John R . Dallager John Rives Dallager ( born March 4 , 1947 ) is a retired United States Air Force Major General . He served as the fifteenth Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy from 2000 - 2003 . He resigned the position in the wake of the sexual assault scandal at the Academy and was demoted from the rank of lieutenant general to major general upon his retirement . Training and education . Dallager was a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy , where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering in 1969 . He earned a Master of business degree from Troy State University in 1978 , and is a graduate of the Air Force ' s Air Command and Staff College , the National Defense University , and the U . S . Army War College . Military career . After graduating from the academy , Dallager went to pilot training at Craig Air Force Base , Alabama , where he was a distinguished graduate . He went to advanced training in the F - 4 Phantom II , and was assigned to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base , Thailand from 1971 - 1972 . His command positions included commander of the 357th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron at Davis - Monthan Air Force Base , Arizona ; commander of the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing , Myrtle Beach Air Force Base , South Carolina ; commander of the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base , Germany ; and commander of 13th Air Force , Andersen Air Force Base , Guam . He has also held staff positions at United States Air Force Headquarters , United States Central Command , Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe . Dallager has combat flying experience in Vietnam War , Southwest Asia and Bosnia . Dallager was the commanding officer ( wing commander ) of the two F - 15 Eagle pilots who , while deployed to operation Southern Watch in Iraq ( 1995 ) , shot down two U . S . Army Blackhawk helicopters . Dallager refused to direct courts - martial for the two pilots though many feel they were guilty of 27 counts of negligent homicide . Dallager is a pilot with more than 2 , 900 flying hours , including over 600 combat hours , in aircraft including the F - 4 , A - 10 and F - 15 Eagle . Academy sexual assault scandal . The breaking of the sexual assault scandal at the Academy in 2003 brought a great deal of attention on the leadership of Dallager as superintendent . A Pentagon investigation laid heavy blame on the Academy ' s leadership , including Dallager , for the environment that led to the scandal . In the wake of the scandal , Air Force Secretary James Roche replaced all of the Academy ' s leadership in 2003 , including Dallager , who was to be demoted as well . , Some saw the Dallager ' s demotion and removal as scapegoating : namely , that Roche was merely placating some senators ' desire that someone be blamed . The timing of the order only added to this impression , as Roche announced the move only days after his own nomination to be Secretary of the Army went to the Senate Armed Services Committee . Dallager retired on September 1 , 2003 at the lower rank of major general . Awards and decorations . Dallager ' s decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal , Air Force Distinguished Service Medal , Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters ; the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster ; the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters ; the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters ; the Air Medal with three silver oak leaf clusters ; the Air Force Commendation Medal ; the Air Force Achievement Medal ; the Joint Meritorious Unit Award ; the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars ; the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm ; and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal .