What The Hell America!

Profiles in Courage is a series honoring the extraordinary women and men who have transformed American institutions through principled public service. At a time when trust in government is fragile, these stories offer a powerful reminder of what ethical leadership looks like—from those who litigate for civil rights and resign on principle, to those who break military barriers and defend democracy on the front lines.

This month, we spotlight women in the Department of Justice, federal agencies and the military whose careers have been defined by integrity, resilience and reform. Their quiet heroism—often at personal cost—reaffirms the enduring role of public servants who choose justice over self-interest. Through their stories, Ms. pays tribute to a tradition of service that safeguards democracy and inspires the next generation to lead with courage.

When Colonel Susan Meyers assumed command of Pituffik Space Base, America’s northernmost military installation, in July 2024, she inherited more than a remote outpost carved from the Arctic ice. She inherited an unbroken 70-year alliance with Denmark and Greenland, 200 airmen and guardians under her care, and a delicate diplomatic balance in an era of rising political tension.

Meyers, an officer who had spent nearly two decades in the Air Force before transferring to the U.S. Space Force in 2021, understood that every flag flown at Pituffik signified a hard-won partnership in one of the planet’s harshest environments.

On March 29, 2025, that equilibrium was shaken. Vice President JD Vance, visiting to promote President Donald Trump’s renewed push to annex Greenland, publicly rebuked Denmark for “neglecting” Greenlanders and hinted that military force might be justified. The remarks ignited unease among Danish officials, Greenlandic leaders and the American service members posted at Pituffik who had long worked side-by-side with their allies.

The Email That Cost a Command

Three days later, following a weekend spent assessing base morale, rereading Vance’s statements and listening to her international partners, Colonel Meyers drafted an email addressed to every member of her garrison:

“I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the US administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base … For as long as I am lucky enough to lead this base, all of our flags will fly proudly—together.”

Her message neither mentioned annexation nor invoked partisan language. It simply reaffirmed the base’s long-standing commitment to a non-political military partnership with Denmark and Greenland.

However, in an environment where senior leaders had been warned to remain “scrupulously nonpartisan,” the email was perceived as an act of defiance.

Immediate Repercussions

On April 10, 2025, the U.S. Space Force relieved Colonel Meyers of command, citing “a loss of confidence.” Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell posted on X, writing: “Actions [that] undermine the chain of command or subvert President [Donald] Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense.”

Meyers was replaced within hours by Colonel Shawn Lee.

In Washington, some hailed her firing as necessary discipline, while others condemned it as the politicization of a uniformed officer who merely upheld the long-held values of joint defense. In Copenhagen and Nuuk, Danish and Greenlandic leaders quietly praised her “steadfast professionalism.”

An Arctic Command, a Defining Stand

Commanding Pituffik involves dealing with constant winter darkness, encountering 24-hour daylight during summer, and facing temperatures that can plunge below –60°F. It also necessitates protecting crucial satellite tracking radars and missile warning systems that bolster North American defense. Colonel Meyers achieved this while honoring the treaty commitments that have sustained the base as sovereign Danish territory since 1951.

Her decision to speak—measured, nonpartisan, yet unmistakably principled—was rooted in a conviction that military loyalty to allies transcends political cycles. She did not seek confrontation with her civilian leadership; rather, she aimed to steady a shaken force and reassure partners who felt blindsided by annexation rhetoric.

Legacy of Integrity

Colonel Susan Meyers now joins a lineage of officers who accepted personal costs to uphold the apolitical ethos of the U.S. armed forces. In the frozen expanse of northwest Greenland, where auroras are as typical a sight as radar domes, her brief command will be remembered for a single email affirming that allied flags fly together or not at all.

In an age when strategic competition converges once more on the Arctic, her stand serves as a stark reminder that “true” command is not measured solely by tenure but by the courage to defend the principles that unite allies on the world’s most remote frontiers.