Hesterman, who retired May 1, was removed as Air Force assistant vice chief of staff after an Air Force inspector general investigation found that he engaged in an unprofessional relationship with a subordinate officer and demonstrated conduct unbecoming of an officer.

Hesterman’s dismissal derailed the career of a seasoned combat veteran who flew on the opening night of operations in the Persian Gulf War and went on to serve as the three-star commander of Air Forces Central, leading the early days of the U.S. air war against the Islamic State from July 2013 through last June. Gen. David L. Goldfein, the Air Force’s vice chief of staff and incoming top officer, launched an “officer grade determination” for Hesterman after removing him from his job, and it determined that Hesterman should not lose a star.

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Stefanek said James’s recommendation was based on feedback from those carrying out the determination, consideration of past precedents in the Defense Department, Hesterman’s accomplishments as a three-star general, and “very extensive consideration of the nature of the misconduct” and when it occurred. The U.S. military commonly retires officers at the last rank at which they served satisfactorily.

The decision will be lucrative for Hesterman. According to the Defense Department’s online pension calculator, an officer with his 33 years of service receives at least $156,578 per year in pension. A two-star general with the same amount of time in service receives at least $138,491.

Hesterman could not be reached for comment.

The investigation into Hesterman was launched after a complaint was registered in August that he carried on an unprofessional relationship with a subordinate and meddled inappropriately in the assignments of her husband, who was an Air Force colonel. The husband alleged that a relationship between his wife and Hesterman dated to at least 2007, when the general was a one-star officer and commander of the 48th Fighter Wing in Britain.

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Hesterman denied that a sexual relationship took place, but emails that were entered into divorce proceedings between the female officer and her husband were examined by the inspector general and ended Hesterman’s career. In a chain of emails dated March and April 2010, he and the woman, then a lieutenant colonel, exchanged a series of messages in which he called the woman “gorgeous” and appeared to flirt using emoticons.

“In Waikiki for… spring break and last big trip before Qatar… thinking of you often here… we would love it… and you would be in perpetual trouble ;) xxx,” one email said.

In another email around Valentine’s Day in 2011, he expressed feelings for the woman.

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“My dear and so beautiful…,” it began. “On this Valentine’s Day, please know I am thinking of you… I miss you and hope you are happy and well. Much Love, J.”

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The inspector general’s report, released by the Air Force in March, said the emails were found by the husband, and the woman confirmed they were real under questioning during the divorce proceedings, which the report characterized as contentious. The female officer said that she had never been unfaithful to her husband in any way, but she claimed her husband had. Their names were redacted from the report.

“The language used by Lt Gen Hesterman goes far beyond a mentorship scenario and is sexually suggestive in places and romantic in other places,” the report said. “In engaging in such email exchanges, Lt Gen Hesterman violated [Air Force rules] because he adversely affected the Air Force, helped dissolve a marriage between two members, eroded good order, discipline, and respect for authority, and these exchanges indicate an abandonment of Air Force goals for personal interests.”

“Simply put, Lt Gen Hesterman’s emails to [the woman] — two officers, both married but not to each other — are sexually suggestive and indicate a strong desire to be with her in a romantic way,” the report added.