California National Guard top commander is fired after ordering troops to carry out personal errands
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A top California National Guard commander has been fired after officials received reports that he was using subordinates for personal errands.
Brig. General Jeffrey Magram used troops to take his mother grocery shopping and complete mandatory online cybersecurity training.
Reports they also indicate that the general put an F-15C fighter jet on standby in a way that some say could be used in a way that could scare off civilian protesters.
Magram is scheduled to be “involuntarily transferred” to the retired US Air Force Reserve, which is considered “parallel” to a layoff, according to National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Brandon Hill.
Brig. General Jeffrey Magram used troops to take his mother grocery shopping and complete mandatory online cybersecurity training
Reports also indicate that the general put an F-15C fighter jet on standby in a way that some say could be used in a way that could scare off civilian protesters.
In investigating the allegations against the general, National Guard officials also discovered that Magram also had a Guardsman drive him 120 miles round trip for a dentist appointment.
The soldier who complained is quoted in a document as saying: “My job is to take care of the airmen in the state of California and not to be a general’s driver.”
Authorities also said they heard allegations that Magram prepared a fighter jet for a “possible domestic mission” in 2020.
The group said it feared its order would be seen as a ‘buzz’ and solely an attempt to disperse members of the crowd during the George Floyd protests.
Major General David Baldwin suspended Magram with pay in 2021 after the report on the incident was shared by the Los Angeles Times.
At the time, Baldwin denied that the plane had been prepared to fly, insisting that the suspension had nothing to do with the LA Times report.
In investigating the allegations against the general, National Guard officials also discovered that Magram (third from left) also had a Guardsman drive him 120 miles round trip for a dentist appointment.
The general said he believed the trips fell under the Air Force’s “wingman concept,” about taking care of fellow servicemen and women.
The Guardsman who took Magram’s mother to the grocery store spoke to officials and described the trip.
It was special. When I say particular, it had to be Whole Foods. … It just took him a long time to decide what he wanted, a lot of comparisons between products,” the anonymous Guard member stated.
The report stated that Magram did not deny the claims and even generally confirmed the accounts.
The general said he believed the trips fell under the Air Force’s “wingman concept,” about taking care of fellow servicemen.
“I want to reiterate that if I had ever heard of ethics issues like this from subordinates, peers or commanders, or perceptions of them, I would have corrected or addressed them immediately,” Magram said in a statement to an inspector general.
“I want to reiterate that if I had ever heard of ethics issues like this from subordinates, peers or commanders, or perceptions of them, I would have corrected or addressed it on the spot,” Magram said.
An internal investigation by the National Guard also reported that Magram did not take his annual cybersecurity training.
An internal investigation by the National Guard also reported that Magram did not take his annual cybersecurity training.
The report found that the general had lower-ranking Guard members every day asking him for temporary access to break into his computer.
That system went on for two weeks until a lesser member of the Guard finally did the training for him.
Magram said it was his ‘Tremendously busy operating time’ that did not allow him to complete the training in a statement.
A Guard memo obtained by the Los Angeles Times said the man ‘let a minion click the training questions and get a certificate of completion for him.
The officials also said they heard allegations that Magram prepared a fighter jet for a “possible domestic mission” in 2020.
In 2017, the now-fired general was counseled for similar behavior.
“His conduct has caused me to lose faith, trust and confidence in his ability to continue to serve,” Maj. Gen. Matthew Beevers, acting Adjutant General of the Guard, wrote in a memo to Magram.
According to his biography in National Guard websiteMagram first enlisted in the California Air National Guard in 1985 as a musician in the 561st Air Force Band.
The general has served at bases in Moffet and Sacramento in his nearly 40-year career with the branch of service.
Magram is now the fifth general to resign, retire or be fired from the California National Guard.
All of the officials were fired or resigned after the scandals reported by the LA Times.
Magram is now the fifth general to resign, retire or be fired from the California National Guard in the last four years as a result of scandals exposed by the The Los Angeles Times.
In July 2022, Baudouin resigned after an investigation into wrongdoing by high-ranking officials.
In April 2019, not one but two colonels were relieved of their duties for misconduct.
Maj. Gen. Clay L. Garrison was fired on April 5 for failing to “maintain a positive command climate,” Lt. Col. Thomas Keegan said at the time.
Less than a week later, the LA Times reported that Colonel Victor Sikora was relieved of command after engaging in “conduct unbecoming an officer” over complaints that he made whistleblowers feel threatened.
In April 2021, Maj. Gen. Gregory Jones resigned as commander of the California Air National Guard after Baldwin said he “lost faith, security and confidence in [Jones’] ability to foster an inclusive and healthy leadership climate.’