eral Dugan's military career supplied to the Committee by the Air Force, General Dugan has a record of over 32 years of faithful and distinguished service. A copy of General Dugan's military history is included in the appendix to this report. The Committee also received a letter from the Secretary of Defense expressing his strong conviction that General Dugan should be approved for retirement in the grade of general. This letter is included in the appendix. The Committee concurs in the judgment by the President that General Dugan's record of military service merits his retirement in the grade of general. FACTORS CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE WITH REGARD TO THE RETIREMENT Date of GENERAL DUGAN During the review of this nomination, the Committee received a letter from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Management and Personnel indicating that, subject to the Senate's confirmation of the nomination, General Dugan would retire on January 1, 1991. This letter is included in the appendix. The Committee notes that the primary reason for allowing General Dugan to retire on January 1, 1991, is permit him to take advantage of the increase in the basic pay for the grade of general upon which his retired pay would be calculated. The basic pay for the grade of general is currently capped at the rate of pay for an executive level V civilian ($6,516.60 per month). Under current law, the executive level V pay rate will increase on January 1, 1991, to $8,151.60 per month. Because the retired pay for officers such as General Dugan is calculated on the basic pay of the highest grade held satisfactorily in effect on the date of retirement, General Dugan will gain a substantial increase in retired pay ($17,625 annually) if he retires on January 1, 1991. The Committee recognizes the very abrupt nature of General Dugan's relief from his position as Chief of Staff of the Air Force. However, section 601(b)(4), title 10, United States Code, provides for a generous transition period for officers in General Dugan's circumstance. This section allows General Dugan to continue to hold the grade of general "while awaiting retirement, beginning on the day he is relieved from a position designated to carry one of those grades [in General Dugan's case the grade of general] and ending on the day before his retirement, but not for more than 90 days.' Since General Dugan was relieved of his position on September 17, 1990, and is awaiting retirement, he can hold the grade of general until December 16, 1990. The committee believes that retaining General Dugan on active duty beyond this 90-day transition period primarily for the purpose of allowing General Dugan to take advantage of the higher rate of basic pay that will go into effect on January 1, 1991, is not in keeping with the spirit and intent of the transition authority. While the Committee recognizes that the Secretary of Defense may retain General Dugan on active duty beyond the 90-day transition period, the Committee questions the advisability of such action. The Committee is concerned not only about the circumvention of the generous 90-day transition period, but the effect that such a favored deci sion for one senior officer could have on the perception of all other military personnel of the fairness and integrity of the personnel system. The Committee notes that General Dugan's military history and the Air Force letter transmitting that history to the Committee state that General Dugan's current permanent duty assignment is Special Asssistant to the Secretary of the Air Force. In order for General Dugan to serve in such a position in the grade of general, he must be nominated by the President for such an assignment and be confirmed for such an assignment by the Senate. The Committee has not received nor acted on such a nomination. Therefore, if General Dugan's permanent assignment is to the position described in his military history and in the Air Force letter, in the assignment by the Senate. The Committee has not received nor acted on such a nomination. Therefore, if General Dugan's permanent assignment is to the position described in his military history and in the Air Force letter, in the Committee's view he may not serve in such a position in a grade higher than his permanent grade of major general. In summary, while the Committee recommends that General Dugan be retired in the grade of general, the Committee opposes the continuation of General Dugan on active duty beyond the normal 90-day transition period primarily to enhance his level of retired pay. The Committee has directed that a copy of this report be immediately furnished to the President and the Secretary of Defense. COMMITTEE VOTE On October 27, 1990, the Committee voted to report favorably the nomination of General Dugan for appointment to the grade of general on the retired list with a report. DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE, Hon. SAM NUNN, Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The President, under the provisions of Section 1370, Title 10 of the United States Code, has submitted to the Senate the nomination of the following general officer for advancement on the Retired List in the grade of general: Name, grade and SSAN Michael J. Dugan, General, 091-28-2234FR. Age Current assignment 53 Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force. Confirmation action by the October Senate recess would help insure a smooth transition for General Dugan. This action will not result in the Air Force exceeding the number of generals authorized by law. For the information of the Committee, I am enclosing a military Sincerely, Attachment. THOMAS J. HICKEY, MICHAEL JOSEPH DUGAN, GENERAL, REGAF, 091-28-2234 Date and place of birth: 22 February 1937, Albany, New York. Schools attended and degrees: U.S. Military Academy, BS, 1958; Aeronautical rating: Command pilot. Plt, Tac Ftr, F-100, 603 Air Commando Sq, TAC, Eglin Aux Fid #9, FL. Aug 64 Nov 65 CINCUSAFE; & Comdr, AAFCE; & AF Comp Comdr, USEUCOM, Ramstein AB, Germany Legion of Merit with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart Air Medal Air Force Commendation Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster Combat Readiness Medal National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with one Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon Air Force Training Ribbon Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS Assignments Dates Grade Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe, Commander in Chief United May 1989-July 1990 General. Director of Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff/Plans and Operations, June 1986-January 1987 Major general. Executive to the Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters United States Air Force, September 1975-July 1977 Colonel. Chief, Doctrine Implementation Branch, Assistant Chief, Objectives Assess- June 1973-September 1975 Colonel. Forward Air Controller (in conjunction with duties as a tactical fighter 1 Joint equivalent. February 1967-November Captain. 1967 Hon. SAM NUNN, THE SECRETARY of Defense, Washington, DC, October 5, 1990. Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Due to the unusual circumstances surrounding General Mike Dugan's retirement from the Air Force, I feel it is appropriate that I express to you my strong conviction that his nomination for retirement should be approved in the grade of general. General Mike Dugan has given over 32 years of honorable military service to the United States and is a highly decorated combat veteran who has shown his patriotism in peace and war. He has served with distinction in command positions at the wing and air division level, and twice as a Deputy Chief of Staff on the Air Staff. As the recent Commander in Chief, United States Air Forces in Europe, he was at the forefront of dramatic changes in Europe and provided outstanding leadership and oversight for air forces in that theater during this historic time. Throughout his career he has played a key role in keeping the United States Air Force in its position of preeminence in the world. General Dugan's military serv ice has been marked by selfless dedication and his performance fully merits retirement in the grade of general. DICK CHENEY. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, Hon. SAM NUNN, Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I am writing to advise you that, incident to the recent decision to replace General Michael J. Dugan as Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Secretary of Defense has recommended that the President nominate General Dugan, for appointment to the grade of general on the retired list. Subject to Senate confirmation, the effective date of this action will be January 1, 1991. A similar letter has been sent to Ranking Republican of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Sincerely, CHRISTOPHER JEHN. |