Air Force Abruptly Axes 2 Commanders and 4 Other Leaders at Nuclear Base: 'These Personnel Actions Were Necessary'

Two commanders and four subordinates at North Dakota’s Minot Air Force Base were dismissed Monday, with the Air Force being tight-lipped about the reasons for the move.

The dismissals were announced in a news release on the 8th Air Force’s website.

The release said Maj. Gen. Andrew Gebara, the commander of the 8th Air Force, relieved two commanders from their positions because of “a loss of confidence in their ability to complete their assigned duties.”

“Additionally, four additional subordinate leaders were relieved by commanders assigned to Minot Air Force Base,” the release said.

“These personnel actions were necessary to maintain the very high standards we demand of those units entrusted with supporting our Nation’s nuclear mission,” Gebara said in a statement.

“Eighth Force continues to safeguard global combat power and conduct around-the-clock strategic deterrence operations in a safe, secure and effective manner,” the general said.

“Our mission is foundational to our Nation’s defense, and we remain committed to the success of that no-fail mission,” he said.

The release said the commanders dismissed led the 5th Mission Support Group and the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

“To protect the privacy of the individuals, further details will not be released,” it said.

The website Task and Purpose, citing an Air Force Global Strike Command representative, identified the dismissed commanders as Col. Gregory Mayer, who led the 5th Mission Support Group, and Maj. Jonathan Welch, who led the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

The Air Force Times said Mayer was in his post for eight months, having arrived at the base in June.

Mayer held what the outlet called “leadership roles in the civil engineering community” in recent years and had spent 25 years in...

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