Gov. Scott ‘concerned’ about pilot behavior; announces head of the Guard leaving
By Mark Johnson for VTDigger, Nov. 30, 2018
Gov. Phil Scott said Friday he was “concerned” about published reports of excessive drinking, sexual harassment of women and inflating troop numbers within the Vermont National Guard. At the same time, the governor announced the head of the Guard is leaving.
Reacting to a six-month investigation by VTDigger, the governor said he planned to meet soon with Guard leaders. He said they assured his administration all proper procedures had been followed.
At a meeting with reporters outside the Statehouse, Scott announced that Maj. Gen. Steven Cray would not seek another term next year as the state’s adjutant general. The governor also reiterated he’d rather have the adjutant general, the senior uniformed officer in Vermont and leader of the Guard, be selected by the governor, not the Vermont Legislature. The governor is the commander of the Vermont National Guard.
Scott also called for the immediate shutdown of the Afterburner Club, a drinking site fighter pilots set up on the Air Guard base at the Burlington International Airport. The club was discussed in a multi-part series by VTDigger.