The U.S. Air Force laid out a list of steps it is taking to better protect and regulate access to classified data in the wake of last summer’s “Discord” breach that exposed to the public hundreds of classified military and intelligence agency documents, according to a Dec. 11 report that details the service branch’s responses to the breach.
The report from the Air Force Inspector General breaks down the Air Force’s investigation into alleged unauthorized disclosures of classified documents by Massachusetts Air National Guard Airman First Class Jack Teixeira who posted classified information on the Discord chat platform. Teixeira has been indicted on six counts related to the unauthorized disclosure of national defense information and is awaiting trial.
The report finds that Teixeira acted alone in disclosing the information. But it also says that the Air Force has taken related disciplinary action against 15 service members – ranging from the rank of sergeant to colonel – “for dereliction in the performance of duties” in connection with the unauthorized disclosures, including relieving Col. Sean Riley from command of the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard base.