Suspended Army 4-Star General Charles Hamilton Appeals for Return of Command

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Four Star General Charles Hamilton, who as head of Army Materiel Command oversaw much of the service's logistics operations, wrote a letter to Army Secretary Wormuth on Friday asking to be reinstated. Hamilton, claimed in the letter that he had to intervene in the Army's Command Assessment Program, or CAP, selection last fall because he felt the process is racist and would unfairly handle the selection of a Black subordinate officer.

Gen. Hamilton was suspended earlier this year following a Military.com investigation into his attempts to influence a subordinate officer's promotion.

"I respectfully ask that you allow me to resume command and continue leading our soldiers and civilians in one of the Army's most important and impactful commands," Hamilton wrote in the letter, which was obtained by Military.com. "I have been brutally honest about my concerns with the Command Assessment Program's disparate impact on Black officers."

Wormuth declined a request for comment.

Hamilton's future is now up in the air. After the Army's investigation is wrapped up, it heads to Wormuth's desk for her to make a determination. He could be placed back into command; reduced in rank and placed in another position; or separated from the service.

If separated, he may lose rank and revert back to the rank he was deemed to have last served honorably, which may be as a three-star general. While an enormous blow to Hamilton, he would still likely enjoy generous retirement and veteran benefits. He may also be granted an opportunity to voluntarily resign.

Whether Hamilton is outright fired and removed from service is a monumental decision for Wormuth, who would likely be on a short list for defense secretary in a future Democratic administration. Firing a four-star general, effectively the military's most senior rank, is a rare move for a service secretary, as terminations in that echelon have historically been reserved for presidents and defense secretaries.

Furthermore, given the paucity of Black general officers, there's little history of their firings.

Black officers historically have been underrepresented in the Pentagon's most senior ranks. However, representation has seen progress in recent years. The Army has eight four-star positions, three of which were held by Black officers until Hamilton's suspension, when another officer, who is white, took on his role in an acting capacity.

Meanwhile, a Defense Department inspector general investigation into Hamilton's conduct has been ongoing for five months. The investigation is in its final stages, multiple sources explained. According to one source with direct knowledge of the investigation, it is expected to wrap up by year's end.

Investigations into an officer's conduct, especially on the general officer level, are typically slow-moving and involve interviewing many people and document gathering. Hamilton's investigation is par for the course.

General Hamilton enlisted in the U.S. Army from his hometown Houston, Texas. Upon completing basic and individual training, he was assigned to Fort Hood (known as Fort Cavazos since 2023), Texas. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps after attending Officer Candidate School, where he was selected as the Distinguished Military Graduate. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Virginia State University and Masters’ Degrees in Public Administration from Central Michigan University and Military Studies from Marine Corps University. He is also a graduate of a Senior Service College Fellowship – Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellows Program.

General Hamilton’s previous assignments include duties as the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4 for the United States Army; Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, United States Army; Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, G-3 for AMC; Commander of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command; the Chief Logistics Officer for United States Forces Korea; and the Commander of Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also worked as the Executive Officer to the Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics at the Pentagon, as an Assignment Officer in the Logistics Branch in the Office of the Army Chief of Staff and as the Executive Officer to the Vice Director, Defense Logistics Agency.

On three separate occasions, General Hamilton held commands in Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. In 2004, he was Commander, Defense Logistics Agency Contingency Support Team Afghanistan, and in 2010-2011, he was Commander, United States Forces-Afghanistan Support South/ Southwest. In 2013-2014, he was the Commander of the 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division.

General Hamilton’s awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, two Defense Superior Service Medals, four Legions of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals, three Defense Meritorious Service Medals, nine Meritorious Service Medals, two Joint Service Commendation Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, Joint Service Achievement Medal, seven Army Achievement Medals, two Good Conduct Medals, and OEF Campaign Awards. He has also been awarded the Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, Parachute Rigger Badge, Air Assault Badge, Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.