Then-Lt. Col. Meghann Sullivan talks with Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Brinson of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade during her change of command ceremony on June 28, 2021, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Sullivan became the first woman to command an SFAB battalion as she took the helm of the 5th Battalion of the 5th SFAB. (U.S. Army)

Col. Meghann Sullivan was relieved of command of an engineer battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington because of a “lack of confidence,” the Army confirmed Tuesday.

Maj. Gen. Donn Hill, commander of Security Force Assistance Command, made the decision on Oct. 13 to remove Sullivan officially from her job at the helm of the 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade’s Engineer Battalion, said Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Patoka, a spokesman for the command.

Sullivan served as the battalion commander from June 30, 2021, to May 9, 2023, when she was suspended and an investigation was initiated, he said. The battalion executive officer commanded the battalion on an interim basis until Lt. Col. Charles Comfort took command of the battalion in June 2023.

Patoka declined to answer questions about the firing, including the nature of the allegations or whether the investigation was criminal or administrative. He said the investigation is closed, and Sullivan is now assigned to I Corps, also located at Lewis-McChord.

Under federal privacy law, military officials are not required to disclose the reasons for removing or reassigning personnel. Subsequently, military commanders are often removed under broad claims of “loss in confidence” in their abilities.

The 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade is one of five active-duty and one National Guard SFABs under Security Force Assistance Command.

Roughly 800 soldiers serve in each of the SFABs, with approximately one-third of the brigade deployed at any given time. More than 400 soldiers from the command are now deployed to 33 countries and locations across the globe.