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Leader of 19th Air Force Dismissed

Air Force
U.S. Air Force Plane | Image by Mircea Moira, Shutterstock

Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart, commander of the 19th Air Force, was fired from his position for alleged misconduct less than a year after obtaining the position.

Stewart became the leader of the 19th Air Force in August but is now being released “due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead,” according to an Air Force spokeswoman, per the San Antonio Express.

Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, head of the Air Education and Training Command, dismissed Stewart for the alleged misconduct, and no other details were provided.

“I can’t give you any of that,” said Marilyn Holliday, a spokesperson for the Air Education and Training Command (AETC), per The San Antonio Express.

Robinson, however, provided a brief comment, explaining, “The Air Force takes any misconduct allegation seriously and is committed to conducting a thorough investigation.”

Although he lost his position as leader of the 19th Air Force, Stewart has been reassigned and is now working in a staff position at the AETC headquarters. There was also acknowledgment from Holliday that the conduct is alleged, and nothing has been confirmed to this point.

“I think it is important to note it is alleged, his conduct,” said Holliday, per The San Antonio Express.

The 19th Air Force is located in Randolph, Texas, and is made up of “32,000 Total Force personnel and 1,530 aircraft assigned to 17 Total Force wings located across the U.S.,” per The U.S. Air Force.

Stewart graduated from The Georgia Institute of Technology before being commissioned in 1992 through Reserve Officer Training Corps. Since then, he has acted as a wing commander three times and in combat twice. Throughout his career, Stewart received several awards, including a bronze star.

Stewart also served as the Chief of the Fighter-Bomber Assignments Branch and Executive Officer to the Commander of the 19th Air Force and Air Combat Command.

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