On 21 November 2019, the Air Force Inspector General released an investigative report, substantiating claims that Goodwin blamed others for her failures, failed to engender an acceptable workplace environment, traveled on government time for personal purposes to the tune of $5,300, made inappropriate charges to a cadet’s government credit card while TDY to the Captain Marvel premiere, and more.
In response, Goodwin’s civilian attorney announced that the general would pursue redress for Silveria’s decision in accordance with Article 138 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice as it was based on hearsay and therefore “[w]e assess his actions were arbitrary, capricious, or an abuse of his discretion as superintendent.” Goodwin also maintains that she endured homophobic “bigotry, bias and discrimination”.
In April 2019, the United States Air Force suddenly announced that Brigadier General Kristin Goodwin had been relieved as the “Commandant of Cadets” at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. For most people, it would have been a career ender, in fact, for junior officers or enlisted people, they would have been either railroaded out of the military or serving time in Ft. Leavenworth.
The United States Air Force, in their infinite wisdom, decided to reward Brigadier General Kristin “credit card” Goodwin by giving her a new plum assignment. The Air Force has “proudly” made Goodwin the chief of staff of the Joint Force Space Component Command at Peterson Air Force Base.
So you were thinking about entering the military? If you do, you need to know the military has a multi-tiered judicial system. We give you fair warning. You can easily go to prison and/or be railroaded out of the military for much less than what a flag-ranking officer does on any given day. Air Force unwritten policy, “Laws are for the little people.”
Senior Air Force officers will get promoted, while you pace the floor of a 10′ x 10′ prison cell. Don’t say we didn’t warn you, and for God’s sake, don’t say, “it’ll never happen to me.” Air Force you should be ashamed for the “different spanks for different ranks” policy.
OUR PREVIOUS ARTICLE ABOUT
BG GOODWIN’S CRIMINAL PAST…
Brigadier General Kristin Goodwin was the academy’s first openly gay general in the Air Force, but as the military usually does, they relieved BG Goodwin, but failed to disclose the reasons why.
One of our sources gave us the highlights of the July 2019 “Report of Investigation” which disclosed the reasons why Brig. Gen. Kristin E. Goodwin was summarily fired as the Commandant of Cadets at the Air Force Academy.
Goodwin wasn’t court-martialed, as others would have been. She was merely relieved of her command quietly waiting for her next assignment.
ALLEGATION 1:
that between on or about 1 July 17 and on or about 30 November 18, Brig Gen Kristin E. Goodwin went on temporary duty travel for other than official purposes, in violation of the Joint Travel Regulations, 5 May 17.
ALLEGATION SUBSTANTIATED
ALLEGATION 2:
that between on or about 20 July 17 and on or about 2 December 18, Brig Gen Kristin E. Goodwin did not take leave for time spent on personal business while on official travel, in violation of AFI 36-3003, Military Leave Program, 11 May 16.
ALLEGATION SUBSTANTIATED
ALLEGATION 3:
that on diverse occasions, between on or about 1 June 17 and on or about 30 November 18, Brig Gen Kristin E. Goodwin improperly procured commercial transportation, and improperly prepaid for rental car fuel, in violation of the Joint Travel Regulations, 5 May 17, and AFI 24-101, Passenger Movement, 28 Apr 17.
ALLEGATION SUBSTANTIATED
ALLEGATION 4:
that on diverse occasions, between on or about 1 July 17 and on or about 30 November 18, Brig Gen Kristin E. Goodwin committed waste, as defined by AFI 90-301, Inspector General Complaints Resolution, dated 27 August 15, by needlessly incurring expenses while traveling on official duty.
ALLEGATION SUBSTANTIATED
ALLEGATION 5:
that on or about 15 April 18, and on or about 7 November 18, Brig Gen Kristin E. Goodwin misused a government vehicle, in violation of AFI 24-301, Vehicle Operations, 5 May 16.
ALLEGATION SUBSTANTIATED
ALLEGATION 6:
that between on or about 2 March 2019 and on or about 5 March 2019, Brig Gen Kristin E. Goodwin wrongfully accepted a loan from a U.S. Air Force Academy cadet, by requesting the cadet charge her (Brig gen Goodwin’s) official travel expenses on the cadet’s government credit card, which constituted a gift, in violation of DoD 5500.07-R, Joint Ethics Regulation, dated 17 November 2011.
ALLEGATION SUBSTANTIATED
ALLEGATION 7:
that between on or about 1 June 17 and on or about 1 February 19, Brig Gen Kristin E. Goodwin failed to maintain a healthy command climate, in violation of AFI 1-2, Commander’s Responsibilities, 8 May 14.
ALLEGATION SUBSTANTIATED
As the Commandant of Cadets, Brigadier General Goodwin was responsible for “…character and leadership development, military training, supervising cadet life activities…” And, this is the individual the Air Force chose to build character and develop better leadership among cadets who would become Air Force officers.
THE TWO-TIERED MILITARY JUDICIAL SYSTEM
PROTECTED KRISTIN
Normally substantiated allegations of this kind of misconduct will lead to some sort of legal jeopardy, but the Air Force decided to give Goodwin a pass because she is either openly gay, or because she is a flag-ranking officer. It’s probably because of both.
To our knowledge, nothing has happened to BG Goodwin, other than being relieved of her job as Commandant of Cadets. In keeping with the military’s policy of “different spanks for different ranks,” Kristin Goodwin was given a pass.
Actually, BG Goodwin was never “spanked” at all, but received absolutely no punishment whatsoever, of which we are aware of. Normally, the military will make it look like they disciplined one of their generals by taking away a star and “encouraging” them to submit retirement papers. Then, the flag-ranking officer quietly slips out the back door. No muss, no fuss.
Other than the seven allegations above, how many allegations were made that were not substantiated because witnesses decided not to go on the record? Or, how many other allegations were dropped because investigators did not want to risk their own career by being accused of being too harsh on the first openly gay Air Force general of the Academy?
WHAT WOULD BE FAIR AND JUST PUNISHMENT
FOR BRIGADIER GENERAL GOODWIN?
What would be a fair and just punishment for BG Goodwin is not for us to say. Should she go to prison for her misconduct? No. Her antics do not warrant that in our opinion, but people are probably in prison right now for doing far less that Goodwin has done.
A member of our own staff at militarycorruption.com, a former Navy pilot, was court martialed for fraternizing with an enlisted woman in the naval reserves and for submitting, what the military characterized as a fraudulent travel claim for $75.51, which he never received any money for.
He was dishonorably discharged and received a felony conviction. His assigned defense counsel said he was lucky, because the jury could have sent him to Ft. Leavenworth detention barracks for seven years for one count of fraternization and improperly submitting a $75.51 travel claim.
And this is the problem. Flag-ranking officers receive little or no punishment for their misconduct, while enlisted and junior officers are crucified. Either people like BG Goodwin should be hammered out of the military with a dishonorable discharge, or the military needs to rethink the punishments they are handing out for everyone else.
Goodwin should have been sent to a general court martial. Then a jury could determine if she was guilty or not and what her punishment should be…. just like they do to junior officers and enlisted personnel. It’s a goose and gander thing.
Normally, the military would quietly allow the general to escape accountability through retirement. But as it turns out, the Air Force was OK with Goodwin’s criminal behavior and transferred Goodwin to a new and better job in the newly established military branch called the Space Command.
SUMMARY:
We give the Air Force credit for at least investigating the matter. Had this same general officer been in the Army, the Army Inspector General, Leslie “Koala Bear” Smith, would have certainly covered the entire matter up, like he did for Lt. General Andre Piggee.
Young men and woman who are considering military service after high school or college had better understand, the concept of “Equal Justice Under Law” simply is not applied in the military.
Every damn Member of Congress who are charged with the responsibility of being overseers of the military should hang their head in shame for allowing this blatant two-tiered military judicial system to exist.
Until REAL REFORMS are made to change the military’s pathetic judicial system, we strongly recommend that young men and women are discouraged from entering military service in the United States.
The outrageous way the military hammers some people while letting others off scot-free is an abomination of fairness and true justice. The only way this ends is if the military can no longer staff their their respective military units. they’ll beseech Members of Congress for help.
They’ll go crying to Congress saying they don’t have enough people to kick around anymore. The military will beg Congress to reinstate the draft making military service compulsory. That’s a pill the Congress won’t want to swallow. Maybe then, the military might consider a complete overhaul of their pathetic judicial system.
