A commander of an Air Force special operations squadron in Florida has been fired from his role after being arrested on charges related to domestic violence, including choking his wife and a child.
Lt. Col. Brent P. Byng, the commander of the 19th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail on Sunday evening on charges of abuse of a child, obstructing justice, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of domestic battery by strangulation — all felony crimes, according to the police report. He was removed from his command the following day.
Byng, 44, entered active duty in 2007. As commander of the 19th Special Operations Squadron, he oversaw the training school for AC-130H, AC-130U and MC-130E aircraft, and he served in that role for roughly a month before being removed from command, according to an Air Force Special Operations Command spokesperson.
Read Next: Army Makes It Harder for Commanders to Deny Soldiers Leave for Abortions
Byng had received decorations such as the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Aerial Achievement Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal, according to his record, provided by Air Force Special Operations Command.
“We are aware of the situation regarding the allegations about and the arrest of Lt. Col. Byng, and the Air Force is…
