National Guard Chief Quits Amid Charges of Improper Relationship

HARTFORD (AP) — Maj Gen William A. Cugno, the head of the Connecticut National Guard, submitted his retirement on Friday, March 4, after the US Department of Defense informed Gov M. Jodi Rell it had substantiated allegations of an improper relationship with a subordinate.

Rell’s office said no details were provided. She said the Defense Department confirmed three allegations against Cugno: that he improperly gave preferential treatment to a female subordinate, that he improperly engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate, and he used government resources for personal use.

Cugno, 56, has served as commander of the Connecticut National Guard (CNG) since his appointment by then-Gov John G. Rowland in 1999. He will retire May 1.

In addition, Brig Gen Ireneusz J. Zembrzuski, Cugno’s top deputy, will retire October 3, Rell said. Federal investigators said an allegation against Zembrzuski — that he failed to take appropriate action — was substantiated, she said.

Cugno has not commented on the investigation or his retirement.

In a statement, Rell said she will immediately begin to search for a new adjutant general, the formal title held by Cugno.

The Hartford Courant, which reported Cugno’s resignation on its website Friday afternoon, reported last month that Cugno was being investigated by the Defense Department’s inspector general. The probe focused on one or more emails with sexual content sent to Cugno last March by Master Sgt Kristine Shaw.

Shaw had denied any relationship and said that she was the subject of jealousy and gossip.

However, she acknowledged sending at least one email with suggestive language to Cugno last March, The Courant reported. She said she did it to try to “smoke out” someone she believed was monitoring her personal email.

Shaw, 38, works in the headquarters unit of the Air National Guard as its personnel administrator. But she acknowledged that she does jobs for Cugno beyond her duties, including traveling with him and others.

As head of the CNG, Cugno also maintained an office in Newtown at Fairfield Hills where the CNG operates the Governor’s Horse Guard. He spearheaded a project there to construct a military dog kennel where German shepherds would be trained for antiterrorism work.