Future of 102nd Intelligence Wing at Joint Base Cape Cod uncertain after leaks

When a 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guardsman was charged with leaking classified documents this spring while working at the 102nd Intelligence Wing on Joint Base Cape Cod, the action cast uncertainty over the 102nd's future at the base.

In findings released to the public Monday, an Air Force Inspector General's investigation found a “culture of complacency” and several security procedure failures enabled Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeira to allegedly obtain and leak the classified material.

The work done by the 102nd Intelligence Wing was temporarily reassigned to other organizations within the Air Force pending an investigation into the leaks, the Air Force said in April.

U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, D-Mass., was not surprised by the inspector general's findings or the disciplinary action taken against 15 members of the Air National Guard after the fact.

“The information in the inspector general's report is consistent with information available in the public theater,” Keating said. “I want to emphasize these are serious charges and I think the actions of the Department of Justice and the Department of Defense reflect that.”

Keating said it remains unclear whether the 102nd will return to Otis Air National Guard Base on Joint Base Cape Cod.

Earlier this year, Keating said he met with Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III and former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown, now chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to advocate that the intelligence mission return to Joint Base Cape Cod. He said he emphasized the 15-year history of the 102nd Intelligence Wing and the role it played during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and other actions more recently.

“It's fair to say I had this meeting with them and they both agreed with me about the value, over the amount of time, the value of Joint Base Cape Cod," he said during a phone interview Monday night. “I think the shared response I got emphasized a shared view of the work over at Joint Base Cape Cod and the 102nd Intelligence Wing was valuable. I took that as an encouraging sign and still do.”

National Guard: Teixeira's actions don't reflect character of 102nd Wing

Teixeira, of North Dighton, was arrested in April, and he remains in federal custody. He is charged with six counts of willful retention and transmission of classified information related to national defense. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

More than 100 U.S. documents were leaked, according to the Department of Defense. The files contained highly sensitive information tied to the war in Ukraine, including data on military activities such as U.S. drone spy planes in the area, and Ukrainian forces’ use of ammunition. They appear to show Ukrainian forces’ training and state of readiness, plus the number of Ukrainian and Russian troops killed and equipment destroyed in the ongoing conflict.

Joint Base Cape Cod officials declined an interview request but issued a statement saying Teixeira’s actions don’t reflect the character of the entirety of the 102nd Intelligence Wing. The unit has “accepted the Inspector General’s findings” and has implemented the necessary changes to ensure further intelligence leaks don’t happen again.

“Over more than 15 years, the 102nd has built a reputation for dependability and excellence within the intelligence community,” Don Veitch, spokesperson for the base, said in the release. “Our Airmen look forward to returning to serving, protecting, and defending our nation and our state.”

Veitch said in the statement that disciplinary and accountability measures are ongoing.

Joint Base Cape Cod an economic engine for Cape region

In 2009, a 38-page report by Basile Baumann Prost Cole & Associates Inc. laid out the economic impact of Joint Base Cape Cod on the region and state. At the time, and currently, the base was home to units from the Massachusetts Army National Guard (Camp Edwards) and Air National Guard (Otis Air National Guard Base), U.S. Air Force (Cape Cod Space Force Station) and U.S. Coast Guard (Air Station Cape Cod).

Nearly 3,800 direct jobs — some full-time and some part-time — represent a payroll of $224 million annually.

The Air National Guard made up 30% of the personnel in 2009 between full- and part-time employees, for a total of 1,135 positions. The combined payroll represented more than $104 million. The report estimated the Air National Guard was responsible for more than $45 million in consumer spending.

Keating said it would likely take some time before the Air Force decides whether the intelligence mission returns to the 102nd at Otis.

Staff Writer Anne Brennan contributed to this report.

Walker Armstrong reports on all things Cape and Islands, primarily focusing on courts, transportation and the Joint Base Cape Cod military base. Contact him at WArmstrong@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jd__walker.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Will Air Force intelligence return to Cape Cod after classified leak?