HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Gen. Charles Hamilton, commanding general of Army Materiel Command, has been suspended from his duties and may face a Pentagon investigation, according to reports from Military.com and ArmyTimes. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth is said to have suspended Hamilton after "credible" allegations that he interfered in the Army's Command Assessment Program.
Military.com reports Hamilton allegedly launched a "pressure campaign" towards the assessment panel in support of a lieutenant colonel seeking a battalion command post. He successfully persuaded the board to give the officer a second interview after the initial board voted 5-0 not to recommend her for command. Before the second interview took place, Hamilton contacted senior leaders who could have been on her second panel to discuss their voting parameters and the candidates.
Despite the panel's rejection, the officer, who the Military.com report says was a subordinate of Hamilton, was later placed on a selection list for the command.
The ArmyTimes report cites a document dated November 1 from Col. Robert O'Brien, CAP director, logging acts of Hamilton's alleged interference, which included demands for summaries of peer evaluations and a request to be present for the applicant's in-person interview at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
ArmyTimes goes on to report that the Army has referred the matter for further review by the inspector general of the Defense Department, which could prompt a Pentagon investigation.
The lieutenant colonel applying for the command role is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Army Col. Randee Farrell, Sec. Wormuth’s spokeswoman, said Wormuth is committed to the integrity of the so-called Battalion Commander Assessment Program, and once the investigation is over the Army will review the overall process “to ensure maximum fairness." The more extensive selection program was set up to ensure that the Army was choosing good officers for command jobs and was part of a campaign to weed out toxic leadership.
Hamilton, a Houston native, assumed command of the AMC in a ceremony at Redstone Arsenal in March 2023. FOX54 reached out to Redstone officials, who provided a statement from AMC confirming the suspension:
Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth has suspended General Charles Hamilton. Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan is performing the duties of the commander of Army Materiel Command. AMC will continue to execute its mission requirements, providing installation and materiel readiness to the joint force.
We were referred to U.S. Army public affairs for further comment and are awaiting response.
Hamilton has been reassigned until the investigation is finished.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
