U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill on Tuesday grilled top Air Force brass on the culture and policies surrounding the handling of sexual assault cases in the military. McCaskill’s questioning comes the day after the Air Force officer in charge of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response was arrested outside a Virginia bar for sexual battery.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that thousands of victims of sexual assaults in the military are still unwilling to come forward — despite a slew of oversight and assistance programs. Pentagon documents estimate that up to 26,000 military members may have been sexually assaulted last year. The number of those assaults that were actually reported by members of the military was up by 6 percent.

“You have got a wealth of people in the Air Force who understand what this job has to be, and if the allegations in this case are true this was not someone who understood what his job was about,” said McCaskill, a former Jackson County Prosecutor and a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “I will be watching very closely who is selected to replace him, because I think this will be one of those times you can send a message.”

The Senate hearing included Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and Chief of Staff Mark Welsh. McCaskill also asked the leaders their opinions on mandating the inclusion of a victim’s statement in any clemency hearing conducted by a Convening Authority.