Top US Military Official Announces Resignation for “Personal & Family Reasons,” Comes Hours After Hegseth Called on Generals Resisting Pentagon Reforms to Step Down

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A top US Air Force commander has announced his abrupt retirement days after Secretary of Defense (War) Pete Hegseth called on senior military leaders to resign if they could not embrace reforms coming to the Pentagon.

Getting into it: The announcement was made by Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, in a Facebook post on September 30. “After much reflection and with a full heart, Barb and I have made a difficult decision to request retirement from the United States Air Force for personal and family reasons,” Bussiere wrote. He added, “While I’m stepping away from active duty, my commitment to service remains. I look forward to finding new ways to support our Air Force, our national defense, and the incredible people who make it all possible.”

U.S. Air Force Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, speaks during the Sentinel Site Activation Task Force, Detachment 11 activation ceremony April 4, 2025, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. Tasked with coordinating the transition to the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile system, Detachment 11 will oversee critical infrastructure projects, including the construction and refurbishment of missile facilities. The team will ensure that Malmstrom’s nuclear force remains operationally ready during this multi-year modernization effort. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Mary Bowers)

Bussiere, a decorated four-star general, has served nearly four decades in the Air Force. He assumed command of Air Force Global Strike Command in December 2022, overseeing the nation’s strategic bomber fleet and nuclear deterrence forces, including programs like the B-21 Raider and the Sentinel ICBM modernization effort.

His retirement came on the same day Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a speech at Quantico, where he gathered hundreds of senior generals and admirals and ordered sweeping changes in military culture. Hegseth criticized what he called “woke” leadership and imposed strict new standards, including male-level fitness requirements, grooming mandates, and changes to hazing. He said, “If the words I’m speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign.”

Though Bussiere cited personal reasons for his departure, the timing raised some eyebrows given his prior nomination for Vice Chief of Staff, which was quietly withdrawn earlier in September.

There’s been no comment from the Pentagon.