Academy officials commend report

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) --  Officials here commended the Sept. 22 report by former Congresswoman Tillie Fowler.

“What I’d like to say is a thank you to the Fowler Commission,” said Lt. Gen. John Rosa, academy superintendent. “They did an incredible amount of work in a very, very short time.”

The superintendent told news media Sept. 25 that an Air Force team is forming here to break down the report’s 21 recommendations, some of which the academy has already starting implementing.

One of the report’s issues is confidentiality.

“We had a system that offered complete confidentially,” Rosa said. “The chain of command wasn’t necessarily in that … (it) would never know the victim, preserve evidence or be able to carry out punishment on the alleged perpetrator.”

The academy now is reporting such criminal behavior like the rest of the Air Force, the general said. Based on the report, officials will re-examine the confidentiality policy and see what is the best way to proceed.

Rosa told reporters that while Brig. Gen. David Wagie, the academy dean of faculty, is criticized in the report, Wagie remains in his job and will be happy to help the Department of Defense Inspector General.

A four-year term for the superintendent and a three-year term for the commandant are among other report recommendations being considered, Rosa said.

Within two years, eight of the academy’s squadrons will be commanded by females, he said.

The process of assessing applicants is receiving scrutiny, he said.

“Young people coming to our academy need to know that they’re expected to do an operational tour,” said Rosa. “The opportunities are still there to become a doctor or lawyer, but they are small. They need to know they would still need to do an operational tour.”

Final decisions about confidentiality of sexual-assault reporting will likely be made at the DOD level, the superintendent said.

“There were really no surprises,” Rosa said of the Fowler Commission Report. “I think they did a remarkable job.”