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.

May 24, 2019

Report of Investigation: Brigadier General Norman Cooling, U.S. Marine Corps DODIG-2019-092

Publicly released: June 19, 2019 On February 27, 2018, the U. S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) sent a complaint to the Secretary of Defense stating the Committee had received information from “multiple sources” alleging that Brigadier General (BGen) Norman L. Cooling, United States Marine Corps (USMC), created a hostile work environment through disparaging treatment of personnel that led to a “general distrust” of his impartiality toward women and his overall leadership.

April 25, 2019

Report of Investigation: Mr. Patrick M. Shanahan Acting Secretary of Defense DODIG-2019-082

On March 15, 2019, we initiated an investigation into allegations that Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan, took actions to promote his former employer, Boeing, and disparage its competitors, allegedly in violation of his ethical obligations. We received similar allegations from various referrals.

March 15, 2019

Report of Investigation: Ms. Jill Vines Loftus Senior Executive Service Department of the Navy Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office DODIG-2019-068

We initiated this investigation on January 16, 2018. During our investigation, we also identified an emergent allegation that Ms. Loftus failed to treat her staff with respect. If substantiated, these actions would violate standards summarized throughout this report.

Feb. 21, 2019

Report of Investigation: Ms. Ellen Ardrey Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency DODIG-2019-053

We initiated this investigation into a series of anonymous complaints alleging that Ms. Ellen Ardrey, Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service (DISES), while serving as Director of the Human Development Directorate (HD), National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), circumvented DoD policy and wasted government resources in her management of NGA’s Voluntary Early Retirement Authority and Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments. The complaints asserted that Ms. Ardrey improperly permitted NGA senior officials to downgrade to non-senior official positions within the agency for one pay period, and then paid them $40,000 each as buyout incentives to leave the agency without obtaining required approval from the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (OUSD(P&R)).

Oct. 10, 2018

Report of Investigation John M. Richardson Admiral U.S. Navy DODIG-2019-002

We initiated an investigation that assessed Navy Admiral John M. Richardson’s response to sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations against a member of his personal staff.