From: NAVNEWS@nctamslant.navy.mil (Navy News Service)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans
Subject: Navy News Service - 24 Sep 92
Date: 26 Sep 1992 21:24:05 -0500
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

NAVY NEWS SERVICE - 24 SEP 1992 - NAVNEWS 045/92
     Editor's Note
     This Navy News Service message follows NAVNEWS 044/92, DTG
232300Z Sep 92.   NAVNEWS 045/92 is being released as a means of
providing more timely information to the fleet; we will release
news when it is news.
NNS103.  SECNAV O'Keefe Addresses DoD IG Report on Tailhook
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Acting Secretary of the Navy Sean O'Keefe
announced Navy actions in response to the findings of the DoD
Inspector General's report on the Navy's investigation of Tailhook
1991 in a news conference held here Sept. 24.  
     "On June 18, 1992 former Navy Secretary H. Lawrence Garrett,
III asked the Department of Defense Inspector General to review the
Navy's investigations of Tailhook '91 and to conduct additional
investigations as necessary to ensure a thorough and independent
review.  This step was taken to eliminate any possible question
regarding the fairness and completeness of the investigation.   
     Earlier today, Derek Vander Schaaf, the Deputy DoD IG, issued
a review of the Navy Department's investigatory efforts.  The DoD
IG has stated that a second report addressing the actions at the
September 1991 Tailhook convention will be issued at a later date.
The report that Mr. Vander Schaaf released today raises some
significant questions about the Department of the Navy's
performance in investigating the Tailhook incident.
     It is vital that confidence in the naval service is maintained
by the public, Congress and ourselves. Most importantly, we owe it
to the sailors and Marines who keep the vigil in the Persian Gulf,
stand watch off the coast of Sarajevo, and are helping rebuild
south Florida.  These are the men and women whose courage inspires
confidence.  This afternoon I am announcing a number of steps to
ensure that the public trust in them remains steadfast.
     These actions will improve our ability to promptly and
objectively examine allegations, to publicly acknowledge when
shortcomings are found and, most importantly, to take whatever
corrective actions are necessary.
     Our intention is to guarantee that future investigations:
      -- are thorough and objective
      -- are legally sound
      -- have clear findings and
      -- carry solid conclusions and recommendations
     I remind you that today's report is only one step in the
process. The DoD IG is still working on the findings of the events
at the Tailhook convention in September 1991.  We are pledged to
taking appropriate action when we receive that report.  Within the
bounds of law, those whom investigations identify as being 
involved in criminal wrongdoing or violating the high standards of
conduct will be held accountable. I cannot predict when this report
will be forthcoming or speculate about what its contents might be.
     I need to emphasize a very important message -- We get it. We
know that the larger issue is a cultural problem which has allowed
demeaning behavior and attitudes towards women to exist within the
Navy Department.  Over the past two and a half months, the Navy
Department has pursued an aggressive campaign to address this
issue.  
     -- During the months of July and August, over one million men
and women, both military and civilian, of the Navy and Marine Corps
were required to take part in training regarding core values, human
dignity, sexual harassment and the alcohol abuse which so often is
a precursor of untoward behavior.  
     -- We have formed a Standing Committee on Military and
Civilian Women in the Department of the Navy. They are already hard
at work identifying ways of enhancing professional opportunities
for women; promoting respect for the rights, concerns and
contributions of women; and eliminating demeaning behavior. The
Committee will report to me no later than September 30th on a
series of potential initiatives which we announced last week.
     -- Our senior leadership is totally committed to confronting
this problem and demonstrating that sexual harassment will not be
tolerated -- those who don't get the message will be driven from
our ranks.
     We are pleased that Chairman Aspin's House Armed Services
Committee report last week recognized that the Naval service has a
program in place that will result in a successful fight against
sexual harassment just as we overcame racial inequality and drug
problems in the past.  Their caveat is that the program must be
methodically pursued and carried out -- I assure you it will be.
     The DoD IG's report issued today, however, is designed to
address a different aspect of the problem -- the Navy Department's
performance in investigating the events in Las Vegas in September
1991 -- it is, if you will, the results of an investigation into
the investigation.
     It is apparent that the problems experienced in the Tailhook
investigation, in large part, came from inadequate coordination
among the various organizations conducting investigations,
insufficient provision for oversight by the senior leadership, and
in some instances lack of experience in investigatory practice.
     While I have no personal knowledge of what transpired last
winter and spring -- since I was then the Department of Defense
Comptroller -- the clear picture I get from reading the DoD IG's
report is that despite all the people who were involved in the
Navy's investigations, no one was clear as to who was in charge. 
     In addition, in an examination of the problems of this and
other investigations, questions arose regarding the organization
and structure of the Department's investigative arms.
     To address all of these issues, I am taking a number of
immediate steps.  
     -- I am strengthening the independence and expertise of the
NIS. I am replacing the Navy one star admiral position of
Commander, Naval Investigative Service with a senior executive
service civilian who will now report directly to the Secretary of
the Navy.  We have begun a search for a seasoned law enforcement
professional to assume that position.  As such, this civilian
director will be better able to investigate uniformed officials of
any rank with independence. This professional will have as deputies
two senior line officers, one each from the Navy and Marine Corps. 
I would expect the new head of this organization to quickly review
its structure and senior management for other necessary changes to
enhance its professionalism.   
     Rear Admiral Duvall M. Williams will be replaced as Commander
of the Naval Investigative Service Command. He has requested
retirement and I have granted that request.
     The NIS will be renamed the "Naval Criminal Investigative
Service."  In order that the NCIS keep its attention on its primary
mission of criminal investigations we are examining the extent to
which it should be divested of other responsibilities.  As an
example, I have asked the DOD IG to take over responsibility for
procurement fraud investigations now conducted by NIS.  
     -- I am increasing the authority of and resources available to
the Naval Inspector General.  Future Inspectors General will be
officers of the three-star, Vice Admiral level -- thereby upgrading
the position from the present two-star status.  To ensure their
independence and objectivity, they will know that this assignment
will be their final job while on active duty.  We are preparing
nomination papers for an incumbent three star admiral to assume
this position and will soon ask that his name be submitted to the
U.S. Senate for confirmation.    
     Rear Admiral George W. Davis, the Naval Inspector General will
be reassigned as soon as the Senate confirms the three-star officer
who will shortly be nominated to serve as the IG.  He will continue
in office in the interim.
     In order to ensure that the IG has the information and assets
available to him that he needs, I am directing that officers in the
field who are now performing IG functions at lower echelon commands
within the Department of the Navy, and who now report directly to
the commands at which they are assigned, be given "additional duty"
orders to the staff of the Naval IG. These additional duties will
include keeping the Naval IG informed on the initiation of
significant or otherwise sensitive investigations, keeping the
chain of command apprised of the status of cases, requesting
support and technical expertise when needed, and assisting in the
conduct of investigations when requested by the Naval IG.   This
will increase the flow of information among IGs and give the Naval
IG additional resources upon which to call.  These second echelon
Igs have available to them several hundred military and civilian
personnel who can be called upon when needed for investigations. 
In essence, the Naval IG will be the first among equals in the
investigation business and will receive priority on all tasks
assigned.  This is going to be a thankless task, but a job that is
crucial to maintaining the naval service's objectivity.
     -- In addition:
     Rear Admiral John E. Gordon, will step down as the Judge
Advocate General of the Navy, the senior uniformed lawyer. He has
requested retirement and I have granted that request.
     I am continuing to review the IG's report and will be
considering additional administrative or disciplinary action for
individuals whose performance has been called into question.  
     The Inspector General's report further recommends that I
consider whether the Under Secretary should continue in his current
leadership role.  I have done so, and it is my conclusion that he
should continue as Under Secretary of the Navy.  I make that
decision based on his proven skills in the job and his future value
to the Navy.
     In this case, he was relegated to the task of being a referee,
because he relied upon those with professional expertise in
investigative matters.  These professionals failed him.  They did
not give him the support and advice that he needed to properly stay
on top of the investigation.  It became an impossible task to
coordinate an effort in which the individual investigative arms
refused to cooperate with each other.
     I continue to have confidence in his ability to serve me and
the Navy. 
     -- I am also establishing a position on my staff as Special
Advisor to the Secretary for Investigations.  This individual will
be charged with advising me on steps necessary to ensure that
appropriate policy is developed and implemented on investigatory
practice.  This advisor will ensure that there is full coordination
and cooperation among the criminal and non-criminal investigative
arms of the Navy Department.
     The Special Advisor will see to it that investigations of a
sensitive and significant nature receive my attention and that of
appropriate top-level officials.  When necessary, the Special
Advisor will recommend the expansion of investigatory efforts 
-- but will never inhibit or impede ongoing investigations.  The
Advisor will also be alert to the need, when appropriate, to
recommend that the Secretary ask for outside help from the FBI and
other organizations.  Among the other tasks of this person will be
to identify ways to improve the professionalism within the
investigative branches of the Navy Department including improved
training and report writing.  Let me stress that this will be a
single advisor on my staff, and will not entail setting up a new
layer of bureaucracy.  This will also be a thankless job because
the primary task is to raise a red flag to the senior Navy
leadership when investigations appear to be falling apart or
bogging down due to bureaucratic infighting or negligence.
     So that we can get to work immediately on setting up the
office of the Special Advisor, I have asked Mr. Manny Briskin to
assume those duties on an interim basis.  Mr Briskin retired in
June after 32 years of civil service.  He was chief counsel to the
DoD IG for the past ten years and was assistant General Counsel of
the DoD for twenty years.  His extraordinary experience will be of
great value to us as we set up this new office. 
     Before closing and taking your questions, I want to emphasize
the seriousness with which we are tackling this task.  We are
absolutely committed to ensuring that Navy Department
investigations are unquestionably thorough, objective and fair. 
With the initiatives I have announced today, I believe they will
be.
     The first phone call I made on July 7th after being named
Acting Secretary of the Navy was to the Deputy DoD IG.  In that
conversation I told Derek Vander Schaaf that the Department of the
Navy would be totally supportive of his investigation.  I stressed
that he should let me know if anyone in the Department of the Navy
failed to cooperate.  He did not.  I assured him that the Navy
Department personnel would be fully responsive in this effort -- we
want to get to the bottom of this issue.  
     Beyond any doubt, this has been the most difficult and
agonizing issue I have wrestled with during my years in public
service.  I have done much soul searching about the proper course
of action that is fair and appropriate for the country, the naval
service and the individuals directly affected.
     We owe it to the American people to do our very best to
improve our performance as a Department." 
     Questions and answers from the press briefing have been
provided via SECDEF message DTG 242230Z Sep 92.
Story released by OASD(PA)           
                               -USN-

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