Fifteen members of the military are facing disciplinary or administrative actions as a result of an internal investigation prompted by the arrest of an Air National Guardsman from Massachusetts. The guardsman, Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeira, is awaiting trial on charges of allegedly leaking secrets online.

The Air Force announced on Monday that the actions taken affected service members ranging in rank from staff sergeant to colonel. Among these actions were the relief of individuals from their positions, including command roles.

The announcement coincided with the release of a report by the Air Force Inspector General, which concluded that three members of Teixeira's unit at Otis Air National Guard Base in Sandwich had the opportunity to mitigate the breach but deliberately chose not to report their concerns. The report also highlighted several contributing factors that facilitated Teixeira's alleged access and dissemination of classified information.

The report identified four incidents where Teixeira allegedly engaged in improper access to secrets, and proper actions were not taken to address the situation. However, it did not suggest that anyone else had knowledge of Teixeira's online activities. The report emphasized that if individuals within the 102nd Intelligence Wing had fulfilled their duty to report Teixeira's actions, the extent and duration of the unauthorized disclosures could have been curtailed.

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall emphasized the importance of safeguarding classified defense information and holding individuals accountable for breaching that trust. He stated that national security necessitates leaders at all levels protecting critical assets to ensure they do not fall into the wrong hands.

Teixeira, a resident of North Dighton, was arrested in April and has pleaded not guilty to six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information. The Inspector General's report, initially deemed sensitive, was finalized in August and made public on Monday.

The report also highlighted shortcomings in the unit's information security program, including inconsistent guidance on reporting incidents, the concept of "need to know," and disciplinary policies for state and federal personnel. It pointed out a lack of oversight for night shift operations and insufficient resources allocated to the program.

As a result of the investigation, several military commanders have faced administrative actions. Col. Sean Riley, commander of the 102nd Intelligence Wing, was relieved of command for cause. Enrique Dovalo, commander of the 102nd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, received administrative action driven by concerns regarding unit culture and compliance with policies and standards. Other previously suspended commanders from the squadron and the detachment overseeing administrative support were permanently removed.

The case against Teixeira is scheduled for a status conference on Monday. The repercussions of this incident serve as a reminder of the critical importance of upholding information security protocols to safeguard national defense interests.