Wisconsin National Guard Head Resigns In Wake Of Federal Investigation

The leader of the Wisconsin National Guard issued his resignation on Monday as the results of a months-long federal investigation into how the guard handles sexual assault and harassment allegations was made public.

Maj. Gen. Donald Dunbar resigned at the request of Gov. Tony Evers, the governor’s office said Monday afternoon.

The resignation comes as a report from the federal National Guard Bureau’s Office of Complex Investigations (OCI) outlined mishandling within the Wisconsin National Guard’s sexual assault and harassment reporting procedures, investigation protocols and accountability measures.

The report found the Wisconsin National Guard’s “programs and systems for handling allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other workplace or service-related misconduct were non-compliant with federal law and regulation, and in various respects, deficient or failing.”

The investigation included canvassing approximately 1,600 Wisconsin National Guard personnel, conducting 78 in-depth interviews, reviewing over 1,100 documents and conducting 10 site visits to military installations throughout the state.

Evers and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin called for the investigation earlier this year, after whistleblowers contacted their offices about alleged mishandling of cases. State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, also called for an assessment earlier this year, after being contacted by a female guard member who said she was assaulted in 2014.

The governor said Monday a “top-to-bottom” set of changes are necessary to improve practices within the guard.

“I am extremely upset and concerned with the National Guard Bureau Office of Complex Investigations’ findings, especially with how the Wisconsin National Guard investigates sexual assault allegations,” Evers said in a prepared statement. “Our service members deserve to be safe and supported while carrying out their important mission.”

Previously, Dunbar had defended the Wisconsin National Guard’s policies and practices.

The report includes 21 recommendations for improving conditions, including updating written policies and requesting assistance from the federal National Guard Bureau to implement changes.

It detailed deficiencies within the Wisconsin National Guard’s policies including:

• Ineffective program management, including problems with staffing levels, staff training and record keeping.
• Inadequate victim support from commanders, which led many victims to not to seek support or services.
• Violation of federal policy by conducting in-house investigations of sexual assault allegations, rather than reporting them to an outside entity, like local law enforcement.
• Deficient internal investigations that were at risk of being both inaccurate and illegal.
• Perceptions of favoritism and lack of transparency within the guard.
• Failure to have policies that provide “adequate protections” for people who come forward with allegations.
• Lack of communication of accountability actions to reinforce appropriate conduct.
• Failure to comply with regulatory requirements for reporting misconduct.

The Wisconsin National Guard received 79 reports of alleged sexual assault between 2009 and 2019, according to the report. However, the report also notes the guard’s record keeping was poor and that data may not reflect “an accurate and complete case history.”

Baldwin had previously called for a separate investigation by the Air Force into Wisconsin’s Air National Guard branch, Wisconsin’s 115th Fighter Wing, which is based in Madison.

According to her office, Baldwin was contacted by a whistleblower, Master Sgt. Jay Ellis, about six alleged incidents of assault and harassment against female members of the 115th Fighter Wing’s Security Forces Squadron between 2002 and 2016. That investigation is still ongoing.

Ellis has since accused the Wisconsin National Guard of attempting to wrongfully discharge him.