Army Gen. Charles R. Hamilton, a four-star general and head of Army Materiel Command, was relieved of duty following an investigation by the Army Inspector General.
The investigation concluded that Hamilton improperly intervened in the promotion process of a subordinate, a Black female lieutenant colonel, seeking a battalion command position.
This marks the first time in 20 years that an Army four-star general has been dismissed.
Hamilton was accused of exerting undue pressure on the selection process after a panel initially rejected the officer. Despite the promotion panel’s unanimous decision against her candidacy, Hamilton advocated for her to receive a second interview and even communicated with senior officials about the panel’s deliberations.
This intervention raised questions about favoritism and procedural integrity.
Hamilton spent approximately a month advocating for the lieutenant colonel despite her underwhelming performance on the Army’s new promotion boards. His efforts began even before her evaluation, as he made remarks to panel judges—comprising a trio of two-star generals—indicating his familiarity with the officer they would assess.
Hamilton’s advocacy extended to contacting both an adviser from the Army Talent Management Task Force and the head of the Battalion Command Assessment Program (BCAP), seeking documents related to the lieutenant colonel’s evaluation. These actions, viewed as extraordinary and unorthodox, raised questions about his impartiality in the process.
The intensity of Hamilton’s lobbying prompted Col. Robert O’Brien, the leader of the Army’s Command Assessment Program, to document the efforts in a formal memo, as reported by Military.com. This memo provided critical insights into Hamilton’s interventions and contributed to the broader investigation into his conduct.
The matter also involved allegations of a personal relationship between Hamilton and the officer. While the investigation found their relationship overly familiar, it concluded there was no definitive evidence of a romantic or sexual connection. However, the case raised broader concerns about Hamilton’s conduct and adherence to Army policies.
“Our investigation found a preponderance of evidence to support a finding that Gen. Hamilton and [the lieutenant colonel] shared a prohibited relationship that caused an actual or perceived partiality or unfairness,” according to the IG report. “Despite all the circumstantial evidence, we were unable to determine conclusively that Gen. Hamilton and [the lieutenant colonel] were involved in a sexual relationship.”
Hamilton’s former subordinate twice failed Battalion Commander Assessment Program, or BCAP, panels in 2023, but he has denied any wrongdoing.
He framed his actions as part of an effort to address systemic biases in the Army’s promotion systems, particularly those affecting minority officers.
He argued that the selection process often marginalizes Black officers, citing racial biases and structural barriers within the Army’s Command Assessment Program.
Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth emphasized the need to uphold transparency and fairness in the promotion process, affirming the Command Assessment Program as a key mechanism for selecting future leaders.
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