Administrative Investigations

Marguerite C. Garrison, Deputy Inspector General for Administrative Investigations

Mission

Administrative Investigations (AI) helps ensure ethical conduct throughout the DoD by conducting investigations and overseeing DoD Component investigations of allegations of misconduct by senior DoD officials, whistleblower reprisal, and Service member restriction from communication with an IG or Member of Congress.  AI also manages the DoD Hotline and the Contractor Disclosure Program, provides education and training on whistleblower protections through its Whistleblower Protection Coordinator, and facilitates voluntary resolution of whistleblower reprisal allegations through its Alternative Dispute Resolution program.

July 11, 2022

Whistleblower Reprisal Investigation: Program Executive Office | Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency | Fort Meade, Maryland (DODIG-2022-111)

Publicly Released: July 13, 2022

We conducted this investigation in response to a reprisal complaint filed with the DoD Hotline by a Complainant, General Grade 15 (GG-15), in the Program Executive Office (PEO) of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) at Fort Meade, Maryland.

June 8, 2022

Report of Investigation: Mr. James M. Branham, Former Chief Operating Officer, Armed Forces Retirement Home (DODIG-2022-100)

The DoD Hotline received a complaint against Mr. James M. Branham, former Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH), on August 15, 2020. The complaint alleged that Mr. Branham sexually harassed subordinate female employees and reprised against a female employee because she rejected his sexual advances. The DoD Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) initiated an investigation into the allegations on November 10, 2020.

May 18, 2022

Whistleblower Reprisal Investigation: Colonel Yevgeny S. Vindman, U.S. Army (DODIG-2022-097)

We conducted this investigation in response to a complaint filed with the DoD Hotline on August 18, 2020, alleging that various administration officials, including former President Donald J. Trump, took actions against Lieutenant Colonel( LTC) YevgenyVindman (the Complainant), U.S. Army, while he was serving at the National Security Council, Washington, D.C., in reprisal for his protected communications.

Nov. 16, 2021

Review of the Department of Defense’s Role, Responsibilities, and Actions to Prepare for and Respond to the Protest and its Aftermath at the U.S. Capitol Campus on January 6, 2021 (DODIG-2022-039)

This report presents the results of the DoD Office of Inspector General (OIG) review of the DoD’s role, responsibilities, and actions to prepare for and respond to the protest and its aftermath at the U.S. Capitol Campus on January 6, 2021.

Oct. 21, 2021

Review of the Selection Process and Administrative Leave of the Former National Security Agency General Counsel (DODIG-2022-002)

This report presents the results of the DoD Office of Inspector General (OIG) review of the selection of Mr. Michael J. Ellis, then-Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Intelligence Programs, National Security Council (NSC), for the civil service position of the National Security Agency (NSA) General Counsel (GC). Specifically, our review examined the process to select Mr. Ellis as the NSA GC and the placement of Mr. Ellis on administrative leave pending an NSA inquiry into alleged security incidents involving Mr. Ellis by General (GEN) Paul M. Nakasone, U.S. Army, U.S. Cyber Command, Commander, and NSA Director.