WASHINGTON, DC - A now-former head of the US Space Force command in Greenland has been relieved of her command after she defied the Trump administration, Vice President JD Vance in particular, in an email sent to staff after Vance visited the base last month, The New York Post reports.
On Thursday, the Space Force announced that Col. Susannah Meyers had been relieved of command of the Pituffik Space Base over “loss of confidence in her ability to lead.”
“Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties,” the Space Operations Command’s statement read. “Colonel Shawn Lee has assumed command.”
Meyers assumed command of the 821st Space Base Group last July and sent an email to her troops in which she retracted statements made by Vice President Vance, claiming they were “not reflective of Pituffik Space Base.”
“[I] spent the weekend thinking about Friday’s visit–the actions taken, the words spoken, and how it must have affected each of you,” she wrote in an email obtained by Military.com and verified by the Space Force.
“I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the US administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base.
“I commit that, for as long as I am lucky enough to lead this base, all of our flags will fly proudly–together,” she added.
The email was sent on March 31, an apparent reaction to Vance's comments about the US annexing Greenland, which President Trump has half-heartedly insinuated.
Meyers’ email was called highly unusual, since publicly speaking out against the executive branch is verboten, and signals that the military is disjointed. In fact, by merely losing her command, Meyers got off easy.
According to the Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 88, “Any commissoned offcier who uses contemptuous words against the President, Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or legislature of any State, Commonwealth, or psossession in which he is on duty or present, shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”
Meyers spent nearly 20 years as an Air Force officer before moving to the Space Force in 2021. As part of her command, she oversaw roughly 200 airmen and guardians as commander of the country’s most northernmost military installation.
The Post wrote that they witnessed Meyers speaking about retiring shortly. Her comments apparently expedited that process.
In a post on X, Sean Parnell, assistant to the Secretary of Defense for public affairs, wrote, “Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense.”
During Vance’s visit, his press secretary, Taylor Van Kirk, said in a statement, “Vice President Vance is grateful for his visit to Pituffik Space Base and for the opportunity to meet with our brave servicemen and women stationed there.
“President Trump has made his vision for an enhanced security footprint in the Arctic abundantly clear, and the Vice President is committed to implementing the President’s agenda. This includes strengthening the partnership and cooperation between the United States and Greenland, which is critical for both American national security and the safety of our partners worldwide.”
Greenland is seen as vital to US national security due to its location between North America and Russia and proximity to related essential shipping lanes. President Trump has floated the idea of expanding the US presence in the Denmark-affiliated nation and mentioned annexing the island.
During his trip, Vance criticized Denmark for not doing a “good job by the people of Greenland " and for not investing more in Greenland’s “security architecture.”
“When the president says ‘We’ve got to have Greenland,’ he’s saying this island is not safe,” Vance said in response to a question from The Post.
“Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland. You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful land mass filled with incredible people.”
Vance noted that ultimately, Greenland’s 57,000 permanent residents would need to decide on declaring independence before entering into any annexation or partnership discussions with the US.
Comments
2 days ago | Comment by: Paul
Eh! PMS.