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This article reviews the misteps of Lt Colonel Richard Higashi, former Squadron Commander of the 552d Training Support Squadron at Tinker AFB, who has faced criticism for his handling of investigations involving Captain Juan Gale.
A Catalogue of Missteps
From June 2021 to June 2023, Lt Colonel Higashi initiated two Commander Directed Investigations (CDIs) in July and November 2021, leading to Gale being removed from his Flight Commander role, suspended from Instructor Upgrade, and having his Aeronautical Orders suspended. Despite evidence from Gale's supervisors supporting his innocence, Higashi proceeded with punitive actions, raising questions about the integrity of these investigations.
Procedural Oversights
During a pretrial hearing in December 2022, it was revealed that Lt Colonel Higashi had not reviewed or signed off on the CDIs, as required by Air Force regulations (DAFMAN 1-101, 2.1.2) outlined in "The Commander and the Law," (pg 365-366) a JAG guidebook for commanders. These guidelines mandate that commanders review CDI findings and indicate their concurrence or non-concurrence. This oversight raised significant concerns about procedural adherence. Witnesses reported that Higashi, present in the gallery at the hearing, appeared uncomfortable when this was exposed, further questioning his leadership suitability within the Air Battle Management career field.
Allegations of Misconduct
Higashi also faced accusations of charging Captain Gale with being AWOL, despite clear exculpatory evidence from Gale's supervisors. Higashi escalated these accusations to the 72nd JAG and the 552d ACW Wing Commander at the time, Colonel Keven P. Coyle, both of whom endorsed the charges. Even after Gale's supervisors provided exculpatory evidence, Coyle issued Gale a Letter of Counseling (LOC), raising further concerns about the integrity of the process. According to Article 107 of the UCMJ, making a false official statement with intent to deceive is a punishable offense. However, Higashi faced no repercussions for his actions.
Despite these actions, Lt Colonel Higashi remained in his position as Squadron Command Leader of the 552d TRSS at Tinker AFB. Reports suggest he received a follow-on assignment to Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam and may be on track for promotion to Colonel in the Air Battle Management career field, raising additional questions about leadership accountability.
Controversial Interactions
In December 2022, at the end of the Article 32 hearing, Lt Colonel Higashi reportedly shook Captain Gale’s and his lawyer’s hands, saying, “Good job.” This interaction was perceived as inappropriate, given the serious nature of the proceedings and the accusations against of malicious prosecution by Higashi.
Two years later, it was allegedly revealed in court that after General Koscheski recharged Captain Gale with the same charges less than 30 days after dismissing them, Lt Colonel Higashi had been emailing Lt Colonel McCormick, his successor, about the plan to recharge Captain Gale under Colonel Voigt. This coordination to retry Gale when the case did not initially go the way of Higashi, Colonel Coyle, or Major General Koscheski, could constitute unlawful command influence under 10 U.S. Code § 837 - Art. 37. Despite this, McCormick proceeded with the alleged plan.
Relentless Pursuit Despite Exoneration
Lt Colonel Higashi continued to pursue actions against Captain Gale even after his attorneys had continuously disproven the accusations. In December 2022, at the pre-trial Article 32 hearing, Captain Gale's attorney exposed that Lt Colonel Higashi not only wasted Air Force resources—constituting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse according to AFI 90-301—but also failed to perform his due diligence as Squadron Commander by not reviewing and endorsing the CDIs. Additionally and most egregiously, Higashi falsely accused Captain Gale of being AWOL for five months, using these accusations to further stall Gale’s career by sending him to the 966th AACS at Tinker and stripping away further award and recognition opportunities.
When Air Force commanders want to administratively sideline an officer without finding substantive violations, they can transfer the individual to a different squadron while retaining administrative control over their career. This allowed Lt Colonel Higashi, and later Lt Colonel McCormick, to prevent Captain Gale from receiving recognition for his accomplishments while at the 966th AACS, continuously ranking him low as a performing officer, ensuring he was not competitive for promotion. Higashi's assessment of Gale is vastly different than the way that many of Gale's colleagues describe him in their testimonials on the Justice 4 Juan Gale site.
"As an airman serving under Captain Juan Gale for the past year or so, I've witnessed firsthand his dedication to his work, his duty and respect for his country and military. He has consistently demonstrated integrity, professionalism and respect in his leadership role. As well as inspiring those around him to strive for excellence and to positively progress their careers every single day," said Noah Confair
"I saw Captain Gale push through those issues and show up to work every day to better himself and those around him. Even while facing these unspeakable issues with unlawful command influence and false accusations, he continued to improve the unit and made changes that positively affected the overall group and wing! He did all these things because that is who he is, to be good at what he does! And since he's going through this situation he's never truly received credit for his hard work," signed an anonymous Air Force Major in a recent testimonial.
"Throughout our time together, Gale consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence, both in his duties and in his interactions with others. His unwavering dedication to the Air Force and the Airman around him sets a standard for the rest of us to follow. Beyond his professional attributes, Captain Gale's genuine concern for the well-being of his team members makes him more than just a leader, but also a trusted confidant and mentor," said MSgt Ryan Nerswick.
Leadership and Accountability
The revelations about Lt Colonel Higashi’s conduct have significant implications for the Air Force. His actions have a high probablity of negatively affecting trust and morale, suggesting leadership issues. Captain Gale’s ordeal, after nearly 17 years of service, highlights potential failures in leadership and oversight.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding Lt Colonel Richard Higashi’s leadership underscores the need for accountability within the Air Force. His handling of the investigations against Captain Gale, marked by alleged procedural oversights and perceived misconduct, calls for rigorous oversight and adherence to military justice principles.
The Air Force is built on values of justice and integrity, and its personnel deserve leaders who exemplify these principles. Lt Colonel Richard Higashi’s actions serve as a reminder of the standards to which military leaders must be held, highlighting the need for reform and accountability within the ranks.
"It is deeply troubling to hear of the accusations leveled against Juan, especially because these accusations were discovered to be false. Upon this discovery, the right thing would have been to restore his credibility and reputation. Sadly, he didn’t receive this justice. I hope through awareness and transparency we can achieve justice, and restore him to the place he never should have been removed from, a place of dedicated service," said Marc Lane in a testimonial on the J4JG website.
Let these words serve as a plea to all, to stand up for what is right and restore the overdue justice and honor to Juan Gale's name.