Money misuse at USNA a factor in Fowler's ouster as Superintendent

[scoutpilot]

goldfarb, scout, count me in.

It's not the reporting, it's the wild ass supposition "editorials" which accompany it that shows his hand. Scout, I do believe you are totally correct.

Why thank you, kind sir.

[delete].

P.S. - Mongo, if you're going to those tailgates, I want in. I'll even wear my black & gold "Old Grad" shirt and you can poke fun at me, as long as I get some lobster and bubbly.

 

[Mongo]

P.S. - Mongo, if you're going to those tailgates, I want in. I'll even wear my black & gold "Old Grad" shirt and you can poke fun at me, as long as I get some lobster and bubbly.

Someone did screw up the invitation list and invite me to two of the Supt's tailgates. I wasn't a math major but I have contributed about 12k to the chapel renovation and another 12k to athletics over the past several years and I probably got $50 worth of funny-looking sandwiches and a few shrimp (at least the beer was good). So what was their return on investment?

Luigi is the only person I know who can chastise someone for reading comprehension in one sentence and in another blame Adm Fowler for something that has been going on for the past SIX years. It used to kinda upset me but I have now come to find it kinda comical.

The 12k to athletics does get me 50yd line club seats at A/N. I may have an extra seat. However, the loser has to wear the winners colors for the remainder of the day. Maybe I can get us in the Supt's tailgate.

 

[scoutpilot]

Someone did screw up the invitation list and invite me to two of the Supt's tailgates. I wasn't a math major but I have contributed about 12k to the chapel renovation and another 12k to athletics over the past several years and I probably got $50 worth of funny-looking sandwiches and a few shrimp (at least the beer was good). So what was their return on investment?

Luigi is the only person I know who can chastise someone for reading comprehension in one sentence and in another blame Adm Fowler for something that has been going on for the past SIX years. It used to kinda upset me but I have now come to find it kinda comical.

The 12k to athletics does get me 50yd line club seats at A/N. I may have an extra seat. However, the loser has to wear the winners colors for the remainder of the day. Maybe I can get us in the Supt's tailgate.

And also admonish someone for reading comprehension when he himself didn't comprehend it!

I'm down for the bet! A/N if nothing else is a chance to brave terrible weather and warm myself with booze, which incidentally makes Army football more bearable. Also, if he really did help your football team so much, send Fowler up to Woo Poo U., since I'm sure those of us who endured winless seasons would be willing to let him try his hand at things.

 

[Luigi59]

It used to kinda upset me but I have now come to find it kinda comical.
.

I find it comical that you are seemingly giving approval to the mismanagement of funds that occurred under Fowler's watch.

But it's not surprising. Comical, yes. But not surprising.

I'm your target, your way of avoiding commenting on Fowler and his failed legacy. I understand completely.

 

[scoutpilot]

I'm your target, your way of avoiding commenting on Fowler and his failed legacy. I understand completely.

I hate a failed legacy. Ruins my day.

Luigi, are you a USCGA grad?

 

[Mongo]

............booze, which incidentally makes Army football more bearable.

What goes around will come around. I lost three B-robes to you guys. And gave up and didn't bet the year we won.

 

[Mongo]

I'm your target, your way of avoiding commenting on Fowler and his failed legacy. I understand completely.

Luigi, I have "been there, done that". Have you?

I know that in the Navy that the Captain of the ship is responsible even if he is in his cabin asleep getting a well deserved two hours when the ship runs aground. I seriously doubt if Adm Fowler was aware of any of these accounting errors.

I have no idea what happened. I will reserve judgement until I do. I do know that there are dozens of "pots of money" at USNA. I do know that DON accounting is unwieldly. I do know that most departments, including accounting is undermanned. I do know that people with less than the big picture can somnetimes get creative. I think the news articles state that there was no intentional misuse. Why don't we wait until we know at least a few facts before we crucify Adm FOwler for everything that has happened in the past six years. Unless we have another agenda, that is.

 

[goldfarb1]

Do you know much about college football? How many BOWL games do you think they play each year?

The article I read said "games," not "bowls." I guess this is more of an issue with accurate media .

But those lobster tails, shrinp cocktail, and champagne tailgates were enough for him to buy your support, huh?

I like shrinp cocktails. Maybe we can have shrinp cocktails at our next scout minion party.

 

[kp2001]

This thread is done. Obviously people can't let things go and blow things up....enough is enough... quit dragging personal beefs into threads on this forum. If you have a problem with an individual please bring it to the attention of a mod. Warnings/Infractions will be coming when I get the time to sift through the mess you guys have made of this forum.




----------THREAD RE-OPENED-------
Play nice or it will be closed again. Think twice before hitting reply and avoid any personal conflicts.

 

[scoutpilot]

Mongo, I still want shrimp.

 

[Maximus]

Not to start a turd storm but, from the rest of that Navy Times article, it clearly states that the "slush Fund" was created in 2007, Fowler's tenure...if my Marine Corps math is correct
And he did use it to buy a $1,000 of wine for a party at his residence.


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"The IG’s probe found that a fund set up by the academy’s business services division to cover many entertainment expenses was “an unauthorized, off-the-books account that is improper on its face. Its existence is a sham, and it was used much as in the business definition of a ‘slush fund,’ i.e., to pay for things from a pool of money with little accountability required,” IG concluded.

The fund was created in April 2007, using about $95,000 of corporate sponsorship money that the academy received for participation in the 2006 Meineke Car Care Bowl football game, the IG report said.

Fowler explained to the IG that he did not see any fundamental problem with using government money to pay for events that the IG concluded were “extravagant and wasteful.”

“I don’t know the technicalities, but the concept of us doing special things for the people who work here in my mind is not a bad thing,” Fowler told the IG investigators.

Although Moynihan would not specify if other “factors” led to Fowler’s early departure, the superintendent’s tenure has been fraught with controversy.

Last year he was criticized for allowing a pregnant midshipman to graduate despite the academy’s clear prohibition against being pregnant while enrolled there.

Also last year, the administration scrambled to explain why it replaced white members of the school’s color guard with minority students for a nationally televised appearance at the World Series in New York.

Fowler has also been criticized for prioritizing the academy’s athletic program over its academics. Earlier this year, he permitted a star football player who tested positive for marijuana to stay at the academy despite the Navy’s purported “zero-tolerance” drug policy. The athlete, Midshipman 3rd Class Marcus Curry, later left the academy after additional allegations of misconduct."


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BTW, what's the big deal about the tractor trailer? All teams have one as does West Point?

 

[Christcorp]

My one and only post on this subject. After reading the links, other links I looked for on my on, and all the posts on this thread, there is no doubt in my mind of 2 things.
1) Fowler committed a lot of inproprieties
2) He was well liked, and therefore, there's quite a bit of rationalizing in his defense.
But who knows, maybe I'm just prejudice against the Navy.
"Go Air Force, Beat Navy".

 

[Mongo]

Not to start a turd storm but, from the rest of that Navy Times article, it clearly states that the "slush Fund" was created in 2007, Fowler's tenure...if my Marine Corps math is correct ...............................
The fund was created in April 2007,

Fowler's tenure began in September of 2007. The name of the person who originally authorized the account has been intentionally withheld.

 

[Mongo]

There is the main problem.....those words....Defense Contractor.....is a big NO NO!

Defense contractors donate all the time. They just have do disclose such. Next time you are in Jack Stephens (class of '47) Field at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, take a look at who donated the scoreboards, Lockheed-Martin. The defense industry contributes a lot to the science and engineering departments

From the article:

Bentley's company is listed as a defense contractor in the Federal Procurement Data System. While the report notes it had no large federal contracts, the company has been a supplier to the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps during the past decade.

The investigator asked if the donor had any government contracts, and Parsons said the donor told him he had none.

"Well, that's something that someone will have to verify," the investigator said during the interview. "But of course, because if he is a defense contractor, that's another aspect of all the ethical issues that we would have."

Is someone who has no current contracts, a true 'defense contractor'?

His company:
http://trident-metals.com/

A national stocking distributor for Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Carbon and Alloy Steel, Copper, Beryllium Copper, Brass, Bronze, Nickel, Titanium and many exotic alloys. Plate, Sheets, coils, bars, Rods, Tubing, Pipe and many other shapes in stock. While other distributors offer limited metal choices, Trident stocks both common and hard to find metals, in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.


Our service centers provide precision sawing, boring, honing, turning, cutting, slitting, sheeting, shearing, and saw work to each customer's specifications.

He is a supplier to the manufacturing industry. The Navy has not been in the manufacturing business for a very long time. His government business is probably so limited as not to provide profits for that single $1000 wine purchase. Hardly the place to go for one seeking to enhance his business.

 

[Luigi59]

Defense contractors donate all the time. They just have do disclose such.

Exaclty. And this one was not disclosed, which makes it "improper" to say the least, and "illegal" to say the most.

Is someone who has no current contracts, a true 'defense contractor'?

Yes, absolutley. The rules are in place for those who HAVE contracts, and those who may be trying to WIN contracts.

You may want to peruse the Federal Acquisition Regulations, and pay attention to Part 3 (Improper Business Practices and Personal Conflicts of Interest)

His company:
http://trident-metals.com/

He is a supplier to the manufacturing industry. The Navy has not been in the manufacturing business for a very long time. His government business is probably so limited as not to provide profits for that single $1000 wine purchase. Hardly the place to go for one seeking to enhance his business.

As far as we know.

As Fowler was derelict in his duty to overseas such donations (and the benefits) to and from this wealthy defense contractor, we don't know how far this influence peddling scandal will reach.

The USG contracting world is littered with those who seek to influence DOD contracts by splurging large monetary gifts and donations upon the Govt.

And so are the prisons.

$30,000 chandeliers at the Supe's residence, and $100,000 in fine wines to serve at dinner parties sounds like a LOT of "influence."

Next time you are in Jack Stephens (class of '47) Field at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, take a look at who donated the scoreboards, Lockheed-Martin.

Next time you are in the Supe's residence, take a look at who donated the 2 chandeliers - shocker, we don't know as they were part of the hidden slush fund.

 

[Maximus]

Fowler's tenure began in September of 2007. The name of the person who originally authorized the account has been intentionally withheld.

Calm down, I'm not trying slander the man, only put the reported facts together, the dates are all real close and if it was created only a month or two before he officially started, and he used it...he should have known IMVHO.

As I'm sure you'll remember, my honor thingie forces me to not like a lot of the policy at the Naval Academy over the last few of years. While I have not: "been there or done that", I have been there to visit with my DS during NASS, and indirectly felt some of the "new" policies effecting my son applying for the Academy. DS son also lost out on a 2% waiver so, maybe subconsciously I don't like him? Nah...I'm seriously much more pleased that DS took his Appointment at West Point.

I've also met the Supes boss socially and we have a good friend (ret 2 star) that is friends with Fowler, so, I do have some opinion to offer.
Seems to me this ain't gonna go away either, I think Fowler has a few enemies at this point. You know he doesn't want to leave at 3 years....on the dot....covering his positions minimum requirement? No way Jose!
I feel sorry for the guy, great career and a few higher up pay grades forced him to push an agenda, and he's ultimately taking the hit. I doubt he didn't realize this could be down the road when he took on that agenda.
IMVVHO and purely speculation.

 

[Maximus]

Defense contractors donate all the time. They just have do disclose such. Next time you are in Jack Stephens (class of '47) Field at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, take a look at who donated the scoreboards, Lockheed-Martin. The defense industry contributes a lot to the science and engineering departments

From the article:

Is someone who has no current contracts, a true 'defense contractor'?

His company:
http://trident-metals.com/

He is a supplier to the manufacturing industry. The Navy has not been in the manufacturing business for a very long time. His government business is probably so limited as not to provide profits for that single $1000 wine purchase. Hardly the place to go for one seeking to enhance his business.

You might want to look at the link provided on the Trident site, taking you to 'their other' company and it clearly state they have military contracts.

http://www.altair-co.com/

 

[hawkspoofer]

Is someone who has no current contracts, a true 'defense contractor'?

His company:
http://trident-metals.com/

Yes sir, the Richardson Trident Company not only is a defense contractor, but is listed as an authorized vendor for Metal Stock through the Defense Logistics Agency.

"186. We separately determined that is the t of The Richardson Trident Company, a privately-held metals supply and services company, and its subsidiary, The Altair Company, which deals in plastics and electronics. Trident’s headquarters is in Richardson, TX, but it operates 15 other sales and warehouse locations nationwide. The Federal Procurement Data System lists The Richardson Trident Company as a defense contractor and contains information on contracts between Trident and DOD activities. There are no large contracts, but Trident has been a supplier to the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps during the 2000’s."

Read the whole report below, looks like more then $1,000 dollar wine tab's were at stake.


http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/acrobat/2010-06/54648563.pdf

 

[Luigi59]

I am under the impression that the two crystal chandeliers that were donated are the ones I have seen at the Naval Academy Club. Beautiful items by the way.

Donated, yes, (off the books and hidden from public scrutiny) by the wealthy Texas defense contractor!

"The donor was known to insiders at the academy as a generous alumnus who once provided nearly $100,000 so "fine wines" could be served during receptions at the superintendent's house, the report said. He maintained such a close relationship with Robert Parsons, the academy's deputy for finance, that he kept a sport utility vehicle at Parsons' home for use when the Texas donor was in Annapolis."

"Parsons also failed to properly get documentation for two Waterford crystal chandeliers purchased by the donor at an estimated value of between $20,000 and $30,000 each, investigators found.

Investigators also found that the SUV should have been viewed as a gift because Parsons kept the vehicle at his home, even if he didn't use it."

 

[scoutpilot]

The amusing subtext in this thread, to me, is that anyone thinks the same sorts of things don't happen at the other Academies, both great and small.