Edward Jones, the performance director of the Air Force's traveling musical performance group Tops in Blue, has resigned, blogger and former airman Tony Carr wrote on his John Q. Public blog Monday.
When asked by Air Force Times whether Jones had resigned, the Air Force Services Activity — which oversees Tops in Blue — at first did not directly confirm it, but referred to Jones in the past tense.
"As the Performance Director, Mr. Jones was instrumental in auditioning new team members, selecting the team and training/mentoring new performers," the Services Activity said in an email Tuesday evening. "Additionally, he helped create the Tops in Blue show each year and oversaw performances around the world during his time with TIB."
After multiple requests for more information, the Services Activity said in another email Thursday that Jones resigned on July 1 "to pursue other opportunities that had been in development for some time. He planned his resignation to coincide with a schedule break in the Tops in Blue tour to least impact the Tops in Blue program and its performers."
But the Services Activity did not answer multiple follow-up requests to explicitly confirm Jones had resigned. The Services Activity also did not answer questions on when he resigned, whether he was asked to resign or was removed, and if so, by whom, and the reason for his departure.
Jones did not respond to an email from Air Force Times and could not be reached on the phone.
Tops in Blue has become a source of controversy in recent years among some airmen who feel the program is not enjoyed by many rank-and-file troops, and wastes millions of dollars each year. Some former Tops in Blue members last year told Air Force Times that the program is poorly run and operates under a grueling pace that resulted in damaged equipment and injuries.
One former Tops in Blue musician, Staff Sgt. Brittney Perry, said that although she was in shape and never failed a tape test, Tops in Blue officials put so much pressure on her to lose weight -- even threatening to kick her off the tour if she didn't -- that she developed an eating disorder. She said she knew of two other female airmen who were told they were too skinny and had to put on weight.
Perry also said that an incorrectly assembled stage led to her falling off the stage midshow in 2011, but after visiting the emergency room and getting medication for a concussion, she wasn't allowed to rest and take shows off to heal. She said her injuries worsened until her wrist snapped two or three months later, after which she continued performing and helped set up stages while in a cast. Perry said she was kicked off the tour for going to get a massage during a rare day off, while she had been ordered to stay in her hotel room.
And a former Tops in Blue truck driver said he was regularly told to ignore Air Force rules requiring vehicle operators to get eight hours of sleep and to periodically check equipment every three hours to make sure items hadn't shifted on the road. As a result, he said, drivers would only get a few hours of sleep before traveling long distances with tens of thousands of dollars of equipment -- some of which often arrived cracked or broken.
When asked by Air Force Times whether Jones had resigned, the Air Force Services Activity -- which oversees Tops in Blue -- did not directly confirm it, but referred to Jones in the past tense.
"As the Performance Director, Mr. Jones was instrumental in auditioning new team members, selecting the team and training/mentoring new performers," the Services Activity said in an email Tuesday evening. "Additionally, he helped create the Tops in Blue show each year and oversaw performances around the world during his time with TIB."
The remainder of the statement describes the group as "a troupe of dedicated and talented Airmen and civilians who combine their individual talents in an extraordinary demonstration of teamwork to create a professional-quality show, performed for Airmen and their families, at home and deployed, to enhance morale and to serve as Air Force Goodwill Ambassadors around the world," before listing notable nations and venues the group has performed at.
But the Services Activity did not answer multiple follow-up requests to explicitly confirm Jones had resigned. The Services Activity also did not answer questions on when he resigned, whether he was asked to resign or was removed and if so, by whom, and the reason for his departure.
Tops in Blue critics also say the Air Force spends too much money on it. The Air Force budgeted at least $1.3 million for the program in 2015, including more than $1 million in morale, welfare and recreation activity funds, which critics say could be better spent on on-base amenities enjoyed by more airmen.
That $1 million in MWR funding represents a 12.6 percent increase from the previous year.
The salaries of the 37 members of Tops in Blue also likely costs taxpayers at least another $1 million. And critics estimate the cost of transporting Tops in Blue around the world costs millions more.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
