One reason so many top ranking officers are getting in the news is because there are too many top ranking officers....”
true, but in time of war you need experience.
I think there is politics in play here.
Rank inflation started decades ago and has only gotten worse.
As a retired 0-5 I also see two other factors. The quality of officers has dropped (symptom of society) and there are PC landmines everywhere. With regard to the latter, rough and tumble warfighters are now more inclined to just get out than put up with making sure National Minority Lesbian Breast Cancer Month is fully observed.