The commandant placed the commander of a Marine family program on administrative leave following an anonymous complaint stemming from alleged inappropriate comments made at town hall discussion April 6, according to Marine officials.
Brig. Gen. Kurt Stein, the director of Marine and Family Programs, “will remain on administrative leave pending the outcome of an inquiry into these allegations,” reads a command release sent Wednesday morning.
An unknown tipster filed a complaint with Naval Criminal Investigative Service following the town hall discussion, according to the release.
“The Marine Corps expects every Marine, uniformed and civilian ― and particularly those in leadership positions ― to take allegations of misconduct seriously and to promote positive command climates,” the Corps said in a statement. “Leaders have a responsibility to ensure that their Marines and civilian employees believe they will be taken seriously if they come forward with allegations of misconduct of any kind.”
Stein assumed his duties as director of Marine and Family Programs, Headquarters Marine Corps in November 2016, according to his official bio.
An aviator by trade with more than 100 combat missions under his belt, Stein had served as the assistant deputy commandant for aviation prior to this position, according to his Marine Corps bio.
USA Today reported that Stein was suspended for publicly ridiculing as ‘fake news’ “allegations of sexual harassment at his command” and also joking “about a chaplain recently fired for having sex in public.“
Marine Corps Times on Wednesday reached out to the Marine Corps for a comment from Stein and has yet to receive a response.
Shawn Snow is the senior reporter for Marine Corps Times and a Marine Corps veteran.
