Army to replace head of criminal investigations division

The Army will replace the head of its Criminal Investigation Command, moving the official less than a year after assigning her to the role.

Defense One first reported Monday that Maj. Gen. Donna Martin, the provost marshal general of the Army and commanding general of Army Criminal Investigation Command since July, will be replaced following scrutiny over how the division handled the slaying of Spc. Vanessa Guillen. 

Martin took over the command 10 days after Guillen’s body was found near Fort Hood, Texas. Police believed Guillen was bludgeoned to death by fellow Fort Hood soldier Spc. Aaron Robinson, sparking calls to look into the base’s command climate and to change to how the military addresses sexual crimes.  

The Army put out a statement later on Monday stressing that Martin remains in her current position but that she would be replaced at a later date via a “planned transition” by Brig. Gen. Duane Miller. Miller is currently deputy provost marshal general and deputy commanding general of the command.

Martin’s “next assignment has not yet been announced. The Army announced Feb. 23, 2021 that Brig. Gen. Duane Miller will be Maj. Gen. Martin’s replacement. The change of command date has not been set. This is a planned transition and any insinuation to the contrary is false,” spokeswoman Col. Cathy Wilkinson said.

This would be the second time in two years that the Army has replaced its head law enforcement officer, with Martin replacing Maj. Gen. Kevin Vereen after he had spent a year in the role.  

Guillen’s killing set off nationwide scrutiny of how the military responds to sexual harassment and assault claims among its service members, as Guillen’s family has said she told them she was being sexually harassed but did not want to report it out of fear of retaliation.

The Army quickly thereafter set up the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee, which last year produced a damning report highlighting a climate of widespread sexual misconduct at the base.

After the report’s release, 14 leaders at the base were relieved of duty or suspended from their positions.