A US Army commander who was accused of ‘forcibly kissing’ at least two male subordinates was fired seven months after the allegations were first made.
Col. Meghann Sullivan was under investigation last year after she allegedly kissed one man, grabbed another below the belt without consent and harassed others.
Now, Stars and Stripes has reported that Sullivan was relieved of command in October amid the investigation due to a ‘lack of confidence.’
Sulivan was the first woman to lead a Security Force Assistance Brigade battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington.
Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Patoka, a spokesman for the command, confirmed to the outlet that Sullivan was now assigned to I Corps, which is also located at the base.
Col. Meghann Sullivan was under investigation last year after she allegedly kissed one man, grabbed another below the belt without consent and harassed others
![Sullivan was relieved of command in October amid the investigation due to a 'lack of confidence'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/24/14/80410655-13001009-Sullivan_was_relieved_of_command_in_October_amid_the_investigati-a-3_1706107869136.jpg)
Sullivan was relieved of command in October amid the investigation due to a ‘lack of confidence’
Two sources close to the investigation previously said that some of the incidents involved alcohol.
At the time of her promotion, Sullivan was called a ‘phenomenal engineer’ and her achievement was listed as ‘one more example of the great talent resident in our formation’ by the Army.
‘As a senior, female advisor, she will also be a great example of the power of inclusion as she engages with militaries throughout the Indo-Pacific region,’ Major General Scott Jackson said at the time.
Sullivan, who has been in the military for more than 20 years, said she was ‘excited’ to take the role and for ‘young women to see that you can look and act different and be successful.’
Sullivan became the first woman to lead SFAB battalion, according to the Army, which she took in June 2021.
The units were created in 2017 and are identified through their brown beret with ‘advisor’ tab.
Those in the SFAB assist with training and work with partner countries, according to Military.com.
Military.com also reported that Sullivan is not facing a court-martial, according to a public-facing court docket seen by the outlet.
Sullivan’s boss, Col. Jonathan Chung, was suspended over abusive treatment allegations and counterproductive leadership last year.
He was accused of dressing down his subordinates for minor infractions and that he micromanaged his team.
![Sullivan, of the Army's 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade, (has been accused of forcibly kissing one man and grabbing another below the belt without consent, as well as, having a pattern of sexual harassment](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/24/14/80410907-13001009-Sullivan_of_the_Army_s_5th_Security_Force_Assistance_Brigade_has-a-1_1706107869094.jpg)
Sullivan, of the Army’s 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade, (has been accused of forcibly kissing one man and grabbing another below the belt without consent, as well as, having a pattern of sexual harassment
![Sullivan's boss, Col. Jonathan Chung, seen here, was suspended over abusive treatment allegations and counterproductive leadership last year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/24/14/70239729-13001009-Sullivan_s_boss_Col_Jonathan_Chung_seen_here_was_suspended_over_-a-4_1706107869141.jpg)
Sullivan’s boss, Col. Jonathan Chung, seen here, was suspended over abusive treatment allegations and counterproductive leadership last year
The investigation into Chung had involved reviewing hundreds of internal Army emails, voice recording, videos and text messages.
The military is currently grappling with rising numbers of reported sexual assaults in its ranks.
The number of incidents reported in the military has risen steadily for years, from 3,327 in the 2010 financial year to 8,942 in the 2022 financial year.
Defense chiefs say the increase in reports of sexual abuse is a positive sign that victims feel they will be heard and protected.
Still, they’ve also been blindsided by high-profile cases of the military justice system creaking under the strain.
In one landmark example, the Army revealed ‘major flaws’ in the culture at Fort Hood base in Texas and disciplined more than a dozen officials following the murder of Vanessa Guillén, 20, an Army specialist.
Guillén was last seen alive at Fort Hood in April 2020. Her dismembered remains were found two months later.
The soldier suspected of killing her, Spc. Aaron Robinson, shot himself dead as police closed in to arrest him.
The investigation afterward revealed Guillén had reported being sexually assaulted by a fellow soldier.
Supervisors had failed to relay her complaints up the chain, highlighting stark failures in the culture on base.
Sullivan did not immediately respond to the DailyMail.com’s request for comment.