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Army fires Command Sergeant Major for Military District of Washington

By Jeff Schogol

Updated on Aug 12, 2024 5:26 PM EDT

3 minute read

Command Sgt. Major Veronica E. Knapp has been relieved as the senior enlisted leader of the sprawling military task force responsible for defense and day-to-day military operations in Washington D.C. following an investigation, an Army spokesman said. Knapp made news in 2021 as the first woman named Command Sgt. Major of the 101st Airborne Division. She was in a similar role for the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region/United States Army Military District of Washington, or JTF-NCR/USAMDW.

Knapp was relieved on Aug. 8 as result of the Army 15-6 investigation “due to a loss of trust and confidence in her leadership,” said Bernhard “Lash” Lashleyleidner, a JTF-NCR/USAMDW spokesman. No further information about exactly why Knapp was relieved or what the investigation found was immediately available. All military branches nearly always use the phrase “loss of confidence” when leaders are relieved rather that specify wide range of reasons from personal off-duty conduct mistakes

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The JTF-NCR/USAMDW’ is a sprawling military organization established after the 9/11 attacks as a central hub for defense and day-to-day military operations around Washington D.C. Its leaders — who are traditionally an Army two-star general as the overall commander and Navy admiral as their deputy — oversee military units from every branch, several installations and civilian defense agencies whose duties range from ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetary to responding to emergencies with military police and technical rescue teams to establishing mobile command posts for major D.C. events or emergencies.

Knapp was the senior enlisted advisor on the JTF-NCR/USAMDW command staff. Sergeant Major Eberhard G. Nordman, the JTF-NCR/USAMDW’s provost marshal, has been named as her acting replacement.

Knapp enlisted in the Army in 2000 and has deployed to Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Romania, according to her official biography, which has been taken down from the JTF-NCR/USAMDW website. She is a graduate of the Drill Sergeant Academy, and she became the first woman to serve as command sergeant major of an Army division in 2021 when she assumed the role of senior enlisted leader for the 101st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Her military awards include two Legions of Merit, nine Army Achievement Medals, seven Army Good Conduct Medals, five Army Commendation Medals, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO-ISAF Medal, and Meritorious Unit Commendation.

CORRECTION: 08/12/2024: An earlier version of this story inaccurately reported that Knapp had received seven National Defense Service Medals.

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Army fires command sergeant major of DC-area information ops unit

The Army fired the senior enlisted leader for 1st Information Operations Command this week, marking the second such leader in the Washington, D.C., area to be relieved in less than a week.

On Tuesday, officials relieved Command Sgt. Maj. Harold “Ed” Jarrell following a 15-6 investigation due to a “loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead effectively,” Maj. Lindsay Roman, command spokesperson, told Army Times in an emailed statement.

A 15-6 investigation is often conducted in response to allegations involving command climate concerns, poor leadership or misconduct.

Army fires command sergeant major of DC military task force

Command sgt. maj. veronica knapp previously served as the 101st airborne division's first female senior enlisted leader..

Jarrell assumed his position in January 2023. Roman did not have information as to his current assignment or his replacement at the time of this story’s publication.

Jarrell could not immediately be reached for comment.

The 1st Information Operations Command, based in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, is the service’s only active-duty information operations unit, according to the unit’s website .

The brigade-level organization contains a headquarters detachment and two battalions.

The command falls under both the Army’s Intelligence and Security Command and the Army Cyber Command.

Jarrell enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1999, serving initially as an infantryman in the 10th Mountain Division, according to his official biography . In 2009, he reclassified his job specialty to counterintelligence special agent. He served in counterintelligence roles for 10th Special Forces Group and 75th Ranger Regiment.

He most recently served as the command sergeant major for the 311th Military Intelligence Battalion at Camp Zama, Japan, before assuming duties at 1st Information Operations Command in 2023.

His awards and decorations, among others, include the Bronze Star Medal (2nd award), Meritorious Service Medal (5th award), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (5th award) and Army Achievement Medal (4th award).

On Aug. 8, Command Sgt. Maj. Veronica Knapp was also fired following a 15-6 investigation “due to a loss of trust and confidence in her leadership,” Army Times previously reported .

Knapp had served as the senior enlisted leader of both Joint Task Force-National Capital Region and the Army’s Military District of Washington since 2023.

She gained public prominence in 2021 as the first female senior enlisted leader of the 101st Airborne Division. She served in that position until being assigned to the task force.

The news website Military.com first reported Jarrell’s firing.

Todd South has written about crime, courts, government and the military for multiple publications since 2004 and was named a 2014 Pulitzer finalist for a co-written project on witness intimidation. Todd is a Marine veteran of the Iraq War.

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General Officer Announcements

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the president has made the following nominations:

Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as deputy commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Quantico, Virginia.  Borgschulte is currently serving as commanding general, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, San Diego, California.

Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Roberta L. Shea for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command; commanding general, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic; and commander, Marine Forces North.  Shea is currently serving as the legislative assistant to the commandant of the Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.

Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Paul J. Rock Jr. for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as director, Marine Corps Staff, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.  Rock is currently serving as the commandant, National War College, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.

Space Force Brig. Gen. Dennis O. Bythewood for appointment to the grade of major general.  Bythewood is currently serving as the deputy commander, U.S. Space Forces - Space, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. 

Space Force Brig. Gen. James E. Smith for appointment to the grade of major general.  Smith is currently serving as the assistant deputy chief of space operations for Operations, Cyber and Nuclear: and deputy chief operations officer, Office of the Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 

Air Force Col. Jack R. Arthaud for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Arthaud is currently serving as the deputy director, Operations, Strategic Deterrence, and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces Europe–Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. 

Air Force Col. Anthony D. Babcock for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Babcock is currently serving as chief, Aircraft Maintenance Division, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. Catherine V. Barrington for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Barrington is currently serving as the military assistant to the deputy secretary of defense, Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. Ariel G. Batungbacal for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Batungbacal is currently serving as the commander, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. 

Air Force Col. Cassius T. Bentley III for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Bentley is currently serving as the deputy director, Strategic Plans, Programs and Logistics, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

Air Force Col. John A. Cluck for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. Cluck is currently serving as the wing commander, 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard, Missouri.

Air Force Col. Michael D. Curry for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Curry is currently serving as the director, Secretary of the Air Force; and chief of staff of the Air Force Executive Action Group, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 

Air Force Col. Lindsay C. Droz for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Droz is currently serving as the director of staff, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. 

Air Force Col. Mason R. Dula for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Dula is currently serving as the executive officer to the commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.  

Air Force Col. Todd R. Dyer for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Dyer is currently serving as the division chief, Futures and Concepts Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. Travis L. Edwards for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Edwards is currently serving as the deputy director, Operations, Strategic Deterrence & Nuclear Integration, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.  

Air Force Col. Chad R. Ellsworth for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Ellsworth is currently serving as the deputy director, Contested Logistics, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. Paul G. Filcek for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Filcek is currently serving as the director, Space Force Mission Sustainment Division, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear, Headquarters U.S. Space Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. Brian A. Filler for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Filler is currently serving as the director, Air Force Colonel Management Office, Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. John B. Gallemore for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Gallemore is currently serving as inspector general, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. 

Air Force Col. Timothy A. Herritage for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Herritage is currently serving as principal deputy director, Air Force Public Affairs, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. James V. Hewitt for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Hewitt is currently serving as the chief, Legislative Affairs, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort George Meade, Maryland.

Air Force Col. Jay A. Johnson for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Johnson is currently serving as the chief of staff, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.

Air Force Col. Matthew E. Jones for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Jones is currently serving as the division chief, Joint Operations Division Africa Command, Regional Operations Directorate, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.  

Air Force Col. Michele A. Lobianco for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Lobianco is currently serving as the commander, 15th Wing, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

Air Force Col. Sean E. Lowe for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Lowe is currently serving as the commander, 603rd Air Operations Center, U.S. Air Forces Europe–Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. 

Air Force Col. Robert P. Lyons III for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Lyons is currently serving as the senior materiel leader, F-35 Air Vehicle Program Management Office, Air Force Material Command, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. Mark A Massaro for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. Air Force Col. Kimberly A. McCue for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. McCue is currently serving as the mobilization assistant to the director, Medical Operations, Office of the Air Force Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Falls Church, Virginia. Air Force Col. Craig D. Prather for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Prather is currently serving as the chief of staff, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida. 

Air Force Col. Joseph L. Sheffield for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Sheffield is currently serving as the chief, House Liaison Division, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. Andrew J. Steffen for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Steffen is currently serving as the assistant deputy commander, 16th Air Force, Air Combat Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Air Force Col. Kristen D. Thompson for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Thompson is currently serving as military fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, New York, New York.

Air Force Col. Brian E. Vaughn for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. Vaughn is currently serving as the wing commander, 187th Fighter Wing, Alabama Air National Guard, Alabama.

Air Force Col. Shane S. Vesely for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Vesely is currently serving as the deputy commander, U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific, Camp Smith, Hawaii. 

Air Force Col. Douglas P. Wickert for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Wickert is currently serving as the commander, 412th Test Wing, Air Force Materiel Command, Edwards Air Force Base, California.

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