Lt. Col. Joseph W. Hoffler, USAF-Ret.

Author of

Promotion: Denied
The Harrowing True Story of Racism, Cover-up, Betrayal and
Vigilante Justice at the United States Air Force Academy

While commander of the USAF Academy’s Security Police Squadron, Lt. Col. Joseph W. Hoffler was in the primary zone for promotion to colonel. To his surprise, just prior to meeting the promotion board, senior officers at the USAF Academy conspired to ensure that his promotion would be denied. The reason? Racism.

Rumor has it that certain white senior officers and members of Lt. Col. Hoffler’s squadron thought that his squadron’s command element was “too black,” and were of the opinion that blacks should be “kept in their place.”

Promotion: Denied  is the shocking true story of how, after four years of outstanding duty at the USAF Academy, Lt. Col. Hoffler was given a letter of reprimand based on trumped-up charges—on the verge of being promoted to colonel. It also tells the first-ever insider’s story of racism and cover-up at this elite, military school, a time-honored institution that requires cadets to live by an honor code but condoned lying and cheating by its senior officers.

Lt. Col. Joseph W. Hoffler, USAF-Ret., served in the United States Air Force for twenty-two years, including assignments as a security policeman and a minuteman missile launch officer. As the first black squadron commander assigned to the U.S. Air Force Academy, he received numerous commendations including the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. He lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.