The wheel keeps turning:
An investigation that found wide-ranging misuse of money at the U.S. Naval Academy was a factor in curtailing the tenure of its outgoing superintendent, the Navy’s chief spokesman said Monday.
The investigative report released Monday found that an improper, off-the-books slush fund was used to pay for tailgate parties, luncheons and other events for senior academy personnel.
Vice Adm. Jeffrey Fowler is leaving the academy this summer after serving as superintendent for 3 years, the minimum term required by statute for the post.
“The outcome of this investigation was a factor in him not serving longer,” said Navy Rear Adm. Denny Moynihan, the Navy’s top spokesman…
The Office of the Naval Inspector General’s 110-page report concluded that the slush fund used by the Naval Academy Business Services Division was “a sham” with little accountability.
There was a lot of that going around.
I’d like to say I was surprised, but after the several fiascos Fowler was intimately involved in, I’m not. Good riddance. Hope the new guy has his head in the right place.
Is Fowler being fired (forced to retire, dismissed from the service), or just denied the opportunity to stay at the Academy?
Ron, it’s likely his last stop. Given the circumstanecs he may retire at his permanent rank rather then at the one he wears.
“Don’t let the door hit ya, where the good Lord split ya” are my parting thoughts for the Admiral. Agreeing with Byron, a man of many fiascos has no business being at CanoeU…lousy example.
It just gets worse and worse. I’m afraid it is unlikely this is a one bad apple problem, and more indicative of a wider rot in the values and senior leadership priorities of the Navy.
Mike Miller will be a breath of fresh air for the Academy. I hope the next CNO will be the right man to address the larger issue for the Navy.
I think this is an absolutely fitting end to Fowler’s turn at the helm.
The hallmark of his superintendency has been an enduring lack of anyone being held responsible for anything.
We had the fiasco of the Academy Color Guard being shuffled to show that our highest priority is diversity. Was anyone held responsible? Not a chance!
We watched a football player who failed a urine test and admitted smoking a blunt. Under the Navy’s Zero Tolerance Policy he faced immediate dismissal. Was he gone?
NOT!
Now we have an investigation that shows clear, and what should surely be actionable financial irregularities. Are people being held accountable? Obviously not.
Fowler has single handedly done more to discredit the Academy as a premier military institution and as a center of academic excellence than anyone could have imagined.
John Paul Jones must be spinning in his grave seeing what has been going on around him day in and day out.
They should put that slush fund money toward Aegis parts.
On the bright side, Navy did beat Army AND Notre Dame.
Sorry, could resist some levity.
Yes they did…with the best team money and dishonor could buy…
… M-6 laid it all out above… a sad day all around…you Alums have my condolences. Best
I’m not an alum, just an admirer. Sad state of affairs.
Well my son, who works out quite a bit, has been complaining that they don’t have enough to eat in the mess hall. Maybe that will now be resolved.
Hey! Don’t want ‘em gaining what they lost at the gym, now do ya? Those ships can only carry so much. Besides, they need the food for the VIPs and the slush fund.
Umm, I hate to be a grammar Nazi (I lie; actually I love it) but I must say to Arse-Admiral Denny, that that should be “in HIS not serving longer.”
It’s as bogus a charge as it gets and I despise that guy. Look at the “representation funds” of the other 3 star staffs why don’t you? CO’s really count on their N4 to keep them out of legal trouble on misuse of appropriated funds. There is only the good judgment of people at the Chief and Ensign [non-CHOP] level to keep them out of the pond with non-appropriated funds.
I learned a lot about appropriated funds and non-appropriated funds when I was much younger. Trained CHOPS would have NOTHING to do with non-appropriated funds on pain of death. They learned that when somebody like Arnheiter comes along they’re going down with the fund.
If this is the bum rap on the man it’s like sending Al Capone to Alcatraz on tax evasion charges. They could have used him alone to set an example for future leaders based on his terrible leadership.
The unenlightened ( Lex Babes included ) out here would very much appreciate it if you could provide a real world translation of “CHOPS”…Best
PorkCHOP, after the shape of their corps insignia. Usage as in “The Chop this and that”.
Many thanks Bill…oh and on the slim chance that some of the Lex Babes remain baffled…let me elucidate…The Naval Supply Corps insignia resembles a pork chop…ergo the Supply Officer is referred to as the CHOP…most exciting revelation. Best
Is it true they used that fund to buy weed that was smoked by…ooops, I mean “near”…members of the football team?
Speaking of karma…
Nose, I guess we will be “flying together” Real Soon Now…
(providing I can convince myself to brave the cold tundra)