Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. John Rosa is a presidential finalist at The Citadel, a military college in Charleston, S.C.
Rosa was appointed to the academy’s top position after a sexual assault scandal broke in early 2003. He is one of six decorated military leaders selected from a field of 77 candidates.
Rosa said a search committee approached him about the job.
“I am honored to be named among the finalists for the presidency of The Citadel,” Rosa said in a written statement issued by the academy. “As a Citadel graduate, I’m humbled to be a part of this very select group. Since the selection process is ongoing, it’s not appropriate for me to comment further.”
The Air Force Academy has recently been embroiled in a controversy over religious intolerance. The academy has been under investigation because of complaints that evangelical Christians have harassed cadets who do not share their faith. Some cadets have complained of anti-Semitic slurs.
Rosa has said the problem “is something that keeps me awake at night” and has vowed a “climate change” at the academy.
He has admonished the academy’s No. 2 commander, Brig. Gen. John Weida, for religious proselytizing. Weida is under investigation by the Air Force in a separate inquiry revealed Wednesday.
The Anti-Defamation League commended the Air Force for its response to a 2003 cadet survey that revealed the intolerance.
The Citadel, a public co-educational college, is the largest military college program outside of the service academies.
Rosa is a 1973 Citadel graduate. He served as deputy director for operations with the joint staff at the Pentagon before coming to the Air Force Academy.
Staff writer Dave Curtin can be reached at 303-820-1276 or dcurtin@denverpost.com.
