Chief master sergeant charged with killing teen in drunk driving accident has retired at a lower rank

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U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Hector Soler, 18th Security Forces Squadron security forces manager (left), and Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Martin, 18th Mission Support Group superintendent (right), present Tech. Sgt. Sean Berkshire, assigned to the 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, the John L. Levitow Award during the NCO Academy class 14-4 graduation ceremony at the Erwin Professional Military Education center on Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 20, 2014. The award, named after Medal of Honor recipient John L. Levitow, is presented to the top performer in the class and is a symbol of achievement as a leader and a scholar. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zade C. Vadnais)

Hector Soler, the former security forces manager for the 4th Security Forces Squadron who allegedly killed a teenager while driving drunk last year, retired in August at a reduced rank.

Soler, who was a chief master sergeant, retired as a senior master sergeant on Aug. 1, Col. Edward Sholtis, director of public affairs for Air Combat Command, said on Thursday.

The Facebook page Air Force amn/nco/snco first reported Soler’s retirement at a reduced rank Wednesday.

Soler, who was stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, allegedly hit 17-year-old Johny Robert Watson, who later died, last December while driving drunk. Squadron commander Maj. Gilbert Wyche was relieved of his command a few weeks later.

According to the North Carolina Court System’s website, Soler is scheduled for a court date in Wayne County District Court on Dec. 11. He faces felony charges of causing death by vehicle and serious injury by vehicle. He also faces charges of driving while impaired and failure to reduce speed.

About 

Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.