The acting top official of the Alaska National Guard fired two high-ranking officers last week but reversed the action a day later at the direction of Gov. Sean Parnell.
Brigadier Gen. Mike Bridges on Thursday asked for the resignations of Brigadier Gen. Catherine Jorgensen and Col. Edie Grunwald.
Parnell’s spokeswoman Sharon Leighow tells the Alaska Dispatch News that the officers had applied for the same leadership job that Bridges is seeking.
She says by email that Parnell wanted to avoid any appearance of impropriety on behalf of Bridges and directed him to rescind the terminations.
A federal investigation released Sept. 4 found ethical misconduct in the guard. Parnell fired its adjutant general and the civilian deputy commissioner
On Thursday, Parnell said three others would be fired.
Monday, Parnell named a new special assistant for military issues. Reitred Lieutenant Colonel Jay Pullins will serve as the governor’s liaison on the team handling National Guard reform efforts.
