Ellsworth commanders fired as base prepares for B-21

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Ellsworth Air Force Base has fired two high ranking commanders in the last two months.

One on August 5th the other on September 11th. Ellsworth is home to the 28th Bomb Wing and around 20 B-one Bombers. It will soon be home to the B-21 stealth bomber. Representative Dusty Johnson was at the unveiling two years ago.

“The B-21 over time will replace the B-1 platform, we are going to be the training squadron the first B-21s to ever fly are going to be based at Ellsworth,” said Johnson.

Around 3,300 military members currently work at the base.

In August, Colonel Mark Kimball was relieved of command of the 28th Operations Group, due to “a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to command,” The Air Force Command says that the decision was based on the findings of an investigation report into the crash of a B-1 Bomber on January 4th of this year.

37 days later, another top commander, Lt. Colonel Carsten Stahr, in charge of the 28th Force Support Squadron, was relieved from duty also due to a loss of trust and confidence.

Retired Army major General Lynn Hartsell says in the military, being in command carries a wide range of responsibilities.

“Most likely what happened is some of the findings in that initial investigation prompted them to go wider and deeper into the command structure and that’s when they found the problem is the subordinate unit, the squadron and led to the relief of that commander.”

As for the commanders who were relieved, General Hartsell says their military careers are likely over.

“You will be given another staff position and you’ve seen the last of your promotions,” said Hartsell.

The retired two-star General says most often those relieved of command will serve three years at their current rank and elect to retire from the military. New leaders will fill their spots as the base prepares for the nation’s most powerful bomber ever made. As for Ellsworth, it’s unclear when the B-21 will arrive in South Dakota, but construction projects in preparation are currently underway at the base.

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