page_title: Tailhook scandal
section_title: Flag officers disciplined
hierarchical_section_title: Tailhook scandal / Further prosecutions / Navy / Flag officers disciplined
caption_attribution_description: Les Aspin, former United States Secretary of Defense.
context_page_description: The Tailhook scandal was a military scandal and controversy in which United States Navy and U.S. Marine Corps aviation officers were alleged to have sexually assaulted up to 83 women and seven men, or otherwise engaged in "improper and indecent" conduct at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada. The events took place at the 35th Annual Tailhook Association Symposium from September 5 to 8, 1991. The event was subsequently abbreviated as "Tailhook '91" in media accounts.
  The alleged sexual assaults mainly occurred in a third floor hallway in which "hospitality suites" rented by participating military units for the conference were located. According to witnesses, a "gauntlet" of male military officers in civilian clothes groped, molested, or committed other sexual or physical assaults and harassment on women who walked through the hallway. In addition, military officers were alleged to have engaged in public nudity, excessive alcohol intoxication, public sexual activity, and other lewd behavior in and around the convention location at the hotel.
context_section_description: On July 21, 1993, Secretary of Defense Les Aspin transferred the case files on the 35 flag officers who had attended Tailhook '91 to the new Secretary of the Navy John Dalton and directed him to determine what disciplinary action, if any, should be taken.  The 35 files included 30 active duty Navy, two Marine, and three Navy Reserve officers.  On October 1, 1993, Dalton recommended to Aspin that 32 of the 35 officers receive formal reprimands.  He also recommended that Kelso be relieved of his position.
  After consultation with President Bill Clinton, Aspin decided not to fire Kelso.  Instead, on October 15, he gave Kelso and 29 of the other officers nonpunitive "letters of caution."  Aspin issued secretarial letters of censure (equivalent to formal reprimands) to Dunleavy and rear admirals Riley Mixson and Wilson Flagg, Dunleavy's deputies.  Aspin demoted Dunleavy (who had retired in July 1992) from three to two-star rank.  The remaining two of the 35 officers were cleared of wrongdoing.
caption: Les Aspin
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