There's an interesting letter to the editor in this week's edition of Air Force Times. It was written by Brigadier General David Goldfein, who currently serves as Deputy Director of Programs in the Plans Directorate at Air Force Headquarters in Washington.
As you might have guessed, Dave Goldfein is the younger brother of Major General Stephen Goldfein, who was implicated in the "Thunder Vision" contracting scandal. Major General Goldfein received administrative punishment after DoD investigators determined that he helped steer a $50-million audio-visual contract to a firm that included his former boss, General Hal Hornburg, among its partners.
It's comes as no surprise that Brigadier General Goldfein's letter provides a spirited defense of his brother. A few excerpts:
When newspapers across the country grabbed the story and posted Maj. Gen. Stephen Goldfein’s picture all over the news [“Major general disciplined,” April 28], I, along with everyone who has ever served with this officer, was outraged. You see, not only is Maj. Gen. Goldfein the finest officer I have ever known, he is my brother.
[snip]
While readers will think this is just a brother standing up for his sibling, it is really an attempt to allow you to get to know my brother like I do, and perhaps question whether the price he has paid, both personally and professionally, is appropriate given the alleged offense.
First, my brother Steve is a true patriot who embodies the core values of our Air Force: integrity first, service before self, excellence in all we do. From his days as a wing commander at the Air Force Academy to his days commanding at squadron, group and wing levels, he has become well known for his quiet and steady demeanor. He is one of those guys you want to be near when things go south. I have never known him to lose his cool — with maybe one exception, on the golf course ... but it really was a bad shot.
Second, my brother is an honest man. In his 30-year career, I have never known him to do anything other than the right thing. While the recent press has certainly tarnished his reputation, those who know Maj. Gen. Steve Goldfein and have worked with him remain absolutely convinced that in the case of the Nellis contracting issue, he was doing what he has always done: the right thing in his heart for the Air Force and nation. There was no personal gain. There was no agenda. I seriously question whether there was any true influencing (as have others who were there in the room). Why? Because it would be completely out of sync with how he has handled himself and treated his subordinates over the past 30 years.
Dave Goldfein's willingness to stand up for his brother is commendable. Faced with family scandal, I've known other siblings (military and civilian) who made a mad dash for the tall grass. And, Brigadier General Goldfein's letter won't exactly endear him to senior Air Force leaders, suggesting that his brother has paid too high a price for the alleged offense.
For the record, I never served under either of the Goldfein brothers. Friends and former colleagues who have generally give them high marks; I've heard similar stories about Major General Goldfein's reputation for coolness in tough situations. There is little doubt that both are able officers who have served this country well over the past 30 years.
But Dave Goldfein's laudatory description of his brother must be squared against DoD IG's findings on Thunder Vision. Based on months of investigation--and interviews with scores of witnesses--the IG paints a different picture of Major General Goldfein: an officer who leaned hard on the contract selection team and steered the deal toward a firm with close Air Force ties.
From the report, we know that Major General Goldfein tried to assume a greater role in the contracting process, by joining the selection panel. Rebuffed in that attempt, he became an adviser to the team and lobbied tirelessly for the company that eventually won the contract, Strategic Message Services (SMS). The deal--which would provide enhanced audio-visual support for the USAF Thunderbirds--was later cancelled, after rival firms filed a protest.
As an active participant in the contracting process, Major General Goldfein knew that SMS's bid was far higher than those submitted by other firms. He was also aware that the Air Force had the capability to provide the required support "in house," through a training squadron at Hill AFB, Utah. But he kept pushing SMS until the selection team chief finally relented. "Sorry guys, I caved" the officer told his colleagues, after a final meeting with Goldfein. Another participant said the experience left him feeling "dirty."
How was that in the best interest of the Air Force and the nation? Short answer--it wasn't. True, there was no immediate personal gain for General Goldfein, but he was aware that the Thunder Vision plan had strong support from the USAF Chief of Staff, General Michael Moseley. With the chief's personal interest in the project, there was a long-term incentive for Goldfein to steer the project in a direction that Moseley would support.
To be fair, Major General Goldfein strongly disagrees with the report and its findings, disputing some of the comments and actions attributed to him. But his claims go against the testimony of other participants, and the conclusions of the IG.
As for the price he paid, there are many in the Air Force who would say that Steve Goldfein got off easy. He may never see his third star, but he'll still retire with a comfortable pension, and the opportunity for even bigger bucks as a consultant or defense contractor.
Compare that to the Technical Sergeant who was court-martialed for adding $75 to his claim for a Do-It-Yourself (DITY) move. That man lost his career for less than one percent of the Thunder Vision contract.
Like that E-6, Major General Goldfein made a mistake--and was held accountable. There's nothing inappropriate about that. If anything, Goldfein should be thankful that he faced "justice" as a two-star general, and not a Tech Sergeant.
Showing posts with label Maj Gen Stephen Goldfein. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maj Gen Stephen Goldfein. Show all posts
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
Thundervision, Take Two
As expected, The Department of Defense Inspector General has reopened its investigation into the Air Force Thunder Vision contract, with emphasis on the conduct of current and former service officials.
In a letter dated May 2nd, the IG notified the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services that it had reopened its inquiry into the matter. The inspector general's actions came in response to a recent request from the chairman, Michigan Senator Carl Levin, and the panel's ranking Republican, Senator John McCain of Arizona. A copy of the IG letter announcing the new investigation was provided to In From the Cold by Congressional sources.
Levin and McCain asked for another probe of the matter last month, after reviewing the initial report from the inspector general's office. That document detailed a two-year investigation into the contract--dubbed "Thuder Vision"--which covered audio-visual support for the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's precision flying team.
The report detailed attempts by senior officials to steer the contract to a firm with close ties to the service, but it did not reach any findings or recommendations "with regard to the conduct of other, more senior current and former Air Force officials."
Representatives of the IG office refused to speculate on which officials might be the target of the latest inquiry. However, Democratic members of the Senate Armed Services Committee were critical of the Air Force Chief of Staff, General Michael Moseley, who was mentioned in the first report, but not accused on any wrong-doing. The document revealed that General Moseley visited the CEO of the firm that received the contract--just months before it was awarded.
Instead, the IG report implicated five Air Force officials, including Major General Stephen Goldfein, former commander of the Air Warfare Center at Nellis AFB, Nevada. In that post, Goldfein was responsible for both the Thunderbirds and support efforts for the team.
Investigators from the Inspector General's office determined that Goldfein actively attempted to steer the contract to the winning firm, Strategic Message Solutions. After being told that he could not be a member of the selection panel, General Goldfein assumed the role of an advisory, and lobbied heavily for SMS, a Pennsylvania company that included a retired Air Force four-star general, Hal Hornburg, among its partners.
The IG also discovered that Hornburg was present when General Moseley visited the home of Ed Shipley, the CEO of SMS. Moseley and the other participants insist that the Thunderbirds contract never came up during the get-together, which was described as a social event.
But the visit did occur during a one-year "cooling off" period following Hornburg's retirement, a time when he was not supposed to have official contact with Air Force officials. Hornburg also had military ties to Major General Goldfein before leaving active duty. As Commander of Air Combat Command, Hornburg supervised scores of subordinate units and their commanders, including Goldfein and the Air Warfare Center.
As a result of the preliminary IG investigation, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne referred General Goldfein and two other senior officials for administrative action. Two lower-ranking individuals were referred to their chains-of-command for potential punishment.
To date, no criminal charges have been filed in connection with the contract. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Las Vegas declined to prosecute anyone involved in the matter, citing a lack of evidence. It is uncertain if federal prosecutors and the FBI will assist with the latest investigation.
No timeline has been established for completing the new probe. The letter announcing the latest investigation was signed by John Crane, the Assistant Inspector General for Communications and Legislative Liaison.
Investigators began their first look at the Thunderbirds contract in February 2006, after a referral from Mr. Wynne. The referral stemmed from a complaint by another firm that bid on the Thunderbirds project.
As the IG report subsequently revealed, the Air Force awarded the $50 million audio-visual support contract to SMS after extensive lobbying by Goldfein. The "winning" bid was more than twice that of other companies. Pentagon officials later cancelled the contract, after the inspector general's office began its investigation.
The contract called for SMS to provide upgraded video and audio support for the Thunderbirds during air show performances. As part of that plan, the company planned to utilize cameras on the unit's aircraft and on the ground, projecting those images on giant "Jumbotron" video screens. SMS also suggested synchronizing music to maneuvers by the Thunderbirds.
A second inquiry into the Thunder Vision controversy was considered all-but-inevitable, after Senators Levin and McCain submitted their request last month. Air Force magazine's website first reported the new investigation last week, based on information from Pentagon sources. The letter obtained by In From the Cold provides the first, written confirmation that a new probe has begun.
While the new investigation will focus on the conduct of senior officials, it is unclear if the inquiry will extend to related matters, such as the assignment process. This blog reported last week that Major General Goldfein was reassigned twice during the first Thunder Vision probe, moves that may have violated Air Force personnel regulations.
The service's written instruction covering assignments states that personnel are barred from reassignment while under investigation by security forces or the AFOSI. The investigation clause is widely interpreted to mean an inquiry by any investigative organization, military or civilian. Assignments for lower-ranking Air Force members are routinely delayed or cancelled due to investigations.
In a letter dated May 2nd, the IG notified the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services that it had reopened its inquiry into the matter. The inspector general's actions came in response to a recent request from the chairman, Michigan Senator Carl Levin, and the panel's ranking Republican, Senator John McCain of Arizona. A copy of the IG letter announcing the new investigation was provided to In From the Cold by Congressional sources.
Levin and McCain asked for another probe of the matter last month, after reviewing the initial report from the inspector general's office. That document detailed a two-year investigation into the contract--dubbed "Thuder Vision"--which covered audio-visual support for the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's precision flying team.
The report detailed attempts by senior officials to steer the contract to a firm with close ties to the service, but it did not reach any findings or recommendations "with regard to the conduct of other, more senior current and former Air Force officials."
Representatives of the IG office refused to speculate on which officials might be the target of the latest inquiry. However, Democratic members of the Senate Armed Services Committee were critical of the Air Force Chief of Staff, General Michael Moseley, who was mentioned in the first report, but not accused on any wrong-doing. The document revealed that General Moseley visited the CEO of the firm that received the contract--just months before it was awarded.
Instead, the IG report implicated five Air Force officials, including Major General Stephen Goldfein, former commander of the Air Warfare Center at Nellis AFB, Nevada. In that post, Goldfein was responsible for both the Thunderbirds and support efforts for the team.
Investigators from the Inspector General's office determined that Goldfein actively attempted to steer the contract to the winning firm, Strategic Message Solutions. After being told that he could not be a member of the selection panel, General Goldfein assumed the role of an advisory, and lobbied heavily for SMS, a Pennsylvania company that included a retired Air Force four-star general, Hal Hornburg, among its partners.
The IG also discovered that Hornburg was present when General Moseley visited the home of Ed Shipley, the CEO of SMS. Moseley and the other participants insist that the Thunderbirds contract never came up during the get-together, which was described as a social event.
But the visit did occur during a one-year "cooling off" period following Hornburg's retirement, a time when he was not supposed to have official contact with Air Force officials. Hornburg also had military ties to Major General Goldfein before leaving active duty. As Commander of Air Combat Command, Hornburg supervised scores of subordinate units and their commanders, including Goldfein and the Air Warfare Center.
As a result of the preliminary IG investigation, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne referred General Goldfein and two other senior officials for administrative action. Two lower-ranking individuals were referred to their chains-of-command for potential punishment.
To date, no criminal charges have been filed in connection with the contract. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Las Vegas declined to prosecute anyone involved in the matter, citing a lack of evidence. It is uncertain if federal prosecutors and the FBI will assist with the latest investigation.
No timeline has been established for completing the new probe. The letter announcing the latest investigation was signed by John Crane, the Assistant Inspector General for Communications and Legislative Liaison.
Investigators began their first look at the Thunderbirds contract in February 2006, after a referral from Mr. Wynne. The referral stemmed from a complaint by another firm that bid on the Thunderbirds project.
As the IG report subsequently revealed, the Air Force awarded the $50 million audio-visual support contract to SMS after extensive lobbying by Goldfein. The "winning" bid was more than twice that of other companies. Pentagon officials later cancelled the contract, after the inspector general's office began its investigation.
The contract called for SMS to provide upgraded video and audio support for the Thunderbirds during air show performances. As part of that plan, the company planned to utilize cameras on the unit's aircraft and on the ground, projecting those images on giant "Jumbotron" video screens. SMS also suggested synchronizing music to maneuvers by the Thunderbirds.
A second inquiry into the Thunder Vision controversy was considered all-but-inevitable, after Senators Levin and McCain submitted their request last month. Air Force magazine's website first reported the new investigation last week, based on information from Pentagon sources. The letter obtained by In From the Cold provides the first, written confirmation that a new probe has begun.
While the new investigation will focus on the conduct of senior officials, it is unclear if the inquiry will extend to related matters, such as the assignment process. This blog reported last week that Major General Goldfein was reassigned twice during the first Thunder Vision probe, moves that may have violated Air Force personnel regulations.
The service's written instruction covering assignments states that personnel are barred from reassignment while under investigation by security forces or the AFOSI. The investigation clause is widely interpreted to mean an inquiry by any investigative organization, military or civilian. Assignments for lower-ranking Air Force members are routinely delayed or cancelled due to investigations.
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