Air Force C-17 Globemaster III pilots take off for a mission from Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Oct. 27, 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Larry E. Reid Jr.)

A top-performing Air Force officer has been relegated to staying at home after voicing concerns about illegal and systematic racial and gender discrimination.

According to documents obtained by WND, Capt. Matthew Longo has clearly served as an exemplary Air Force officer for more than 10 years, awarded two Meritorious Service medals, one Air and Space Commendation medal, and more over the course of his career.

In one of his latest assignments, Capt. Longo was tasked to take command of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) office located on Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Previously, he served as the AFOSI commander of Poland, keeping a watchful eye on the war between Russia and Ukraine.

His troubles began in September 2023, when Longo participated, as ordered, in a selection board for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, responsible for choosing newly commissioned Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets for assignments with the AFOSI.

To his surprise, the decorated Air Force officer was told to alter some of his assessments to higher marks in order to permit unqualified or less qualified candidates into the selection process. One peer on the board allegedly informed him that he was chosen for the panel merely as the “token white guy,” that his views “did not matter,” and that he should “just stay quiet” during the selection board.

But Longo’s moral conviction and duty to his country prevented him from remaining silent. He formally communicated with his chain of command to raise concerns about unethical and illegal behavior by the selection board. For this, he claims to have encountered retaliatory actions from individuals aware of his protected disclosure.

Longo’s cited concerns include: homosexual individuals being favored over more qualified heterosexual candidates, female applicants being chosen over more qualified male counterparts, and minorities of color having been picked over more qualified white candidates. But it was Capt. Longo’s own selection of a more qualified white candidate over a lesser qualified black candidate that was a bridge too far for the other members of the selection board.

After he reported these board irregularities, Longo was labeled a racist and a sexist, and eventually removed from command. He was also pulled out of the prestigious, highly selective AFOSI Officer Mentorship Program without any prior notice or explanation. He was ignored by senior leaders in his command when he needed assistance making decisions and more. And he faced relentless harassment right up until his suspension in July 2024.

For more than a year, Capt. Matthew Longo has been ordered to work at his home while maintaining his commitment to the Air Force, with no work assignment to occupy his time. He has filed an Inspector General Complaint and an Article 138 Complaint, submitted several complaints to Congress, notified the leadership of the Department of the Air Force, and taken additional actions, all to no avail.

The most recent effort to restore Longo’s career was submitted to the Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR) on Sept. 17, 2025, and has been reviewed by this reporter.

The Air Force officer has requested the removal of the “illegal and unjustified actions” taken against him, along with a promotion to the rank of major that he earned in 2024.

Michael Rose, executive vice president and general counsel of the anti-DEI military organization STARRS, said “Captain Longo clearly has been abused due to Leftist DEI ideology and deserves immediate remedies enabling him to resume his military career.” For Rose, “It is doubtful that any military superior had the authority to require Captain Longo to sit at home doing nothing while collecting pay; that was a waste of talent, time and money.”

In April, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts within the Department of War were declared dead by Secretary Pete Hegseth.

As we said from day one: DEI is DEAD at DOD. pic.twitter.com/0hl49kpINe

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) April 18, 2025

If this is indeed the case, one might anticipate that Capt. Matthew Longo’s career will be restored sooner rather than later.

J.M. Phelps

J.M. Phelps is a contributing writer for WND with a focus on threats to the U.S. military and national security. He also writes for the Epoch Times, American Family News and the Gateway Pundit. Follow him on X at @JMPhelpsLC. Read more of J.M. Phelps's articles here.