New Superintendent Sworn In At Air Force Academy
John Rosa Takes Over For Lt. Gen. John Dallagher
POSTED: 11:57 a.m. MDT July 9, 2003
UPDATED: 1:35 p.m. MDT July 9, 2003
The Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs has a new superintendent.
Lt. Gen. John Rosa was sworn at 9 a.m. as the 16th superintendent in the academy's history. He takes over as part of the leadership shakeup that followed after 7NEWS brought to light a sexual assault scandal at the academy.
In two days, Rosa is expected to testify before a panel investigating the academy's sexual assault scandal, a panel headed by former Rep. Tillie Fowler.
"Our vision for the Air Force Academy is clear: to make it the
best and most respected military training and educational
institution in the world, one that produces America's finest
military officers and a place where moms and dads are proud to send
their children," Rosa said. "To achieve this vision, we must
create and sustain an environment free of discrimination, free of
harassment and assault of any kind."
Rosa takes over for Superintendent Lt. Gen. John Dallagher, who resigned after he and other top commanders received pressure from
Congress after dozens of female cadets said they had been ostracized and drummed out of the academy for reporting sexual assaults.
Rosa was deputy director of current operations on the Joint
Staff before being named superintendent. He is a 1973 graduate of
the Citadel in Charleston, S.C., and past commandant of the Air
Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
Brig. Gen. Johnny Weida has been acting superintendent after
being named to replace Brig. Gen. Taco Gilbert as commandant.
The first of three military investigations into the scandal
found that commanders had not covered up the scandal and were not
individually responsible. It said they were focusing on a 2001 drug
scandal that implicated 38 cadets, and not on the assault
allegations.
Critics, including some in Congress, have asked the independent
panel to investigate whether any former commanders should be
punished. Fowler has said her group, whose seven members include
one victims' advocate, will look at all relevant issues.
Meanwhile, the Air Force has indicated it wants claims of sexual
assault handled as openly as possible. Weida overturned the
recommendation of a hearing officer and ordered a court martial for
cadet Douglas Meester, 20, accused of raping a female cadet who was
inebriated.
Lt. Gen. John Rosa was sworn at 9 a.m. as the 16th superintendent in the academy's history. He takes over as part of the leadership shakeup that followed after 7NEWS brought to light a sexual assault scandal at the academy.
In two days, Rosa is expected to testify before a panel investigating the academy's sexual assault scandal, a panel headed by former Rep. Tillie Fowler.
"Our vision for the Air Force Academy is clear: to make it the
best and most respected military training and educational
institution in the world, one that produces America's finest
military officers and a place where moms and dads are proud to send
their children," Rosa said. "To achieve this vision, we must
create and sustain an environment free of discrimination, free of
harassment and assault of any kind."
Rosa takes over for Superintendent Lt. Gen. John Dallagher, who resigned after he and other top commanders received pressure from
Congress after dozens of female cadets said they had been ostracized and drummed out of the academy for reporting sexual assaults.
Rosa was deputy director of current operations on the Joint
Staff before being named superintendent. He is a 1973 graduate of
the Citadel in Charleston, S.C., and past commandant of the Air
Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
Brig. Gen. Johnny Weida has been acting superintendent after
being named to replace Brig. Gen. Taco Gilbert as commandant.
The first of three military investigations into the scandal
found that commanders had not covered up the scandal and were not
individually responsible. It said they were focusing on a 2001 drug
scandal that implicated 38 cadets, and not on the assault
allegations.
Critics, including some in Congress, have asked the independent
panel to investigate whether any former commanders should be
punished. Fowler has said her group, whose seven members include
one victims' advocate, will look at all relevant issues.
Meanwhile, the Air Force has indicated it wants claims of sexual
assault handled as openly as possible. Weida overturned the
recommendation of a hearing officer and ordered a court martial for
cadet Douglas Meester, 20, accused of raping a female cadet who was
inebriated.Copyright 2003 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
