Col. firing linked to accountability push

[unhappycamper]

Lost faith
Wing king was on path to general rank.


Col. firing linked to accountability push
By Erik Holmes - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Nov 14, 2008 13:07:28 EST

The renewed emphasis on accountability likely cost a colonel his job — and his career. Col. Bryan Bearden, commander of the elite 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, Korea, was relieved of command Nov. 10 after problems in the wing’s maintenance group cropped up in a series of inspections.

Those problems caused Gen. Howie Chandler, Pacific Air Forces commander, to lose faith in Bearden’s leadership, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

A PacAF press release said he was fired because “duty performance factors” led Chandler to conclude “new leadership was required to maintain the highest levels of precision and reliability.”

Col. Jerry Harris, who was serving as director of operations for 13th Air Force at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, replaced Bearden, who will be reassigned to a position outside Korea.

Bearden is not being investigated for any wrongdoing, sources said, but he presided over the wing during a series of recent inspections that found problems with the maintenance group’s adherence to technical orders and standards of documentation.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/11/airforce_kunsan_commander_111008/%2e