A? Defense Department Inspector General report released to Congress last week ?outlined substantiated allegations against several unnamed USAF senior leaders. Air Force photo by A1C Aspen Reid.
The Air Force has the highest rate of allegations of wrongdoing against senior officials substantiated after a Pentagon investigation, according to a Defense Department Inspector Gen?eral report to Congress released last week.
From April to September of this year, DOD IG oversaw or conducted 90 investigations into USAF, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and combatant command or defense agency leaders. Of those, 20 focused on USAF leaders and eight of those investigations were substantiated, the highest number by percentage, according to the report. The Army had the highest number of investigations completed, with nine, though a smaller overall percentage with a total of 31 claims.
This total is a small percentage of the overall DOD IG workload, with 410 total complaints of senior official misconduct made during this timeframe.
The Pentagon Inspector General detailed the allegations against USAF leaders, though no names or positions were provided:
- A major general failed to treat subordinates with respect by displaying anger, aggression, and intimidation while berating civilian and contract employees during a family advocacy program meeting. In this case, corrective action is pending.
- A major general misused subordinates by asking senior staff members to retrieve and deliver prescriptions from the Pentagon pharmacy. This officer received verbal counseling.
- A brigadier general displayed conduct unbecoming an officer by saying, in reference to a female subordinate, “isn’t she such a beautiful young lady” and “if only she didn’t sleep with married men.” In another incident, the officer made an inappropriate remark about a woman’s anatomy and said a woman’s daughter was “beautiful” and “hot.” Additionally, this officer failed to report attempted suicides, misused government vehicles for travel, and improperly accepted gifts in the form of autographed photographs? of celebrities. In this case, corrective action is pending.
- A former Air Force senior executive service member misused subordinates’ time by having them pick up lunch and give Pentagon tours for family. Additionally, the member misused government funds on official travel by authorizing a needless temporary duty assignment to Europe and the Middle East. Corrective action is pending.
- An Air Force senior executive service member used their office for private gain by arranging temporary duty travel to New Mexico for personal benefit. On 13 occasions, this member booked airline tickets more than four days in advance of the planned TDY, outside of the Defense Travel System, and purchased 28 airline tickets without the use of City Pair fare, and used a personal credit card to pay for four airfares. Corrective action pending.
- An Air Force brigadier general wrongfully conducted fundraising in the workplace by selling their daughter’s Girl Scout cookies at the office. This officer received verbal counseling.
- An Air Force senior executive service member improperly requested the release of confidential information regarding the identity of survey participants, improperly influenced a civilian employee from making a protected disclosure, improperly tried to retrieve emails belonging to a civilian employee, publicly disrespected subordinates, improperly directed personnel to authorize travel for a hunting trip, and improperly served as a speaker without getting approval. Corrective action is pending.
- An Air Force senior executive service member engaged in an unprofessional relationship with a subordinate and used the office for private gain, increasing the employee’s pay by more than $1,900 per year. This member retired.
Additionally, the Defense Department Inspector General in the same time frame substantiated 22 claims of reprisal, of which 12 involved Air Force officers or enlisted airmen.