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Note: The DOD IG uses the abbreviation RDML for Rear Admiral. I have never seen the Navy use anything other than RADM.

At one time the Navy rank above paygrade O-6 (Captain) was Commodore, the lowest flag rank. Next up was Rear Admiral, originally a two-star rank. The Army used Brigadier General for O-7, one-star. The Army one-star was a General and the Navy one-star was not an Admiral, inducing rank name envy. The rank of Commodore was withdrawn and the rank of Rear Admiral was split in half, RADM upper and lower, referring to time in rank. RADM (lower) (O-7) is a one-star and RADM (upper) (O-8) is a two star, and rank name envy was solved.

Pursuant to the IG Report, the matter was taken up as an administrative action by Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, reaching a decision to change Jackson's retirement rank to O-6, Captain in July 2022.

This had nothing to do with any judicial procedure such as a court-martial. IG investigations allow rumors and third-hand hearsay. The standard is preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not). These procedures would not quite rise to the level of a J-6 committee investigation and report. The allegations might be interesting if contrasted with his fitess reports for the same time period.

As this appears to be a purely administrative procedure performed by SECNAV Del Toro, I suspect it could be reversed by another administrative procedure performed by future President Trump, if there be one.

I provide the timeline as it may lead to some curiosity.

TIMELINE:

IG Report at 5-6 [pdf 7-8]

October 1, 2016
The Navy promotes RDML Jackson to Rear Admiral (Lower Half).
March 28, 2018
RDML Jackson ends his duties as the Physician to the President.
April 16, 2018
The President nominates RDML Jackson to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
April 26, 2018
The Senate Armed Services Committee asks the DoD OIG to investigate RDML Jackson.
April 26, 2018–June 7, 2018
The DoD Hotline receives 12 complaints against RDML Jackson.
May 18, 2018
The DoD OIG initiates the investigation. [wp: The report is dated March 3, 2021, nearly three years later, about six weeks after President Biden assumed office.]
June 20, 2018
The President withdraws RDML Jackson’s nomination to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
February 2, 2019
The President appoints RDML Jackson as Assistant to the President and Chief Medical Advisor.
December 1, 2019
RDML Jackson retires from the Navy.

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2024/03/07/lawmaker-who-claims-to-be-a-retired-rear-admiral-was-actually-demoted/

Lawmaker who claims to be a retired rear admiral was actually demoted
By Geoff Ziezulewicz
March 7, 2024

Navy Times source does not allow excerpts.