Air Force seeks General Court Martial for former command chief

  • Published
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  The Air Force will seek a general court martial in the case against Chief Master Sgt. William Gurney, former command chief for Air Force Materiel Command, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The court martial is set for Dec. 6 and will be conducted at Scott AFB.

Chief Gurney was charged in February with violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice by engaging in 18 specifications of sexual misconduct and unprofessional relationships with 10 enlisted women.

In addition, three more charges were preferred against him as a result of the Article 32 Hearing held at Wright-Patterson AFB in May. The additional specifications are:

--Two specifications of Article 92, for dereliction of duty by failing to maintain a professional relationship with a staff sergeant and a technical sergeant; and

--One specification of Article 143 for obstruction of justice by wrongfully endeavoring to influence the testimony or actions of a master sergeant.

During the Article 32 Hearing, one specification was dropped during the proceeding. The total charges against the chief number 20 and include specifications of adultery, misuse of government equipment and his official position, wrongful sexual contact, indecent conduct, and maltreatment of subordinates.

These charges are the result of an investigation by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations that began in November 2009, after a junior enlisted female member came forward with allegations of sexual harassment. Chief Gurney was removed from his position as the command chief in November 2009 and has remained at Wright-Patterson AFB performing administrative duties.

The Air Force takes all allegations of misconduct seriously, and holds its people to the highest standards. It presumes the innocence of the accused until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.