Thomas J. Fiscus
Encyclopedia
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
who served as Judge Advocate General
Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Air Force
The Judge Advocate General's Corps also known as the "JAG Corps" or "JAG" is the legal arm of the United States Air Force.- History :The United States Air Force became a separate military service in September 1947. On 25 June 1948, the Congress established an office of The Judge Advocate General ...
of the Air Force, the highest ranking officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. In 2004 Fiscus was punished for conduct unbecoming an officer and several other offenses after an investigation found that he engaged in improper relationships with more than a dozen women.
Fiscus received a formal reprimand and forfeitures of pay under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice
Uniform Code of Military Justice
The Uniform Code of Military Justice , is the foundation of military law in the United States. It is was established by the United States Congress in accordance with the authority given by the United States Constitution in Article I, Section 8, which provides that "The Congress shall have Power . ....
for conduct unbecoming, fraternization, obstruction of justice and violating a lawful general regulation. His forfeited pay was equal to a full month's pay ($10,600) for Fiscus. Fiscus also was retired with a reduction in rank
Reduction in rank
Reduction in rank may refer to two separate concepts:*In military law, a reduction in rank is a demotion in military rank as punishment for a crime or wrongdoing, imposed by a court-martial or other authority...
to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
.
Fiscus was the Air Force's judge advocate general from February 2002 until he asked to be relieved in September 2004 when the allegations against him came under investigation. As the Air Force's top lawyer, he oversaw the work of 3,200 employees, including more than 1,300 Air Force judge advocates.
Fiscus was one of the military lawyers who argued against the harsh interrogation techniques approved by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld in December 2002 for detainees at Guantanamo Bay
Guantanamo Bay detainment camp
The Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a detainment and interrogation facility of the United States located within Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. The facility was established in 2002 by the Bush Administration to hold detainees from the war in Afghanistan and later Iraq...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
The revelations about Fiscus surfaced around the time of other scandals involving Air Force officers Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Michael D. Murphy
Michael D. Murphy
1st Lieutenant Michael D. Murphy, was a United States Air Force colonel, and was commander of the Air Force Legal Operations Agency. A former top lawyer in the Air Force, Murphy was relieved of his command on November 30, 2006 after Air Force officials discovered that he had been disbarred more...
and Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Richard S. Hassan
Richard S. Hassan
Richard S. Hassan is a retired officer of the United States Air Force. He served as director of the Air Force Senior Leader Management Office in Crystal City, Virginia, overseeing career development for senior leaders in the Air Force...
.
Mr. Fiscus has since launched a website countering the findings of the investigation that resulted in his retirement. His point of view of what happened can be found at http://www.thomasjfiscus.net/
External links
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A19083-2004Dec22?language=printer
- http://www.af.mil/library/posture/fiscusroi.pdf Report of the Inspector General on MG Fiscus' misconduct