The Air Force Academy's inspector general has finished its review into athletic department misconduct, but it remains unclear when — or if — the report will be released to the public.
Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson ordered an investigation into the athletic department and its culture in August, after the Colorado Springs Gazette published a story detailing allegations of heavy drinking, use of drugs including date rape drugs, and sexual assault at parties. A 2011 party led to an investigation of 32 cadets for alleged misconduct, three of whom — two football players and a female basketball player — were court-martialed, convicted and expelled, the Gazette reported.
The Gazette also reported that five additional athletes were dismissed after receiving administrative punishment, six cadets resigned, and three other cadets were expelled for unrelated misconduct.
The Gazette's report also found the academy canceled a sting at a party in 2012 because it was concerned its agents wouldn't be able to prevent women from being raped.
Johnson called the behavior "troubling" and said it suggested "certain subcultures that were inconsistent with the culture of commitment and climate of respect we work hard to uphold at" the academy. She said in August that the academy's coaches had not been fully involved in the academy's longstanding campaign to halt sexual assaults, and told them they had to step up and take a bigger role, according to an Associated Press story.
The report was finalized Monday and delivered to Johnson today. The academy could issue a statement on it as early as next week, but a decision has not yet been made on how much, if any, of the report to release to the public.
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.
