Female Air Force Colonel Who Championed Women in Military Leadership Roles Relieved of Command in Hawaii

As recently reported by Military.com, the U.S. Air Force has relieved Col. Julie Sposito-Salceies from her command of the 613th Air Operations Center (AOC) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The decision, effective January 16, 2025, was made by Gen. Kevin Schneider, commander of Pacific Air Forces, citing a “loss of confidence in her ability to command the organization.”

If you are a frequent reader of the site, you’ll note that this is an increasingly common trend among commanders these days, both male and female. It happens in all branches of service and seems to be gender-blind.

A Brief Tenure Comes to an Abrupt End

Col. Sposito-Salceies had a relatively short tenure as the commander of the 613th Air Operations Center (AOC) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. She took on the role in June 2024 but was relieved of her command on January 22, 2025, after about seven months in the position.

Before leading the 613th AOC, Col. Sposito-Salceies made history as the first woman to command the 609th Air Operations Center at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a role she held from June 2023 to June 2024.

At the 613th AOC, she oversaw command and control of air and space operations across the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s area of responsibility, a critical role in one of the most strategically important regions in the world. However, her time in this position was cut short when Gen. Kevin Schneider, the commander of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), removed her, citing  the incredibly no specific reason for “loss of confidence in her ability to command the organization.”

Following her dismissal, Col. Isaac Bell, the deputy director of PACAF’s Air Operations Directorate, stepped in as the interim commander of the 613th AOC while the Air Force determines the next permanent leader for the unit.

As the situation develops, the focus remains on maintaining the effectiveness and readiness of the 613th AOC’s operations in the Indo-Pacific region.

Official Statements and Lack of Specifics

In the official announcement, Gen. Schneider emphasized the high standards expected of commanders:

“Commanders are held to the highest standards because the Airmen, and the incredibly consequential missions they plan and execute, demand it.”

Military.com has noted that PACAF Public Affairs clarified that Col. Sposito-Salceies remains in the Air Force and has been assigned new duties at PACAF headquarters. They also confirmed that her removal was not the result of any misconduct or violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, nor was it directed by the Pentagon.

Military officials rarely provide detailed reasons for an officer’s removal, instead using general terms like “loss of confidence” or “loss of trust,” with the Federal Privacy Act often cited as the reason for withholding specifics.

Pacific Air Forces commander relieves leader of the 613th AOC. Release: https://t.co/E1mTufL3rX

— Brian Everstine (@beverstine) January 22, 2025

An Advocate for Women in Leadership

Col. Julie Sposito-Salceies is a dedicated advocate for increasing the representation of women in leadership roles within the military, particularly in the Air Force. Her commitment to this cause was evident throughout her career.

During her time at the Army War College, she contributed to the Women, Peace, and Security Program, focusing on how gender perspectives in conflict can enhance operational planning and effectiveness for senior leaders and commanders.

Her advocacy extended beyond policy, as she worked to inspire women in the Air Force to pursue leadership roles. She was quoted saying, “I choose to be bold, be unapologetically me, and to take care of the Airmen, joint, coalition, and partner nations in this AOC.” While serving in Qatar, she engaged with the first group of Qatari women airspace controllers, recognizing their achievements and emphasizing the value of diverse thinking in military careers.

On her official biography page, she is noted as having taken the Women, Peace and Security Gender Focal Point course in 2022.

That year, the Department of Defense (DoD), under the Biden administration, focused on implementing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) program, with an emphasis on training Gender Focal Points (GFPs). The Joint Staff and Combatant Commands conducted eight Operationalizing WPS training programs, seven of which were specifically designed for Gender Focal Points. The Department of the Air Force (DAF) also led its first service-specific Gender Focal Point course from July 5–8, 2022, in collaboration with the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

Since 2019, the DoD has trained over 500 personnel in WPS principles, including many GFPs. These training programs aim to help participants understand how WPS relates to national security and apply gender perspectives and analysis to their mission areas. GFPs perform their WPS responsibilities in addition to their core duties, enabling them to integrate gender considerations efficiently across various operations. This emphasis on training highlights the DoD’s commitment to promoting women’s safety, equality and meaningful contributions to peace and security efforts around the world.

In a 2023 Air Force news release, Sposito-Salceies was explicitly described as a vocal advocate for increasing the number of women in leadership positions. Her efforts to promote diversity and incorporate different perspectives into military planning and operations reflected her broader approach to service, focusing on creating more inclusive and effective environments within the military.

Context of the Decision

It’s worth noting that Col. Sposito-Salceies’s dismissal occurred shortly after President Donald Trump’s inauguration. During his campaign, President Trump expressed intentions to eliminate certain progressive non-merit-based programs from the military and to reassess the roles of officers who supported them. While the Air Force has not linked the removal to these political shifts, the timing has raised questions about potential underlying factors influencing the decision.

Newly minted Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has emphasized bringing merit back to the military in his statements and plans as the newly confirmed Secretary of Defense.

In his “message to the force” shortly after his confirmation, Hegseth stated that his strategies would be executed “with an emphasis on effectiveness, merit-based advancement, responsibility, standards, and preparedness.”During his confirmation hearing, Hegseth pledged to refocus the Defense Department on enhancing the strength of the U.S. military, emphasizing a “warrior culture” and criticizing policies he believed undermined the military’s effectiveness.

He also stressed the importance of maintaining high standards for military personnel. In his opening statement at the confirmation hearing, Hegseth highlighted “warfight, lethality, merit, standards, and readiness” as his mission. This focus on merit and standards has been a consistent theme in Hegseth’s public statements about his plans for the Department of Defense.

Summation

The removal of Col. Julie Sposito-Salceies from her command position underscores the Air Force’s commitment to maintaining high leadership standards. While the specific reasons for her dismissal remain undisclosed, the decision highlights the challenges and expectations faced by those in command roles, especially within critical units like the 613th Air Operations Center.