The military intelligence unit on Cape Cod where Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira worked has lost its intelligence mission in the wake of Teixeira allegedly leaking highly classified Pentagon information, according to the U.S. Air Force.
The Air Force’s 102nd Intelligence Wing, of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, at Otis Air National Guard Base is no longer performing its assigned intelligence mission, an Air Force spokesperson has confirmed.
“The mission has been temporarily reassigned to other organizations within the Air Force,” the spokesperson added.
This change at Otis Air National Guard Base comes after Teixeira was arrested by federal agents at his North Dighton home last week.
The 21-year-old is facing charges in connection with allegedly leaking highly classified national security information about the Ukraine war and other sensitive matters.
The Secretary of the Air Force has ordered the Department of the Air Force Inspector General to “investigate overall compliance with policy, procedures, and standards, including the unit environment and compliance at the 102nd Intelligence Wing related to the release of national security information,” the Air Force spokesperson said.
Teixeira was an IT specialist, a “cyber defense operations journeyman,” with the Massachusetts Air National Guard. He held a top-secret security clearance, and he maintained sensitive compartmented access to other highly classified programs.
“The Massachusetts National Guard has and will continue to fully cooperate with the FBI’s investigation into the alleged actions of Jack Teixeira,” a Massachusetts National Guard spokesperson said in a statement.
“National security is our foremost priority,” the spokesperson added. “Attempts to undermine it compromise our organization’s values and degrades trust among our members, the public, allies, and partners. We welcome any review of our adherence to established Department of Defense regulations for the handling of classified information. We will not hesitate to take appropriate measures to address any issues identified during an investigation.”
The Air Force has reassigned the 102nd Intelligence Wing’s mission to other Air Force organizations pending the outcome of a review of the unit’s policies and procedures.
Unit members are still working, a spokesperson said, adding that there’s always training to do. Also, not all members are assigned to the intelligence mission.
In addition, Air Force senior leaders are “directing a security-focused stand-down be conducted in the next 30 days at each unit across the Department of the Air Force,” an Air Force spokesperson said. “The focus of the stand-down will be to reassess our security posture and procedures, validate the need to know for each person’s access, and emphasize to all Airmen and Guardians the responsibility we are entrusted with to safeguard this information and to enforce and improve our security requirements.”
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