Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia Removed From Joint Staff J-5, Retires After 11 Months

3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Oct 29

Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia was pushed out of the Pentagon’s Joint Staff J-5 earlier this week and retired from the Army after 11 months in the post, according to two sources.
A lack of confidence drove his removal, one source said, though it remained unclear whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine made the decision.
The Joint Staff first thanked Sylvia for his “distinguished” service, then withdrew that statement, saying it did not reflect the full circumstances and citing an ongoing personnel process.
The Joint Staff website now lists only Vice Director Maj. Gen. Mark H. Slocum for the strategy, plans and policy office, one of the Pentagon’s most important planning directorates.
Sylvia is the latest senior officer sidelined under Hegseth; his predecessor Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee and former Joint Staff director Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims also retired early last year.