On July 28, 2022, the DoD OIG’s DoD Hotline hosted the Annual Worldwide Hotline Outreach. More than 275 participants from Government and non-Government hotline programs attended the virtual event, which commemorated whistleblowers for National Whistleblower Appreciation Day and spotlighted best practices, lessons learned, and examples of the greatest challenges facing the hotline oversight community.
Acting DoD Inspector General Sean O’Donnell opened the event by discussing the importance of protecting whistleblower confidentiality. Keynote speaker Emilee Collier, Chief of the Investigation and Prosecution Division at the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, highlighted the ways in which whistleblowers help the oversight community, and how the information they provide helps make investigations more efficient.
DoD Hotline Director Patrick Gookin spoke about the DoD OIG’s Whistleblower of the Year, who opted to remain confidential. He also introduced the DoD OIG’s Cash Award Program, which recognizes and rewards disclosures of suspected fraud, waste, or mismanagement that results in a cost savings to the DoD. Learn more at https://www.dodig.mil/Whistleblower-and-DoD-Hotline/Cash-Awards-Program/.
The event also featured additional presenters from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel and a best practices panel discussion with several representatives from Government oversight organizations.