General Edward Rice Jr. will be recorded as the commander who led the investigation into the worst sex scandal in Air Force history, having ordered the investigation of sexual misconduct by military training instructors at Lackland.
Rice and Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward announced the results of the investigation last November, finding a laundry list of policy characteristics that the report said allowed a climate of abuse to occur.
Rice and Woodward developed a list of 46 recommendations for policy change in the command to address the problems. Those recommendations are now the subject of a study by the Government Accountability Office, which is to report back to Congress on the feasibility of extending the initiatives to all branches of the military.
A 35-year veteran of the Air Force, Rice is a 1978 distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has commanded a squadron, group, wing, the Air Force Recruiting Service, two numbered air forces and a joint command. He also has served as a White House Fellow at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Rice will be replaced by Lt. Gen. Robin Rand, who is currently commander of the 12th Air Force at Davis-Monthan AFB.
Rice’s office at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph said the general is out on inspection of AETC Commands around the country until the end of the week, but issued a brief statement saying he "looks forward to continuing to serve the airmen of AETC and the American people during this period of challenge and opportunity."
