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Air Force secretary takes action on DOD IG report
Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley took administrative action against retired Gen. T. Michael Moseley, the former Air Force chief of staff, for his role in the Thunderbird Airshow Production Services contract. The decision follows completion of a Department of Defense Inspector General investigation requested by the Senate Armed Services Committee in April 2008. (U.S. Air Force graphic)
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  MICHAEL B. DONLEY
 GENERAL T. MICHAEL MOSELEY
  MICHAEL W. WYNNE
Air Force secretary takes action on DOD IG report

Posted 10/8/2009 Email story   Print story

    

10/8/2009 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley took administrative action against retired Gen. T. Michael Moseley, the former Air Force chief of staff, for his role in the Thunderbird Airshow Production Services contract.

The decision follows completion of a Department of Defense Inspector General investigation requested by the Senate Armed Services Committee in April 2008.

In December 2005, the contracting office at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., awarded a $50 million contract (including the total value of future options) to Strategic Message Solutions to provide a multimedia presentation for air demonstrations for the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds.

An Air Force review of the source selection in January 2006 identified concerns with the contract process. As a result, Air Force officials terminated the contract with Strategic Message Solutions and requested a Department of Defense Inspector General investigation. The DOD IG investigation, conducted by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, found the contract was tainted with improper influence, irregular contracting practices and preferential treatment for Strategic Message Solutions. Subsequently, then Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne took administrative action on three members, including a general officer, and referred action for two others to their chain of command, for their role in the Thunderbird Airshow Production Services contract. The DOD IG's initial investigation did not contain any substantiated findings against General Moseley.

At the request of Sens. Carl. Levin and John McCain, chairman and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the DOD IG conducted a further review of the conduct of Air Force senior officials and examined General Moseley's conduct with regard to the Thunderbird Airshow Production Services contract. The resulting DOD IG report concluded General Moseley violated well-established standards of conduct in the Joint Ethics Regulation and the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Specifically, he provided preferential treatment to a contractor, Strategic Message Solutions; created the appearance of improper disclosure of nonpublic information to Strategic Message Solutions; misused subordinates' time and government property; and solicited a gift and accepted gifts from a prohibited source. Based on the findings, the DOD IG recommended Secretary Donley consider appropriate corrective action with regard to General Moseley.

As a result of his review of the DOD IG report, Secretary Donley determined administrative action was warranted against General Moseley and administered a letter of admonishment in retirement.

"General Moseley's years of dedicated service temper but do not excuse his failure in this case to live up to the well-established standards of conduct expected of all Airmen," Secretary Donley said. "Everyone is accountable for his or her actions. This is especially so for our senior leaders who must also create an environment where subordinates respect established standards and are willing to engage when things are not right."



tabComments
10/12/2009 10:27:47 AM ET
You're right about it taking too long to close this out...justice perhaps. However 50M was actually spent. That was the amount of the awarded contract to include option years. Once the contract award was protested by the other contractor that submitted a bid the actual execution of the contract was put on hold until the situation could be resolved.
Marc, SWA
 
10/10/2009 6:00:02 PM ET
Scoreboard 0 for 3 on core values.
K Lewis, Nevada
 
10/10/2009 12:38:32 PM ET
Talk about a flogging with a wet noodle Does anyone think Gen. Moseley cares
Gil W., Melbourne FL
 
10/9/2009 8:40:56 PM ET
As if Gen. Moseley could give a good rat's patootie.
Gil W., Florida
 
10/9/2009 8:32:01 PM ET
This is a bunch of BS! Anyone who knows this man knows for a fact that he would not do anything inappropriate or unlawful. He has more integrity and professionalism in his little finger than most Airmen who will ever wear the uniform, and I have the utmost respect for him. This is just more evidence that the folks selected to replace Gen Moseley and Secretary Wynne are just yes men who are willing to do the SECDEF's bidding.
Brian P., The Pentagon
 
10/9/2009 3:21:40 PM ET
Contracts illegally awarded. OneFunds defrauded 50 Million. USAF Core Values violated -- all three! Letter of Admonishment issued in retirement. Criminally irresponsible!
H, Texas
 
10/9/2009 11:54:39 AM ET
What next? This is not the only damage this individual caused the Air Force... What about the failure to reprimand his ACC buddies for the Minot incident? I'm sure the list goes on and on... Once again another senior officer fails to get an appropiate punishment. A crime of this nature nomally warrents jail time.
Bob Bove, Aliquippa.Pa.
 
10/9/2009 10:13:03 AM ET
Maybe Senators Levin and McCain should investigate the DOD IG. It seems to me there was undue command influence and it was against Moseley.
Mike Moran, Kokomo IN
 
10/9/2009 4:11:31 AM ET
What a joke! We give LOAs to Airmen who come to work late twice. Maybe some jail time for the General is in order.
S, Kadena
 
10/8/2009 3:25:54 PM ET
It takes us three years to officially find wrongdoing at which point the individual responsible for 50 MILLION in fraudulent spending receives ... a letter of admonishment. Really
Donald Branum, Colorado Springs
 
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