그린란드 우주군기지 사령관, 밴스의 발언에 이견을 표한 뒤 해임

[위종민]

밴스가 2025년 3월 그린란드의 피투픽 우주군 기지를 방문한 자리에서 트럼프의 그린란드 확보안을 지지하는 발언을 했고, 이에 사령관인 수잔나 메이어스 대령이 기지 내 직원에게 이메일로 "밴스의 발언은 피투픽 기지의 입장을 반영하지 않는다"고 밝혔는데, 국방부가 이를 대통령의 정책을 저해하고 지휘체계를 약화시킨다고 판단해 사령관을 해임했네요. 

나라 꼴 병신되는 게 순식간입니다. 그래도 아직은 할 말 하는 군인들이 있기는 있는데 과연... 

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/commander-greenland-space-force-base-fired-vance

Greenland Space Force Base Boss Fired over Vance Comments

미 우주군, 그린란드 스페이스포스 기지 사령관 해임… 부통령 발언 반박 후 파면

미 우주군은 2025년 4월 10일, 그린란드 피투피크 스페이스 베이스(Pituffik Space Base)의 사령관 수잔나 메이어스 대령을 지휘 능력 상실을 이유로 해임하였습니다. 사건의 발단은 3월 말, 미 부통령 JD 밴스가 기지를 방문해 덴마크의 그린란드 관리 방식에 대해 비판적 발언을 한 뒤 메이어스 대령이 내부 이메일을 통해 해당 발언이 기지의 공식 입장과 다르다고 표현한 것이었습니다.

우주군과 국방부는 메이어스 대령의 행동이 정치적 중립 의무 위반 및 지휘 체계 훼손으로 간주된다고 밝혔습니다. 특히 국방부 대변인은 "대통령의 정책을 약화시키거나 지휘 체계를 훼손하는 행위는 용납할 수 없다"고 강조하였습니다.

메이어스 대령은 2024년 7월부터 해당 기지를 지휘해왔으며, 후임으로는 콜로라도에 위치한 스페이스 베이스 델타 1 지휘관 케네스 클록 대령이 임명되었습니다.

이번 해임은 트럼프 행정부가 군 내 정치적 중립성과 대통령 정책 일체성을 강화하는 기조 속에서 이뤄진 일련의 고위 장성 해임 조치의 연장선으로 평가되고 있습니다.

U.S. Space Force Col. Susan Meyers, 821st Space Base Group commander, left, greets Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance at Pituffik Space Base, Greenland, March 28, 2025. U.S. Space Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jaime Sanchez

Expand Photo

Share Article

Commander of Space Force’s Greenland Base Fired over Comments About Vance Visit

April 11, 2025 | By Chris Gordon

The commander of the U.S. military base in Greenland has been fired after sending an email to base personnel distancing herself from Vice President J.D. Vance’s comments about the Danish territory that President Donald Trump wants to annex.

USSF Col. Susannah Meyers was removed as commander of Pituffik Space Base, the northernmost U.S. military base that serves as a missile warning, space surveillance, and satellite control base on Greenland, April 10, a Space Force spokesperson said in a statement. The service cited a “loss of confidence in her ability to lead.”

Hours earlier, Military.com reported Meyers, then-commander of the 821st Space Base Group, sent an email to base personnel in March that distanced herself from Vance’s criticism of Denmark’s control of the island that the vice president made during a visit to the base. A Space Force spokesperson indicated that Meyers’ comments were political, leading to her dismissal.

“Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

“Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell added in a post on X, citing the report.

Meyers was removed from command by Col. Kenneth Klock, the commander of Space Base Delta 1, the Space Force said, and Col. Shawn Lee has assumed her responsibilities. Meyers had overseen the base since last July. Parnell did not respond to a request for comment when asked if Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth personally ordered Meyers’ removal.

Greenland is a territory of Denmark, a NATO ally of the U.S. Trump has said he wants to annex Greenland and said he has not ruled out using military force to do so. Vance’s brief visit to Pituffik Space Base in late March prompted objections from Danish and Greenlandic officials. Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base when it was controlled by the Air Force, has long been a key outpost for the U.S. military, first as a Strategic Air Command base during the Cold War and later taking on space-related missions.

“Our message to Denmark is very simple,” Vance said during his visit to the base. “You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland. You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security of this incredible, beautiful landmass.”

In an email a few days later to base personnel, including Airmen and Guardians, Meyers wrote that she had reflected on “actions taken, the words spoken, and how it must have affected each of you,” according to the Military.com report. U.S. officials said Meyers’ reported remarks are authentic.

“I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base,” Meyers wrote, according to the outlet.

The Trump administration recently fired Navy Vice Adm. Soshana Chatfield as the U.S. representative to the NATO Military Committee and Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh as commander of U.S. Cyber Command and the Director of the National Security Agency. In those cases, the administration did not publicly explain its rationale for the firings or accuse the officers of engaging in political discourse.

In February, the Trump administration fired Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Jim Slife. Gen. Dan Caine, a retired three-star officer who was tapped by Trump as Brown’s replacement, was confirmed as chairman by the Senate April 11.

[백선호]

미국도 institution이 의외로 허약하네요. ㅠ.ㅠ

닉슨 때 워터게이트로 난리가 났을 때도 이 정도는 아니었을 것 같습니다.

[위종민]

뭔가 물질적 풍요에 반비례해 정치엘리트들의 레벨이 뚝 떨어진 것 같은 느낌입니다.