
DATE: Wednesday, August 6, 1997             TAG: 9708060439

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JACK DORSEY, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   95 lines

REAR ADMIRAL RELIEVED OF DUTIES AFTER COMPLAINTS FROM FEMALE EMPLOYEES

Rear Adm. Robert S. Cole, who formerly commanded the world's largest naval complex here, has been relieved of his duties as commander of the Atlantic Fleet's shore facilities following complaints from female employees of inappropriate office behavior.

An Inspector General's investigation into the allegations found no criminal wrongdoing on Cole's part, but discerned a pattern of behavior that ``was unacceptable in the workplace'' at his previous and current commands, a source familiar with the inquiry said.

Adm. J. Paul Reason, commander-in-chief of the Atlantic Fleet and Cole's immediate superior, relieved Cole of his command Tuesday ``due to a loss in confidence in his judgment and ability to command,'' an Atlantic Fleet spokesman said.

The one-star admiral, who was transferred Tuesday to another Norfolk-area post, has asked to retire in November at his current rank.

Cole had commanded Navy Shore Activities Atlantic Fleet - or SHORELANT, in Navy parlance - since September. The job placed him in charge of naval stations throughout the Eastern United States, Panama, Iceland, Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Before that, he served as commander of the Norfolk Naval Base, a job in which he was responsible for all naval facilities within 50 mile of Norfolk.

As such, he was regarded as the ``Navy's Mayor'' in Norfolk and is well-known to community and state leaders. He played a key role in opening the base to the public in November 1995, has been a frequent speaker at public functions, and in March served as grand marshal of the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Ocean View.

Rear Adm. John M. Luecke, deputy commander of the Atlantic Fleet, has assumed additional duties as commander of SHORELANT, a command that may be realigned under a reorganization to be announced soon.

Navy officials were quick to point out that the investigation did not recommend any criminal charges be brought against Cole, nor that any non-judicial punishment, such as an Admiral's Mast, be considered.

Spokesmen for the Atlantic Fleet declined to provide details about the allegations or specify what they involved. Cole was unavailable to respond to several telephone calls to his office by The Virginian-Pilot.

Sources familiar with the Inspector General's report, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was enough in the document to convince Reason that he could not leave Cole in the post.

The investigation, which has not been released by the Inspector General's office, was launched to determine whether Cole had an ``excessively familiar relationship'' with a female subordinate in his office, according to sources close to the inquiry.

The report concluded that no such relationship was substantiated, although some SHORELANT office workers believed it to be fact.

Cole reportedly was criticized by some female office workers who said the admiral - an affable man who is quick to give a handshake or a hug - kissed them on the cheek or held them close.

``He is a real huggy-body type of guy. . . ,'' said one officer close to the admiral. ``It wasn't offensive, nor was it ever in private. It was always out in the open.''

The Inspector General's report said such conduct ``made other female subordinates very uncomfortable in the workplace,'' the officer said. ``By the modern definitions we work under, this ends up in the sexual harassment area.''

Cole's ouster follows a nearly year-long series of sexual misconduct allegations against members of the military. They have ranged from alleged criminal misbehavior by drill sergeants at the Army's Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, to an adulterous affair 13 years ago by Air Force Gen. Joseph W. Ralston that cost him the military's top post as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Such allegations have also ended the career of Air Force Lt. Kelly Flynn, the nation's first female B-52 pilot, and spawned criminal sexual misconduct charges against Sergeant Major of the Army Gene McKinney. On June 6 the Navy fired its chief supply officer, Rear Adm. Ralph M. Mitchell Jr., for sexual harassment in the unwanted kissing and touching of a woman in his chain of command in Mechanicsburg, Pa.

Cole is a 1963 graduate of Penn State, a former F-4 Phantom fighter pilot with 250 combat missions in Vietnam and a former squadron commander. He commanded the oiler Canisteo and later the aircraft carrier Forrestal.

Promoted to attaining flag rank in 1994, he was given command of Amphibious Group Four at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base. At that time he became chief of staff for Joint Task Force Provide Promise, coordinating all U.S. military efforts in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

THE CASE

Who: Robert S. Cole, former commander of Norfolk Naval Base, was

commander of the Atlantic Fleet's shore facilities.

What: Cole was relieved of his Atlantic Fleet command, but the

Navy's investigation did not recommend any criminal charges or any

non-judicial punishment, such as an Admiral's Mast.

Why: Cole reportedly was criticized by female office workers who

said the admiral - an affable man who is quick to give a handshake

or a hug - kissed them on the cheek or held them close. Claimsof an

``excessively familiar relationship'' with a female subordinate in

his office were never substantiated.