The Air Force assistant vice chief of staff removed in March over a series of inappropriate emails will be able to keep his rank and retirement pay.

Lt. Gen. John Hesterman was fired after an investigation found he and a female lieutenant colonel were exchanging sexually suggestive emails sent between March 2010 and May 2011. Both Hesterman and the female officer, unnamed in the Inspector General investigation, were married at the time of the incident.

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James signed off on the recommendation, made by an Officer Grade Determination Board, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told Air Force Times. Defense Secretary Ash Carter approved James' advisement.

In the case of retirements, "the Secretary of Defense retains the authority to determine satisfactory or non-satisfactory service for all officers in the grades of O-9 or O-10 who have adverse or reportable information," in the case of retirements, Stefanek said in a statement. 

The female lieutenant colonel also received administrative disciplinary action as seen fit by her chain of command, Stefanek said.

Hesterman, who officially retired on May 1 after 33 years of service, will receive keep up to at least $156,578 per year in pension, as first reported by the Washington Post. If Hesterman would have received a demotion of one paygrade, to major general,he would have lost out on about $20,000 per year. 

Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein issued the reprimand. Goldfein, the nominee to become the service's next chief of staff, also initiated the process for Hesterman's rank and retirement decision, the service said at the time.

Between July 2010 and June 2011, Hesterman was the deputy commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command, at a time when the U.S. was overseeing the air war in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also served as the deputy commander of the Combined Force Air Component and vice commander of the 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force, Air Combat Command, in Southwest Asia, according to his biography.

He later served as commander of AFCENT, from July 2013 to June 2015, and led the initial stages of the air war against the Islamic State.

An initial complaint alleges Hesterman made advances on the female lieutenant colonel while she and her husband, an Air Force colonel at the time, were both stationed at RAF Lakenheath, England, according to the IG report. Hesterman was the commander of the 48th Fighter Wing there between June 2007 and August 2008.

The investigation notes that while there was no evidence of "physical contact," the husband believes "the affairs and marital problems had begun during his 'Lakenheath days.' "

The Air Force has not identified the female lieutenant colonel, nor specified her current whereabouts.

Hesterman made lieutenant general on Nov. 17, 2011. He and his wife of over 22 years have one daughter, the report said.

The Air Force said the investigation did not uncover any additional misconduct. Hesterman, a major general at the time of the alleged affair, relinquished his duties on March 18.

Oriana Pawlyk covers deployments, cyber, Guard/Reserve, uniforms, physical training, crime and operations in the Middle East and Europe for Air Force Times. She was the Early Bird Brief editor in 2015. Email her at opawlyk@airforcetimes.com.

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