Air Force Fires Commander Overseeing Nuclear Missile Maintenance at Montana Base

A commander who oversees all nuclear missile maintenance Malmstrom Air Force Base He was fired from his position following a command-led investigation in Montana.

Col. Jeremy Russell, commander of Malmstrom’s 341st Maintenance Group, was relieved of his duties “due to a loss of confidence and trust in Russell’s ability to command,” according to a news release from the base on Wednesday.

Capt. Rachel Brinegar, a 341st Missile Wing spokeswoman, said in an emailed statement to Military.com that Russell faces a command-focused investigation but did not provide additional details. It’s unclear what the investigation is about or whether he faces other disciplinary action.

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It is unusual for service officials to provide details behind a commander’s firing. Explanations often rely on some version of “loss of trust and confidence” and often cite the federal Privacy Act as the reason for not providing more information.

A command-led investigation is an administrative investigation and is viewed as “an extension of the command’s authority to investigate and correct problems within the command,” according to the U.S. State Department. air force manual.

Experts in the Uniform Rules of Military Justice told Military.com that a command-driven investigation can seriously harm careers and, depending on the allegations, also lead to criminal investigations.

Russell’s biography removed but a copy has been archived on the internet He detailed his past. He was in charge of more than 500 airmen and was responsible for overseeing the sustainment and modernization of all 150 airmen. Minuteman III Intercontinental ballistic missiles at Malmstrom, according to the biography.

He graduated from high school in 1995 and started working as an enlisted airman. While a staff sergeant, he was accepted into Officer Training School, where after his deployment he worked on Minuteman and Peacekeeper ICBMs, B61 nuclear weapons, and the Air Force’s nuclear weapons. Largest traditional stock by bio.

Russell served as commander of Detachment 3 for the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center before beginning his duties as commander of Malmstrom’s 341st Maintenance Group in July 2023. Hill Air Force Base U.S. European Command Nuclear Bailment and Policy branch chief, stationed in Utah and Stuttgart, Germany.

Russell’s firing comes amid several recent leadership changes at America’s nuclear missile and bomber bases.

In August, Col. Mark Kimball, commander of the 28th Operations Group, Ellsworth Air Force Baseleadership role removed After the damnable Accident Investigation Board report He partly blamed “an unhealthy organizational culture that allowed aviation skills to deteriorate” as the cause of a plane crash on January 4. B-1B Lancer Bomber at South Dakota facility.

The base said Kimball’s firing was based on findings in the accident report.

A month later, in September, Lt. Col. Carsten Stahr, commander of the 28th Force Support Squadron at Ellsworth, He was dismissed “due to loss of trust and confidence”. Air Force Global Strike Command officials did not provide further details but said the shooting was not linked to the crash report.

Last year two commanders and four subordinates Minot Air Force BaseThey were fired from their jobs in North Dakota.

Col. Gregory Mayer, 5th Mission Support Group commander, and Maj. Jonathan Welch, 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, were relieved of duty; this was an action “necessary to maintain the very high standards we demand from deployed units”. We support our nation’s nuclear mission.” officials told Military.com at the time.

Relating to: Ellsworth Air Force Base Commander Dismissed Following Horrifying Accident Report of B-1B Lancer Crash

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