GovernmentExecutive.com

Return to Article: Ex-Pentagon procurement chief pleads guilty to conspiracy

• 12821
  

  Lets be honest, Druyun lied and acted in an unethical manner. We have soldiers, sailors, airman and marines buying their own protective gear while Druyun admits to years (yes she admitted to giving Boeing several years of preferential treatment)of misconduct. She should lose her pension and spend at least 5 years in jail.

  Military Officer - Navy Posted October 6, 2005 9:24 AM
• 4480
  

  I hate to argue with all the "conspiracy theory" folks out there, but I know Darlene to be one of the toughest acquisition people ever. She never left any money on the table when dealing with government contractors. Her problem, if you are looking for a problem, is that after more than thirty years of outstanding service to the Air Force and NASA, she made a poor decision. At the end of her government career she was looking for what to do next with her life, same as most of the rest of us. The truth is that over her career, she negotiated billions of dollars worth of contracts with virtually every major defense contractor in the country. I worked with her 25 years ago, and have followed her career since that time, I have personal knowledge or how well she did her job. The only issue she had professionally was an issue of calling it like she saw it, it didn't make much difference who she was dealing with. If you look up the term politically incorrect in the dictionary, you will probably find a picture of Darlene. She was a 3 star equivalent civilian, a female in a mans world, she took no s#*t from anyone, she made more than a few enemies as a result of doing her job. The Congress Daily got it wrong, she did not plead guilty to conspiracy on the Tanker Program, she pleaded guilty to talking to a contractor about employment while having a business relationship with that contractor. It has to do with Procurement Integrity, not conspiring with a contractor to help them get a contract so she could get a job. She saved the American taxpayer untold millions, perhaps billions, and was a mentor to hundreds of acquisition professionals during her career.....lets not be so quick to judge, especially based on incomplete reporting by the press.....God bless her and her family

  Michael W. Page Posted April 27, 2004 1:28 PM
• 4451
  

  From what I've read, she was a hard charger and was tough in acquisition world. Unfortunately any good is now overtaken by this corruption and divestiture of personal and professional ethics for greed and personal gain. She got caught and prison time would be in order to make an example and send a message to others. Unfortunately there are many other examples throughout in DoD, with the revolving door with contractors.

  Federal manager Posted April 24, 2004 11:14 AM
• 4432
  

  Lock her up and throw away the key. Make an example of her and a multitude of others. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I didn't think this Justice Department with Bozo leading it had it in itself. We as servants to the public have an obligation and she violated it. You can rationalize what she did all you want. She's pleaded guilty and she is. How many more are there out there in similar roles looking for a job? Makes me want to puke.

  Sheriff Posted April 22, 2004 6:19 PM
• 4418
  

  Politicos wanted a government that operates more like private industry.

  It looks like we are finally achieving just that! We can see corruption through self serving individuals, at the very highest levels of management. Darleen Druyun's story cannot be an isolated case, there must be more. Where are the checks and balances?

  Congress and the Justice Department needs to stop the cronyism between greedy contractors and unscrupulous government managers.

  GovExec.com reader Posted April 22, 2004 10:30 AM
• 4395
  

  Sounds to me as if Ms. Druyun has become another victim of "The High Noon" syndrome. She had the courage (AND the expertise) to face down all the bad guys, with the (early-on) full support of the townspeople.

  Came "High Noon" however, & one by one all the "townspeople" found reasons to bail out on her. Classic cinema-classic life.

  I would've give any THREE of my soldiers in Vietnam-or any TEN in Kuwait-to have had ONE of HER. Good luck & God bless you always, Ms. Druyun!

  SFC Ron Giles

  SFC Ronald E. Giles Posted April 21, 2004 9:35 AM
• 4384
  

  That's not all they do. They structure data to fit the decisions made even before the data are gathered, they contract illegally all the time . . . simply put they do what they want. Now with pay for performance no one is likely to blow the whistle on them so they should get even more corrupt. Good going Congress you don't have any idea - or you just don't care.

  tax payer Posted April 21, 2004 6:35 AM