DENVER -- There's now new leadership at the Air Force Academy.

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Hear What New Leadership Has To Say About Sexual Assault Scandal

Brig. Gen. Johnny Weida was introduced Thursday at a change-of-command ceremony as commandant of cadets and acting superintendent. Outgoing commandant, Brig. General S. Taco Gilbert is being reassigned to the Pentagon.

Gilbert was formally replaced after making what were clearly embarrassing remarks about female cadets who have been sexually assaulted, 7NEWS Investigator John Ferrugia said.

But Gilbert took no responsibility for the widening sexual assault scandal, Ferrugia said. Rather, he likened it to the drug scandal which rocked the academy two years ago.

"Once again we find ourselves under the media spotlight. We have made great progress in the last 18 months, but much work is left to be done," Gilbert told the 4,000 cadets standing at attention. "Much of the burden of the changes ahead will fall on your shoulders but there are no stronger shoulders that they could be placed on."

Gilbert's replacement, hand-picked by the Air Force chief of staff, minced no words about the problem and what he needs to do.

"We must ensure an environment that is free of discrimination, harassment, intimidation or assault of any kind," Weida said. "We must not tolerate nor enable in any way those that may be among us that may be part of the problem. To do otherwise risks the very existence of this honorable institution."

That is, in part, because academy climate surveys showed that for years there has been a serious problem with sexual assault, 7NEWS reported.

Weida, a 1978 AFA graduate himself, said there will be new climate surveys to assess the problem, and his new vice-commandant, responsible for dealing with the issue of sexual assault, says she is already on the job.

"I am in the process now of setting up the appropriate meetings so that I can meet with the folks who gathered the data, look at the data, then chart a way ahead that makes sense," Col. Debra Gray said.

Gray, a graduate of the Air Force Academy's first coed class, replaces Col. Bob Eskridge.

"I make my personal commitment and promise to anyone who has an unfortunate incident that happens to them that I will (leave) no stone unturned to listen to their concerns," Weida said.

The general has a big job ahead of him. He is under the scrutiny of not only his bosses but Congress.

That's because these commitments to change and progress were heard 10 years ago when sexual assault was a major issue at the academy. But, good intentions aside, not much really changed, Ferrugia said.

Two other officers, including the new superintendent, will arrive by the end of May, replacing officers reassigned because of the sexual assault scandal first brought to light by a 7NEWS investigation.

Maj. Gen. John Rosa will replace Lt. Gen. John Dallager, the academy superintendent, and Col. Clada Monteith, currently stationed at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany, will replace Col. Laurie Sue Slavec as training group commander.

Investigations by the Air Force and Defense Department are under way into dozens of reports of rape and sexual assault. Female cadets have said they were punished or ostracized when they reported attacks.

On Wednesday, the Air Force said it may charge a male cadet with sexual assault in the first prosecution since the scandal broke in January.

However, 7NEWS Investigator John Ferrugia reported that two male cadets will be charged in two separate cases.

"These are two cases where female cadets reported they were sexually assaulted by fellow cadets -- one in August of last year, the other in October," said Ferrugia.

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AFA Investigation: Alleged Rape Victims Speak Up, Punished -- Marie's Story Part 1Part 2 Part 1Part 2Part 3Part 4

The first prosecution involved a female cadet, Marie, (pictured, right) who was invited to the room of an upperclass member of her athletic team. She told Ferrugia she was encouraged to drink and then became "woozy." She said that she was then raped, and later went to a local hospital where a rape kit was used to gather forensic evidence.

In the past 10 years, two cadets have been charged with rape. One was acquitted, and the other pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven months in jail.

Ferrugia said the inspector general from the Department of Defense is reviewing all sexual assault cases at the academy and there may very well be more legal action to come.

Earlier this month, the academy agreed to turn over files in the scandal to El Paso County prosecutors, who have concurrent jurisdiction at the academy.

Changes have already begun at the academy, including clustering female cadets' dormitory rooms and around-the-clock security; training medical personnel to respond to assault cases; offering amnesty to cadets raising sexual assault allegations; and expelling cadets for underage drinking.

New Class Arriving

A new class with 243 women starts basic training on June 26. To date, the academy has invited 1,234 students to join the 2007 class, up from 1,026 at this time last year.

Other acceptance letters may be sent before the start date. Students have until June 26 to change their minds.

Eighteen-year-old Jessa Flatebo, who will start there this summer in her quest to become an astronaut, said she hasn't been scared off.

"It's going to be an adventure," said the high school senior from Garner, Iowa, a tiny farm town. "It's probably the safest place for me to go to school right now."

Flatebo's mother, Cindy Flatebo, said reports of sexual assault and subsequent investigations may have hurt the academy's reputation, but she isn't worried about her daughter.

"I feel more satisfied sending her this year than last year. They have been keeping us informed about the changes and hopefully they will work," she said.

Lainie Scott, 18, of Newnan, Ga., was recruited to play soccer and wants to fly jets, said her father, Michael Scott.

"Being on a team I think gives her extra support and it put my mind at ease because I know how tight she is with her teammates. They'll take care of each other even more," he said. "There's no doubt these new people will be under a microscope and any new improprieties will be severely punished."

He is concerned about plans to segregate the men and women in dormitories. "That kind of segregation is what the Air Force is trying to avoid," he said.

Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., who has been instrumental in the changes at the academy, said he isn't sure how long the investigations will continue but believes most of the large problems have been exposed.

"I am happy to see fresh leadership coming in early so we can wrap up the investigation and move on," he said. "They have good recommendations and they've been very cooperative. We'll put them to work, see what they can do. They have a lot of work to do."

Allard warned that "the situation needs to be monitored for several years."