The commander of a Hawaii-based helicopter squadron who was removed from his job on Monday was the subject of an inspector general complaint that prompted a full investigation, Marine Corps Times has learned.
Related: Head of Hawaii-based helo squadron relieved of command
Lt. Col. Jay Moorman, the former commanding officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, was the subject of an IG complaint filed with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, said 2nd Lt. Courtney Caimona, a spokeswoman for III Marine Expeditionary Force. The allegations in the complaint prompted a full and thorough investigation conducted by both the III MEF and 1st MAW, Caimona said.
Corps officials have not described the allegations that led Rudder to lose confidence in Moorman. Caimona said the "investigations substantiated Gen. Rudder's loss of confidence in Lt. Col. Moorman's ability to effectively command HMLA- 367."
A copy of the investigation was not immediately available and it's not clear when the initial complaint was filed. But Caimona the Corps said [[who said this? GH]] there were no operational issues with the squadron.
Moorman, who commanded HMLA-367 for exactly seven months, did not respond to requests for comment.
Rudder appointed Maj. Gregory Rivaldi, the former executive officer of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, as the interim commander of HMLA-367. The squadron, based in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, -based unit goes by the call sign "Scarface" and flies both the AH-1W Super Cobra and and the UH-1Y Huey helicopters.
The squadron last deployed in August to the continental U.S. United States, Caimona said. They also participated in the Rim of the Pacific naval exercise this summer. They are currently training for Lava Viper, a battalion-level combined arms exercise in Hawaii designed to prepare train Marines for an upcoming deployment.
Caimona said Rudder has confidence in Rivaldi and the change in leadership does not interrupt the squadron's training.
Moorman, 42, is a 1995 Naval Academy graduate and earned his wings in December 1997, according to his official Marine Corps biography. He deployed has a combat deployment to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and completed tours service record, as well as billets as a recruiting station executive officer, operations officer, a Super Cobra instructor, and tours in budgeting, his bio states.
His decorations include two Meritorious Service Medals, the Air Medal with Strike Flight Numeral 15, two Navy Commendation Medals, and three Navy Achievement Medals, according to his bio.
