Air Force Removes Officer Overseeing Nuclear Missile Replacement Program

The Air Force removed the head of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program, citing a ‘loss of confidence’ as the program faces delays.

The U.S. Department of Defense wants to replace the Minuteman 3 Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), here in training launch tube at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., in 2014, with the LGM-35 Sentinel. Charlie Riedel / AP

The U.S. Air Force has removed the officer leading the development of the newest land-based U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile, known as the LGM-35 Sentinel.

Air Force Col. Charles Clegg assumed leadership of the Sentinel Systems Directorate in July of 2022, the program to replace the LGM-30 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).