by REERA YOO | @reeraboo
editor@charactermedia.com
Brig. Gen. John M. Cho, who was suspended from his post at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) after an investigation found that he failed to treat his staff with respect, will not be returning to command, the Army announced last week.
Cho, a one-star general and thoracic surgeon, lead the Western Region Medical Command, which oversees 11 Army military treatment facilities and 11 Warrior Transition Units across 20 Western states, according to the News Tribune. With his new promotion, Cho’s responsibilities at JBLM included expanding preventive care and streamlining the administration of Defense Department hospitals in the Puget Sound, including Navy hospitals.
He was suspended in September by Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, the Army’s Surgeon General, when a complaint was filed about his leadership. Following the suspension, the Defense Department Office of Inspector General launched an investigation.
Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Alayne Conway said the investigation determined that Cho “failed to treat select subordinates with dignity and respect.” While the findings said there was no toxic command climate under Cho’s leadership, it revealed that the general had failed to conduct an Army-required survey with his subordinates.
She added that the investigation did not involve Cho’s quality of medical care.
Maj. Gen. Thomas Tempel Jr., who led JBLM as the interim commander for six months, will be promoted to a permanent commander. Meanwhile, Cho will be reassigned to the staff of the Office of the Army Surgeon General.
According to the News Tribune, Cho is one of eight senior Army medical commanders to be suspended or relieved of command since 2012. This means that nearly one in five major Army hospital leaders have been dismissed from their positions during that time period.
In 2013, Cho became the first active-duty officer of Korean descent to achieve the rank of brigadier general by promotion. A West Point graduate, Cho previously served as the commander of Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and as the deputy commander for support at Army Medical Command.
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Featured image via Army.Mil
