In a thunderous rebuke that should rattle every marble column in Montgomery, the Federal Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) delivered Col. Douglas “Cinco” DeMaio, commander of Alabama’s 187th Tactical Fighter Wing, a total, unqualified victory. On March 31, 2026, the appellate court upheld his reinstatement as dual-status technician with full back pay, restored honors, a pristine record, and recoverable legal fees – all at further taxpayer expense.
This was the court of last resort. After the state ripped him from command in 2022 on a “loss of trust and confidence” smear, Alabama’s political machine appealed with the blind arrogance of corrupt potentates, squandering more than $1 million in taxpayer dollars. The final ruling struck like a precision 2,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM): DeMaio is restored as commander and senior civilian officer of the 187th Tactical Fighter Wing.
This was never a personnel dispute. It was a direct assault on the fighting spirit of our Air National Guard and, by extension, the Republic’s national defense. DeMaio was not taken out by enemy fire in some distant sandbox. Gov. Kay Ivey and her former Adjutant General Cheryl Gordon, neither of whom ever saw a single combat deployment, torpedoed a combat-proven leader responsible for F-16 pilots, maintainers, and mission readiness.
DeMaio assumed command in 2021, a battle-tested officer with a chest full of ribbons and a record of results. Fourteen months later, after delivering multiple high-level successes in national exercises, he received a pink slip. No charges. No court-martial. No explanation worthy of an Eagle-wearing colonel.
I investigated this in 2023 and had a hunch that DeMaio’s pushback against a rushed, poorly-conceived, state COVID-19 vaccination mandate for guardsmen marked him for elimination.
When DeMaio fought back through proper channels, the state doubled down, burning Alabama dollars to defend the indefensible. Yet the MSPB reviewed the evidence and delivered the only verdict that mattered: the state was dead wrong.
DeMaio is not an isolated case. Just ask Rear Admiral Kent Davis, decorated Navy combat veteran and former commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs. He came home ready to repair the broken VA pipeline, mental-health grants, and suicide prevention, only to be politically executed by Ivey after filing an ethics complaint over nearly 7 million dollars in mishandled federal American Rescue Plan Act grant money. Same game, different uniform: loyal service meets political retaliation.
DeMaio’s 187th Tactical Fighter Wing carries the lineage of the Red Tails and Alabama grit forged in steel and fire. These are the pilots and crews who would answer first if China moved on Taiwan or Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz. When men like DeMaio and Davis are taken out like this, you don’t just embarrass Alabama, you degrade American combat effectiveness, erode morale, and threaten the Republic’s very existence.
Such violations send a clear signal to every enlisted troop, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major, and colonel: competence is optional, but political loyalty is mandatory.
Yet every service member should take note and realize that exoneration is possible when good men refuse to bend the knee, prepare, persevere and pray. DeMaio stood tall, fought through the appeals, and won. The MSPB followed the law and duty was restored through cold, steel justice.
Alabama always seems to chew up its strongest warriors, colonels, admirals, veterans, even first responders, who refuse to genuflect before the establishment machine. Enough of this skullduggery.
Alabama owes DeMaio far more than back pay. We owe him public restitution, restored honor, and the resignation of every political hack who signed off on this disgrace. The deadline for compliance with the MSPB was April 20, 2026. That day has come and gone, and it seems Alabama is choosing to flaunt federal judicial orders. This will cost the taxpayer a small fortune as it continues to ring up penalties and financial damages.
We the people of Alabama owe it to ourselves and every warfighter past and present to demand accountability. When you casually destroy the careers of the men who fly fighters, command troops, and care for veterans, you aren’t just hurting individuals, you’re jeopardizing the defense of the Republic itself.
Now it is time to clean house in Montgomery before the next crisis exposes how hollow our state’s “support the troops” rhetoric really is. The 2026 mid-term elections await. Make your voices heard. Contact your legislators and state leaders and demand accountability. After all, they work for us, so let’s start treating them like the subordinates they really are.
Troy Carico is a former infantry enlisted soldier (11B) and infantry officer with branch qualifications including counterintelligence (35E) and military intelligence (35D). He served with distinction in the U.S. Army for more than 22 years and is highly decorated and service-connected disabled. He also has prior service as a civilian intelligence officer for the Defense Intelligence Agency Great Skills Program and has served in numerous clandestine assignments throughout the world. You can find him on X @CaricoTroy, LinkedIn @Troy Carico, and Substack.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
