Air Force chief master sergeant who was fired from leadership role in 2019 for 'sexually harassing and discriminating against black assistant' is now in top job at another base

Chief Master Sgt. Jason Morehouse was rehired to serve as a squadron superintendent after he was fired from his role in 2019 for making a series of racist and sexually-inappropriate remarks

A senior Air Force sergeant who was fired from his leadership position in 2019 for making lewd and racist remarks to his subordinates has been rehired as a squadron superintendent at another base.  

Chief Master Sgt. Jason Morehouse is now serving as the squadron superintendent for the 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, the Air Force confirmed to Military.com on Wednesday.

A squadron superintendent position is given to senior noncommissioned officers. The role involves helping to organize and run the squadron, as well as mentoring other airmen.

But Morehouse had been fired from his role as command chief at the 20th Fighter Wing at the Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina in October 2019, after just four months on the job.

An investigation found he made a series of sexual and racist remarks to those under his command including his black executive assistant.

The 20th Fighter Wing and its Falcons are in charge of taking out enemy surface-based air defenses before they can strike U.S. or allied aircrafts in a major conflict.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Major Docleia Gibson, of the 15th Air Force, which encompasses both bases, said a thorough investigation was conducted into the allegations against Morehouse.

'As a result of the investigation, appropriate administrative actions were taken by the command to include removal of CMSgt. Morehouse from his role of command chief at the 20th Fighter Wing,' she said. 

'Administrative actions are a rehabilitative tool that are designed to allow airmen to learn from their mistakes and grow,' she noted. 'However, details of those administrative actions are covered by the Privacy Act, and cannot be released.'

The 20th Fighter Wing and its Falcons are in charge of taking out enemy surface-based air defenses before they can strike U.S. or allied aircrafts in a major conflict

As part of the Air Force's internal investigation into Morehouse's conduct, officials interviewed 11 witnesses and found they all had credible claims that Morehouse sexually harassed women, made racist remarks and discriminated against his black executive assistant.

 Morehouse first entered active duty in 1997 and rose the ranks to become a chief master sergeant - the highest rank in the Air Force.

But witnesses told the investigators how he made some women so uncomfortable that they tried to hide from him, with one woman saying his behavior made her feel 'creeped out', describing him as 'predatory'.

He would reportedly make hand gestures mimicking him masturbating and repeatedly making 'That's what she said' jokes, turning every-day utterances into sexual innuendoes, according to Military.com, which obtained a copy of the investigation report.

One witness allegedly recounted how Morehouse said he would not be a good physical training leader 'because he would stare at the test-taker's butts the whole time,' and at least one whistleblower said some of these remarks were made in the presence of junior airmen.

Others recounted how at an August 2019 memorial for a fellow airman, some of the soldiers started hugging to comfort themselves, when Morehouse said: 'I don't hug with clothes on.'

And during a discussion about hiring a new executive assistant, witnesses said Morehouse said he thought it would be better if he had a male executive assistant 'because he was a "dirty old man."' 

They also noted that Morehouse would frequently call things stupid, sometimes using the derogatory word 'retarded,' and would make hand gestures that appeared to mock people with disabilities - reportedly upsetting one airman who had a brother with severe disabilities. 

Morehouse has now been reassigned to work as a squadron superintendent for the 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, seen here

The investigation report also detailed how Morehouse reportedly treated his executive assistant.

In the investigation, she said Morehouse told her at a September 2019 debrief: 'You don't act like a black girl.'

When she asked how black girls are supposed to act, the female airman reported, Morehouse relented.

'Those remarks, coupled with additional indications of disparate treatment of other show more likely than not, CMSgt. Morehouse discriminated against his executive based upon her race,' the report concludes, according to Military.com. 

Other airman also said she was treated differently than her predecessor, with her given fewer opportunities to advance her career.

She allegedly wasn't invited to awards presentations, welcome breakfasts or other events, nor was she allowed to attend enlisted briefings that would have been an opportunity for Morehouse to mentor her.

One person alleged her exclusion was racially-motivated, with an investigator writing in the report: 'While some of that difference can be attributed to personality differences, I do not believe all the disparate treatment can be dismissed that simply.'

The investigators note that the witnesses said Morehouse twice made jokes about Morehouse College, a historically-black school in Georgia, saying: 'You know those are my people, my middle name is Tyrone.'

He reportedly changed his voice to imitate a stereotypical black accent as he made the joke in June 2019, Military.com reports.

Morehouse reportedly declined to be interviewed for the investigation, but provided the investigators with written remarks saying he was either joking or does not remember making the comments he is accused of.

As a result, the investigation concluded that Morehouse was 'willfully derelict' in his duties by failing to act professionally and be a role model for his airmen, according to Military.com.  

Following his removal in 2019, Morehouse was replaced by Chief Master Sgt. Scott Cooley to head the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base

He was relieved from his position as the head of the 20th Fighter Wing on October 2, 2019 by Col. Derek O'Malley, the wing commander, and was replaced by Chief Master Sgt. Scott Cooley, according to the Air Force Times.

In a November 2019 interview on the Air Force website, entitled 'Creating the culture we're proud of,' O'Malley and Cooley emphasized the need for leaders to treat people with respect and compassion.

'My entire command focus has been about building a  culture at Shaw where we are truly listening to our airmen, taking care of one another and treating each other with professionalism, kindness and respect,' O'Malley said.  

'I have made a commitment to my airmen and their families that I will do everything in my power to lead a wing that stands by our values at all times,' he said. 'This means I will never walk by a problem when it is brought to my attention.

'When individuals on our team, particularly those in leadership positions, vail to treat people with professionalism, kindness and respect - I have a responsibility to take action, and in some cases to remove them.'

'On my watch, I will absolutely hold people accountable for their actions, and the higher in rank we climb, the more accountable we become.

'And while I hold people accountable,' he added, 'I will also protect their privacy as best I can so they have the opportunity to learn and grow from their mistakes without additional scrutiny and hardship.'