt. Col. Foley has been temporarily reassigned pending the outcome of an internal investigation and subsequent action, if any. Once the inquiry is complete, his commander will decide what action, if any, to take," Balladares said in response to a question regarding whether Foley was facing a court-martial.
Prior to being relieved of his command, Foley reportedly planned to retire Sept. 1. His last day of duty is expected to be July 20.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Balladares said the outcome of the inquiry will determine if those dates will stand.
According to the website of the Southern Illinois University/Edwardsville, where Scott graduated in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Scott has received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service during combat operations in Iraq, several Air Force Meritorious Service and Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War of Terrorism Medal and Kuwait Liberation Medal.