A two-star general has been demoted to one star and will retire after he received punishment for failing to pursue a sex assault claim in his command, the Army announced Wednesday.

Maj. Gen. Michael T. Harrison, former commander of U.S. Army Japan, will retire as a brigadier general, according to a news release from the Army.

Army Secretary John McHugh directed that Harrison be retired at the lower rank, the release states.

"Maj. Gen. Harrison was investigated and disciplined for failing to properly address a sexual assault allegation in his command," the release states.

"Under Federal law, officers retire at the highest grade in which they have served satisfactorily, and the Secretary of the Army has the responsibility to make retirement grade determinations for all officers." according to the release. "In this case, the Secretary determined that Maj. Gen. Harrison's highest grade of satisfactory service was as a Brigadier General."

Harrison was suspended from his duties in June by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno and McHugh. The Army provided no details about the alleged sexual assault case.

However, Stars and Stripes reported that a woman alleged in March that an officer in the command who was her supervisor sexually assaulted her and repeatedly subjected her to unwanted advances. The woman said she was removed from her job after other employees complained the officer shower her favoritism, Stars and Stripes reported.

Maj. Gen. James C. Boozer took Harrison's place in Japan, the Army said.

Harrison had been selected to become deputy commander of the Army component of U.S. Central Command, based in Kuwait. That new assignment was publicly announced in February by the Pentagon, which said at the same time that Boozer would replace Harrison as commander in Japan.

Harrison, a 33-year Army veteran, began his assignment in Japan in October 2010.

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