Col. Robert Cioppa, the former vice commander of the 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, was removed from his position last fall for conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman after an investigation into alleged sexual harassment, an official said.
The Office of Special Investigations conducted a Commander Directed Internal Investigation after 15th Wing Commander Col. Randall Huiss received an anonymous complaint regarding alleged incidents of sexual harassment and unprofessionalism by Cioppa toward a female civilian and military members, Office of Special Investigations spokeswoman Linda Card said in emails Wednesday.
Cioppa did not respond to an email requesting comment by press time. The 15th Wing also did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
Card said OSI investigated the alleged incidents and wrote a report of investigation, which was presented to Huiss and the wing's legal office. OSI closed the investigation because no criminal acts were confirmed, Card said. But Huiss decided to remove Cioppa from his position as vice wing commander "for conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman based on the investigation findings and his wing legal office's recommendation;" no other action was taken against Cioppa, Card said.
Air Force Times has filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the report on the investigation into Cioppa. But Card said OSI will not release the report without Cioppa's written permission, because it was an internal investigation and not a felony-level crime.
From left to right: Ida Wallace, 15th Wing victim advocate, Chief Master Sgt. James Smith, 15th Wing command chief, Col. Randy Huiss, 15th Wing commander, Machelle Terrell, 15 Wing Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Col. Robert Cioppa 15th Wing vice commander, and 1st Lt. Molly Morrissey, deputy Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, April 1, 2015. The Sexual Assault and Prevention office kicked-off Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month with a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating their newly renovated office.
Photo Credit: Tech. Sgt. Aaron Oelrich/Air Force
As vice commander, Cioppa was also involved in sexual assault prevention efforts at Hickam. In April 2015, Cioppa was one of four senior leaders who signed a Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month proclamation at Hickam Memorial Theater.
And that month, Cioppa participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of a newly-renovated Sexual Assault and Prevention office.
Stephen Losey covers personnel, promotions, and the Air Force Academy for Air Force Times. He can be reached at slosey@airforcetimes.com.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
