The Air Force Academy will take another look at its decision to deny confidentiality to rape victims, the academy's superintendent said Thursday. The announcement came three days after an independent commission said such confidentiality could be crucial in solving the academy's sexual assault scandal.
The confidentiality policy, enacted by the academy in 1993, was rescinded in March by Air Force Secretary James G. Roche, who felt it left academy commanders in the dark about assaults at the institution. Now each complaint is handled in the chain of command.
The review of the policy was requested by the commission, headed by former Rep. Tillie Fowler, that was created by Congress to investigate the scandal.
Dozens of former cadets have said they were punished for reporting attacks.
Lt. Gen. John Rosa, who became superintendent on July 8 after his predecessor was ousted for mishandling the problem, made clear Thursday he was skeptical whether confidentiality could be granted.
"I have to have folks under my command report crimes," he said.
The committee's report, issued Monday, also criticized the Air Force and academy leaders for ignoring repeated warning signs of problems at the institution and urged the Pentagon's inspector general to determine which individuals were to blame for the leadership breakdown.
The academy has begun implementing recommendations from the committee, Rosa said. The academy will get its own internal report next week and it will be made public, he said.
"We still have a problem," he said, adding it will take a complete review of how the academy operates, including how cadets are selected, to solve it.
He also said no immediate action will be taken against the dean of faculty, who was singled out for criticism by Fowler's committee. Academy officials will review Brig. Gen. David Wagie's conduct further.
"He will remain the dean," Rosa said.
Fowler's committee said Wagie had failed to recognize the seriousness of the problem and take action.
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