US air force general convicted of abusive sexual contact losing ranking on retiring

William ‘Bill’ Cooley, the first general to face a military trial, will end his career on Thursday as a colonel

A two-star US air force general convicted last year of abusive sexual contact for forcing his sister-in-law to kiss him will lose his rank on retiring, officials said.

William “Bill” Cooley was a major general but will end his career on Thursday as a colonel, officials said. The statement said the air force “expects its leaders to embody our core values and holds them accountable if they fall short of expectations”.