chain of command

His first act as defense secretary was to fire the top women and Black leaders in the chain of command, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, whose record of accomplishment was stellar.

He said it was outdated and officers would learn that by asking someone higher up in the chain of command.

Rangel claimed he reported the issue up the chain of command on at least two occasions in 2018 and 2019 but the department never launched an investigation.

They include a civilian employee who was married to another officer and an Air Force enlisted member significantly lower down the chain of command than Finerty.

“That seems way beyond inappropriate to me, somebody who’s there representing the U.S. military within the military chain of command with a U.S. senator on Armed Services, that makes it really bad.”