Return to Article: Ex-Pentagon procurement executive gets jail time
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6766
No hotline calls, but plenty of chats with the CCO and Commanding Officer. Like I said before, I agree that some decisions we're forced to implement stink, but they're not illegal according to the FAR. This is why it frosts me when KOs allow things to go forward and say "well it's not my money". It IS our money (unless you don't pay taxes). Obviously if a KO doesn't pay taxes, that person shouldn't be a KO.
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6754
To Procurement Analyst: Actually, I have called the IG hotline on several occasions, and my congressman too. I can't police everybody, but I try to keep the turf around me clean enough. You have to pick your battles, since the contracting officer job is stressful in and of itself I really cannot afford to heap even more troubles upon myself. I feel strongly that the Federal Government belongs to all of us, not those who think it is their own little kingdom.
How about yourself-any whistleblowing?
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6618
VA Contracting Officer - so how many calls to the Waste, Fraud & Abuse Hotline have you made? Sounds like you have plenty of anecdotal evidence.
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6589
IN REPLY TO "I disagree with your statement that most "waste, fraud and abuse occurs at the executive level". While there are certainly situations where KOs are under extreme duress due to pressure, ultimately it is the KO's decision to cave or not. In my career, I have declined to perform to the wishes of the "executives" knowing full well that I would be placed immediately in the "doghouse" (and I was). But I was able to look at myself in the mirror and know I did the right thing. But remember this as well - just because you don't agree with the decision someone makes doesn't mean that decision is illegal. And legality is the ultimate test in our chosen field - not necessarily ethics. Unfortunately, ethics and legality are usually mutually exclusive."(BY PROCUREMENT ANALYST, US NAVY)
To "Procurement Analyst-US Navy",I disagree with your statement"ethics and legality are mutually exclusive." Just about all agencies have "ethics training" where procurement staff is reminded annually about the evils of accepting coffee and donuts at a contractor's plant. It is drummed into us that we are to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Ethical behavior on the part of contracting officers is exactly what keeps us from breaking any laws. I too will NOT do anything immoral or illegal (maybe fatenning), so not being a rubber stamp has caused me to be in the doghouse sometimes too. Like I always tell those who have a problem with this-it's my signature and I'm the one with the warrant who will go to jail not you. And I sleep well and look at my myself in the mirror with no misgivings, despite the stress. I don't think stress causes ethical lapses, GREED does. And laziness too. And to clarify-fraud waste and abuse that amount to anything (we are not talking about coffee and donuts here)occurs mostly at the executive level-they mismanange big dollars of the taxpayer's money. Plus, these are the people angling for contractor positions when they leave Government, so violating key procurement principles (like impartiality) means nothing compared to the big bucks they aspire to receive.The rest of it is small potatoes by comparison. I stand by my remarks-I have never known anyone at the journeyman GS 12 level like myself who has been personally charged with an eithical violation or a legal one, after being in the procurement arena for 17 years.
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6573
VA Contracting Officer - I have been a KO since 1993. I have also worked for more than one agency. I disagree with your statement that most "waste, fraud and abuse occurs at the executive level". While there are certainly situations where KOs are under extreme duress due to pressure, ultimately it is the KO's decision to cave or not. In my career, I have declined to perform to the wishes of the "executives" knowing full well that I would be placed immediately in the "doghouse" (and I was). But I was able to look at myself in the mirror and know I did the right thing. But remember this as well - just because you don't agree with the decision someone makes doesn't mean that decision is illegal. And legality is the ultimate test in our chosen field - not necessarily ethics. Unfortunately, ethics and legality are usually mutually exclusive.
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6564
To little jail time for the crime! I would venture to say many a valued government voice of descretion has been squelched and suppressed by this lady and her cohorts! And then theres Boeing getting off the hook! In all of my years of working with defense contractors, the companies they bought out and I will not mention which ones, but the one I worked with associated with Boeing had the worst internal policies, docuemntation, and procedures I ever came across! What a deal this lady is still working deals serving her jail time near her home where she plans on retiring! It all boils down to some very stringent ethics reform and checks and balances within the acquisition community!!
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6547
As one who suffered through more lightening bolts than Ben Franklins' kite, is anyone surprised by the revelations of more deals before she retired? A person does not spend an entire career devoted to honesty and integrity in the civil service just to commit one "mistake" at the end. Like I told my wife when this first came out, people don't just do this once -- if she did it now, she's done it her entire career. Now if we can get away from this insight c#$p and back to oversight?
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6531
Humm, any effort by the Air Force to help those whose careers were ruined by Ms Druyun? I would have to believe that at least one Colonel smelled a rat and reported it. Time for a retroacticve promotion to Brigader General for those who did?
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6524
Having sat through years of acquisition training in the Air Force that was heavy on ethics training and the "Lightening bolts" promoted by Ms Druyun I am really offended by her actions. I remember the number of high level officers whose careers were ruined in the C-17 program. Now we know that she was actively influencing that program as well. And the contrast to the treatment of Martha Stewart couldn't be more stark. Martha gets a sentence almost as long (and no choice of where to serve it). This sentence was way too lenient. It should have sent a strong message that this kind of behavior by public servents will not be tolerated.
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6521
Perhaps she and Martha can be roomies.
To the writer who infers that it is common practice for contracing officers to engage in the kind of prohibited behavior exhibited by Ms. Druyun-I say you must not be a contracting officer. We get audited and reviewed up the ying-yang, at least here in the VA. Most fraud, waste, and abuse occurs at executive levels where it is assumed that you are immune to oversight. We low-level GS 12's and the like, who comprise most of the procurement workforce, take our warrant seriously and look out for the best interest of the government. I know that I do. The paperwork involved in being a contracting officer will kill you, so the temptation to cut corners does arise, but there are corners that matter and those that don't. Don't mailign all the hardworking folks without which the government would come to a standstill, because of the misdeeds of some.
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6514
Years ago, I went to CON 333 at Wright-Patterson AFB. The primary case study in that course was about the Air Force procurement for the C-17 transport aircraft. Ms. Druyun was prominent in that case study, as well as a current senior member of the DOD Procurement Staff. The investigations into that procurement's ills resulted in military officers being "retired", while Ms. Druyun and her protege moved up the ladder. The fact that Ms. Druyun did what she did is not surprising to me - what's surprising is that she actually got any jail time at all for it. Hopefully her protege learned her lesson too.
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6505
Too little punishment for this level of government fraud, waste and abuse. When such abuse involves taxpayer's money, the level of punishment should be higher.
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6499
She gets three more months in jail than Martha. Martha lied to a government employee and this lady gave away billions of tax payer dollars to get a job as payoff. Where is the justice? The courts are crazy and need to be overhauled.
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6494
Let's see if I've got this right. This lady (who is my age) funneled (sandbagged) how many BILLIONS of dollars worth of business to a particular vendor and she basically gets sent to her room?! Uh, huh.
Let me see here now. I've got a procurement worth potentially well in excess of 100 million dollars. I wrote the technical requirements and I get to decide who's technically acceptable. Not some technically ignorant contracting officer. And, I play technical hardball. Contracting officers have never, do not now (nor will they ever) sway my evaluations. So I could "guide" the procurement if I so desired to a certain vendor. Kind of like you did.
Now, if I were to get caught taking a kickback from the vendor the contract was awarded to, I'd at least get the cell block I'd be living in for the next 20 years named after me. That's AFTER losing my federal retirement that is.
Ya know Darleen. There really are some of us who get insulted if "approached" by a vendor. We're called career federal employees. Guess you never heard of us, huh? That's okay sweetie. You enjoy your retirement. We'll try to carry on with out ya.
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6490
And once again nothing happens to Boeing!
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6486
If this was considered a problem, why isn't it considered an even bigger problem for the Vice President to push for war so he can make millions of dollars? Cheney partially owns a company which is performing outsourced military jobs -- and by the way, Cheney is also pushing to outsource even more military and civilian gov't jobs -- why...for the benefit of the country or his pocket? The Vice President definitely benefits by keeping the U.S. at war. Millions of dollars being made off the war is going to a blind trust for Cheney.
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6475
This is absolutely ridiculous! She should be in jail for at least 18 months. Home detention is nothing for a person like this. She will retire and move to South Carolina and stay home with her husband. Boy what a punishment for stealing billions by giving it to Boeing for a job. Boeing should be removed from any government contract that is not a sole source contract for weapons. Boeing is as guilty as she is and should be punished significantly - no contracts other than for weapons. Do not fine Boeing because they simply will pass on the cost of the fine to us taxpayers in higher prices. It is time for GAO to investigate Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and other major weapons systems providers that have gone into systems work and other consulting services to DoD components.
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6473
She gets nine months plus all the filet mignon she can eat, plus when she gets out, she'll still be re-employed by one of her contractor cronies and nobody will notice a thing.
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6471
Finally sentenced one. Well, we all know there are thousands more but we will have to settle for just one. Maybe some other day.
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6469
One token conviction. A thousand Contracting Officers overlooked.
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6466
Sad, but true.
Are there any more like her in high ranking government jobs?
In order to secure post government employment, would managers favor, promote, or hire contractors [over qualified carrrer feds} to fill high level management positions?
You bet!
Ms. Druyun is the tip, of a rather large iceberg.
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