A former adjutant general of the Utah National Guard, who was put on administrative leave two years ago after an Army investigation, has retired as a lieutenant colonel, defense officials confirmed.
“An Army Inspector General Investigation confirmed that Maj. Gen. Michael J. Turley had an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate,” said Army spokeswoman Cynthia O. Smith. “He will retire as a Lieutenant Colonel (O-5/L TC), which was the last rank he served honorably. We consider this matter closed.”
No additional details about the investigation or the findings against Turley were immediately available on Thursday.
Turley retired at the lower rank after the Army Grade Determination Review Board reviewed his case, said Keith Garner, deputy director of public affairs for the Utah National Guard.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox announced on Aug. 17, 2023, that Turley was under investigation by the Army Inspector General’s Office.
“We have not received a copy of their report, but based on the information given by the [Department of the Army Inspector General], Maj. Gen. Turley was put on paid administrative leave,” Cox said at the time.
On the day of Cox’s announcement, USA Today reported that the investigation found Turley had an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate soldier, citing unnamed sources familiar with the case.
Task & Purpose has asked Cox’s office for a comment on Turley retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
When officers are demoted, defense officials usually say that their rank is lowered to the last grade they served honorably or satisfactorily. A notable example is former Army Maj. Gen. James Grazioplene, who was reduced to second lieutenant after pleading guilty in a civilian court to sexually abusing his daughter when she was a child.
This type of demotion usually happens when service members try to retire, but evidence of misconduct from earlier in their careers comes to light, said retired Air Force Lt. Col. Rachel VanLandingham, a former military attorney.
“Their past misconduct affects everything they did afterwards,” said VanLandingham, a law professor at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles.
She added that while such demotions are rare, they do happen.
