The Air Force has relieved a high-ranking, decorated colonel from command for being too fat.

Colonel Tim Bush of North Dakota’s Grand Forks Air Force Base has been removed from his role as commander 319th Air Base Wing,  said Air Mobility Command spokesman Major Mike Andrews on Wednesday. Bush’s second-in-command, Colonel Christopher Mann, has been tapped as interim commander until a proper replacement can be found, reports MilitaryTimes.com.

MilitaryTimes.com states that the Colonel was fired after failing the "waist measurement" portion of his physical fitness test. “Bush was not relieved for alleged misconduct or wrongdoing,” read an Air Mobility Command news release.

Major General William Bender, commander of the Air Force Expeditionary Center, was responsible for Bush’s abrupt exit. Bender is accountable for six wings and two groups within Air Mobility Command, including the 319^th Air Base Wing, Bush’s former unit.

According to MilitaryTimes.com, an anonymous source within the Air Force claims that Bush told his men that Maj. Gen. Bender’s decision stemmed from a failed physical fitness assessment. Bush reportedly failed the waist measurement portion of the PT test. The 25-year Air Force veteran will request retirement rather than accept a demotion.

According to his Air Force biography, Bush graduated from the Air Force Academy with a senior pilot rating in 1988. Professionally, he has logged more than 2,100 flying hours in a variety of military aircraft.

“Colonel Bush has also served as Presidential Advance Agent for Air Force One, Aide de Camp to the Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command, Commander, 384th Air Refueling Squadron, Commander, 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, and Commander, 733d Air Mobility Squadron,” reads his official Grand Forks Air Force Base biography.

In 2011, Bush spent several months as “the deputy director of mobility forces for U.S. Air Forces Central Command from Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar,” MilitaryTimes.com reports. He has been awarded a Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Meritorious Service Medal during his storied career.

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