11th Wing commander fired

[DogPile12]

Wing CCs used to get fired all the time (usually after losing an airplane or two or blowing an ORI). Now when one gets fired, it makes big news and involves booze or a succubus. But hey, that O-6 retirement pay ain't bad.

Finally, good job!! The guy was a jerk...treated everyone with contempt as he thought he was better than all, including the GOs that were above him. You should have sat through a staff meeting or two as he picked out individuals to embarrass in front of their peers…it was like a game for him, and a terrifying experience for all in attendance to wonder “who will it be today.” What really scares me more is who are the AF GOs that picked him in the first place and put up with that style of incompetence for the 16 months prior to relieving him…perhaps they all should be relieve having lost the “trust and confidence” of the American people! Let's start with the AF Chief of Staff...the 11th was the "Chief's Own" so maybe he should "own" up to it.

Col Jon Roop was an amazing man in a political world... he absolutely was not a yes-man and that's what got him fired. He pissed off commander's that worked for him if they weren't going above and beyone because he expected the best out of everyone. He worked HARD for his people.
Gen. Jodice has committed a grievous error -- he's shot down the fundamentals of the U.S. Air Force by removing someone just because he didn't agree with him. This is the MILITARY, sometime's you get a true leader that will drive through the b.s. to do what's right -- and generally, unpopular. Jodice has weakened the tenets we live by... he's a fool that buckled to political pressure.
Col Roop is a dynamic leader that did more for Bolling AFB, the local communities, and AFNCR than any commander before or after him -- he is a dynamic, heartfelt speaker that deserved the stars that were coming to him.
I pray that his career gets back on track and that the people of the military start showing some loyalty and stop attacking this good man -- and his phenomenal wife that's done nothing to deserve the attacks on their marriage. If he had been doing something questionable, there would already be charges brought.
God speed Col. Roop -- you are already missed terribly.

To "#12 poster", my bet is you're one of the few that Colonel Roop chewed a few times -- most likely because you weren't prepared or taking care of your people. He didn't randomly pick people out to embarass -- folks got embarassed because he wanted preparation and real answers.

Do you have ANY idea the unique pressures this guy was under? Having to deal with the ULTRA-political world of D.C. politics, leading Bolling through a huge joint-basing venture, living on the same street and servicing every 2, 3, and 4 star that thinks they're the biggest priority in the world when he was truly trying his best to take care of his Airmen.

Bolling is NOT a place I'd want to be a commander of... and although I was once called on the carpet by the man, he was very professional about it and I still respected him afterwards. He deserves our admiration and respect. He did his absolute best to lead in a place with the deck stacked against him... he did nothing wrong more than being a proper leader.

The people that should be admonished are the people with no class that have to make up things about his removal, and the people that removed him or complained about him in the first place. You're in the military -- deal with it and move on. There are FAR worse monsters as commanders out there that stay in place, what in the world was leadership THINKING to do something this stupid with only four months left?!?! I don't care HOW much you disagree with him chewing a few commanders out, it was not worth destroying this man's career over.

The majority of the comments i have read on this post must be from ignorant, bigoted, jaded people who were dropped from his command for not doing a good enough job. He didn't put up with dead weight and people who didn't do their job well. Maybe that's why you all have a problem with him. Maybe you all were that dead weight. The Air Force needs more commanders like him to get rid of the lazy, pitiful people that give the Air Force a reputation for being the Chair Force. He didn't accept mediocrity and to me, that is not a flaw but a demonstration of incredible character. His being relieved of command was not at all related to anything illegal or illicit, some people in this political Air Force just couldn't accept the changes he was bringing about. He was a remarkable commander and remains a remarkable person. His affinity for leadership was extraordinary and he will be greatly missed. God Bless Col. Roop, good luck in all your endeavors, your positive attitude in a negative situation is inspirational.

P.S. For all the people who said he was unnapproachable and acted as though he was "above" everyone, this was written by an A1C. He is a GREAT leader.

i am disgusted by the remarks made against this extraordinary man and leader. we were lucky to have him and he is already missed.

To poster #14...NO I am not one he "chewed out" But, as an NCO, I know they do not define leadership as a fear technique and what I saw the commanders go through was shameful. What I witnessed was arrogance and his ingonance shielded by making all around him feel low and stupid thus shielding his inadaquacies as a leader. During one briefing, he foolishy insulted the voting officer for saying that all 435 Members of the House of Representatives was up for election last fall. He claimed only 1/3 would be up for re-election. When others tried to explain it to him, he refused to listen, made the group commanders feel stupid, and then told the entire group to "read the Constitution" Perhaps, he needs to read it. And of course he made the troops feel great, just another technique he used to isolate the SNCOs and Commanders from the troops they were charged to lead. Only he could be seen as the good guy...so it doesnt surprize me to have comments of praise on here from junior airman.

Funny that a person trying to point out ignorance would spell the word wrong... talk about checking the Constitution, how about checking a dictionary.

And another funny thing -- I am not a junior Airman, I am a SNCO that was proud to serve for this man. So think before you write young one. And as an NCO, you should be able to handle a tough commander, not take the first opportunity to kick him when he's down.

All the years I've spent in this military, I've never been more ashamed of my fellow military members than I am at the uncalled for comments on this site.

As a Chief in this wing, I will tell you Col. Roop did no such thing "isolating his SNCOs and commander's from the Airmen"... he had EVERYONE in mind at every turn and tried his best to ensure everyone was recognized and cared for -- he was adamant about no-one being any better than anyone else, that we were all here for the mission, for customer service.

We are all free to have our own thoughts and ideas, but I encourage everyone to let this good man rest in peace. Very rarely are commander's popular -- for a reason, because they're there to lead, not make friends. But in 23+ years of service I've never served for a better wing commander.

[Pollywog]

I'm not even kidding about this. I heard this on the news this morning.

Something to do with a TRUCK driven by a lower enlisted flipping over. The truck normally holds some pretty volitile stuff, possibly nuclear. It was a big deal. Nobody was hurt and the truck wasn't carrying anything.

SOMEHOW, this got all the way up the chain of command and the Col. Gen. whatever, was terminated because of it. Don't know the exact connection.

How does a squid know about this and you flyboys don't?

Some of you guys sound like you really liked the guy. Like, romantically even. Maybe he was let go for doodling his airmen? Maybe SOME of them liked it. (Cough) (Cough). . . . . . .
I met my wing commander once. Seemed like a d**k. We, in the Nav, don't share as close a physical relationship with our high ranking O's as you guys apparently.