Pentagon chief Ashton Carter just fired his top military aide over ‘misconduct’

Maj. Gen. Ronald F. Lewis

Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter has fired his top military aide for allegations of “misconduct,” a highly unusual move prior to a formal investigation into possible misbehavior by the Army general.

In a statement, Carter said that he had removed Lt. Gen. Ron Lewis from his position as senior military assistant. As his top military aide, Lewis was a right-hand advisor to Carter, providing him analysis on military issues, joining him at high-level meetings, and traveling with him on overseas missions.

Carter said the Pentagon’s Inspector General would investigate the allegations against Lewis and, if necessary, the Army would take action.

“I expect the highest possible standards of conduct from the men and women in this department, particularly from those serving in the most senior positions,” Carter said. “There is no exception.”

The Pentagon declined to provide details of what Lewis, 50, is accused of doing, but an individual familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a personnel matter, said the decision involved an alleged improper relationship. Defense officials said that Lewis would remain in the military and would return to a position in the Army.

Today’s decisions “do not presume Gen. Lewis is guilty,” a defense official said. But it is extremely rare for a senior general to get fired at the Pentagon, much less the senior military assistant to the Secretary of Defense. It is also unusual that such a decision would be made before the allegations are substantiated.

The last time the Defense Department Inspector General investigated an officer of such a high rank came in November 2012 when the FBI uncovered thousands of personal e-mails exchanged between Marine Gen. John Allen, then the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, and a Tampa socialite named Jill Kelley. Although the e-mails were never made public, the inspector general found no evidence of wrongdoing. Allen retired shortly thereafter.

Carter’s immediate predecessors as defense secretary – Leon Panetta and Chuck Hagel – didn’t sack any generals during their tenure. Robert M. Gates, who served as Pentagon chief under both President Obama and former President George W. Bush, was much less reluctant to hold senior leaders accountable. He fired several high-ranking generals, including the Air Force’s top commander, a four-star Army general who led the war in Afghanistan, and the general in charge of Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Lewis, who spent much of his childhood in Chicago, attended West Point and later commanded troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. He has a long history with Carter, who became defense secretary in February. Lewis served as Carter’s military aide when the now-secretary served as undersecretary of defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, and again when Carter was Deputy Secretary of Defense.

Lewis’ recent rise through the military ranks was swift. In keeping with the three-star level of the military assistant position, the Senate confirmed Lewis’ promotion to Lt. Gen. in June.

The move comes at the Pentagon faces a host of challenges, including a campaign struggling to make headway against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq; tensions with Russia over its activities in Ukraine and Syria; and friction with China in the South China Sea.

Julie Tate and Dan Lamothe contributed to this report

By Missy Ryan and Craig Whitlock

Missy Ryan writes about the Pentagon, military issues, and national security for The Washington Post.

Craig Whitlock covers the Pentagon and national security. He has reported for The Washington Post since 1998