WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Commandant of the Marine Corps suspended a top advisor yesterday pending a Department of Defense review of allegations of a hostile work environment in the Corps' Office of Legislative Affairs.
Gen. Robert B. Neller removed Brig. Gen. Norman L. Cooling from his position as Legislative Assistant to the Commandant of the Marine Corps after the Senate Armed Services Committee asked the Secretary of Defense to look into the command climate Cooling created during his tenure as the head of legislative affairs.
"We will cooperate fully with the Department of Defense as they review this matter," said Neller. "We are committed to being an organization in which every Marine has the opportunity to serve at their full potential, unimpeded by discrimination, bias, or hostile working conditions."