By AuxBeacon News Contributor

Looks to me as if the increase in the number of external abuse reporting sites is helping to boost the courage of those willing to file complaints and those willing to take action on them.

Col David Owens has been relieved of command from the 317th Airlift Wing at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas for creating a toxic environment, according to an Air Force announcement Thursday.

Lt Gen Giovanni Tuck, commander of the 18th Air Force at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois removed Owens from command on Wednesday due to loss of trust and confidence in his ability to command. A recent command-directed investigation SUBSTANTIATED allegations that Owens failed to establish and maintain a healthy command climate and created a toxic work environment.

“I am committed to ensuring we have the right leaders in place,” Tuck said in the release. “Our focus is on taking care of our airmen and civilians as we rebuild the command climate in the 317th Airlift Wing.”

Owens earned his pilot wings in 1998 and was assigned as a C-17 pilot and then later as a special operations evaluator pilot. He deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and previously commanded at the squadron and operations group levels. Other assignments included time at the Air Mobility Command and The White House as a military aide to Vice President Joe Biden. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in August 2015.

The 317th Airlift Group (317 AG), an Air Mobility Command (AMC) tenant unit, performs Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules airlift missions with 28 aircraft assigned. The 317th Airlift Group is now the largest C-130J unit in the world.