Air Force Chaplain Says She Was Fired for Being Critical

The academy chaplain, Capt. MeLinda Morton said she had disagreed with her boss, the academy's chief chaplain, Col. Michael Whittington, after a critical report by a team from the Yale Divinity School was released to the press in April. The report, dated July 2004, had found that some academy chaplains were insensitive to the religious diversity of the cadets.
Captain Morton said her boss asked her to denounce the report and defend the academy, but she told him she agreed with it, and pointed out that she had helped write it. She said that about two weeks later, on May 4, she received an e-mail message from Colonel Whittington dismissing her from her position as his administrative assistant, or "executive officer." However, she remains a chaplain, retains her rank and earns the same salary.