Before he was removed from command of the 62nd Medical Squadron last September, Col. Daniel Murray\u2019s leadership was marked by concerns about his fairness, rock-bottom morale in the squadron, and his tendency to discuss religion in ways that made his airmen feel uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Airmen under his command testified to equal opportunity investigators last spring about a \u201cpalpably negative\u201d and \u201cterrible\u201d climate and low morale in Murray\u2019s squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, as well as concerns about favoritism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those witnesses, the poor morale was exacerbated by his talk about religion and his poorly explained decisions, such as extending the duty day by an hour, they said. One witness called him \u201cegocentric\u201d and said he created an atmosphere in which \u201cit\u2019s about him, not necessarily others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another equal opportunity investigation \u2014 Air Force Times obtained both via the Freedom of Information Act \u2014 substantiated an allegation of discriminatory harassment filed after a transgender airman felt Murray made disparaging comments in a meeting, equating transgender status with mental illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Murray, who also was director of base medical services at Lewis-McChord, was removed from command Sept. 21 by Col. Rebecca Sonkiss, commander of the 62nd Airlift Wing \u201cdue to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead and command.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He led the squadron for about a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response to questions from Air Force Times, Master Sgt. Shanda De Anda, a spokeswoman for the 62nd Airlift Wing, said in a Jan. 5 statement that Murray is awaiting reassignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt would be inappropriate to comment on the specific allegations,\u201d De Anda said. \u201cHowever, during Col. Murray\u2019s tenure at JBLM, a series of investigations occurred which, rather than reveal a specific event warranting removal, demonstrated a pattern of ineffective communication and failure to foster a healthy command climate that contributed to an overall loss of confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Murray told investigators that when he took command of the squadron in 2016, he set out to turn around \u201ceight years of a declining climate with poor guidance.\u201d He was also concerned that inspections showed \u201cbasically that people did not know how to do their jobs well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Murray said he sought to fix that problem by extending the squadron\u2019s duty day by an hour \u201cto create white space at the end of their day, to go through regulations and tell me what they can do, what they can\u2019t do, and what they could do if Army would help them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere was an immediate decline in morale because they felt they were being punished,\u201d Murray said. \u201cI told them it was not punishment, it was white space to become the subject matter experts they are supposed to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Religious talk<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EO investigation did not substantiate an allegation of religious discrimination against Murray. However, it showed several airmen were bothered by how he ran his squadron and brought his Christian faith into the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Airmen told investigators he discussed religion in commander\u2019s calls and made what they perceived to be disparaging comments about atheists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But while the investigator concluded in an April 18 memo that the preponderance of the evidence did not support the religious discrimination allegation, the investigator chided Murray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Murray has a right to express his religious beliefs, the investigator said that military officers are held to higher standards and must be aware that their authority \u201csometimes makes it necessary to be less transparent with personal faith beliefs, as subordinates may misconstrue the intent of the message.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The investigator concluded it was likely he said, \u201cthere are no atheists in foxholes\u201d during his first commander\u2019s call in October 2016, as witnesses alleged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The investigator said there were at least three atheists under his command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One witness told investigators that the first time they had a meeting, Murray said that \u201che not only answers to the Air Force but to a higher power.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another witness reported Murray said, \u201cI do not care what god you believe in, but you have to believe in something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018I knew it wasn\u2019t right\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Birthday cards with Bible verses \u2014 a photo of one was included in the report \u2014 were distributed in the squadron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One major said Murray sent her a chastising text message that included a Bible verse. That major, who is also a Christian, said Murray\u2019s discussion about religion didn\u2019t bother her until she received the text containing a passage from Proverbs and admonishing her to maintain \u201cmilitary bearing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour commander has been patient with you, but I have little use for threats and guilt trips from subordinates,\u201d Murray said in a screenshot of text messages included in the report. \u201c \u2018The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.\u2019 Something I was reading yesterday that you should heed. Do not be foolish with your words.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI knew it wasn\u2019t right, but didn\u2019t know what to do about it,\u201d the major told investigators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Murray acknowledged in his interview that during his first commander\u2019s call, he told his airmen that he is a Christian, \u201cbut I don\u2019t expect everyone to be one. I do expect that they seek out and define a spiritual pillar for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Murray said he didn\u2019t recall saying \u201cthere are no atheists in foxholes,\u201d though he admitted it was possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Murray also said he didn\u2019t buy the birthday cards, or notice the religious messages in some of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf I signed a birthday card with a religious message in it, I was not tracking,\u201d Murray said. \u201cThat would be weird.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Transgender complaints<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A transgender airman filed a complaint against Murray after an April meeting to discuss that airman\u2019s plans to leave the Air Force for medical reasons stemming from his depression and anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The transgender airman, whose name was redacted from the documents, alleged Murray made a remark in the meeting, in reference to mental illness and transgender status, that he \u201ccould not separate the two.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The airman said in his complaint that he interpreted that to mean Murray thought all transgender people are mentally ill. He also said he didn\u2019t bring up his transgender status in the meeting prior to Murray\u2019s comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The airman also alleged Murray said, in reference to his transgender status, \u201cWe let you guys serve now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He felt Murray\u2019s comments amounted to harassment and a hostile work environment by his commanding officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Murray disputed that characterization of his remarks to the investigator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Murray said he may have made a comment about transgender people having a statistically higher rate of anxiety and depression, and that \u201cas his commander I was informing him that there were many helping agencies to assist him with his circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The investigation substantiated the allegation of discriminatory harassment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe statements were numerous and significant, and had the harmful effect of insulting and denigrating\u201d the transgender airman, the investigator wrote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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