Objective
We determined whether DoD was effectively
implementing programs to address
workplace violence threats and incidents.
Finding
DoD did not have a comprehensive DoD-wide
program to address workplace violence
threats and incidents. Specifically, DoD
has not developed a workplace violence
prevention and response program for the
entire DoD workforce (military, civilian, and
contractor personnel). In the absence of a
comprehensive DoD-wide workplace violence
program, the Services and the Defense
Threat Reduction Agency used different
approaches to address workplace violence.
This occurred because DoD:
- implemented the Secretary of Defense’s August 2010 final direction, while the Services and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency implemented the Fort Hood review board’s recommendations, and
- did not exercise sufficient oversight to ensure that the Fort Hood and Defense Science Board report recommendations were properly addressed and closed.
As a result, military personnel, DoD civilian
employees, and contractors were not equally
prepared to prevent and respond to an act
of workplace violence, which could
jeopardize their safety during a threat
or incident.
Recommendations
Among other recommendations, we recommend that the
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and
Global Security review and analyze the Fort Hood and Defense
Science Board recommendations and the concurrent internal
reviews conducted by the Military Departments, Combatant
Commands, and DoD Components to:
- verify that existing policies and procedures have addressed identified gaps and deficiencies; identify systemic issues not addressed; and identify opportunities for streamlining processes and eliminating redundancies; and
- develop and execute an implementation plan to close existing gaps and deficiencies through cross-functional coordination with DoD Components; employ corrective action to remedy systemic issues identified; streamline processes and eliminate redundancies; and provide completion dates for any outstanding recommendations.
Management Comments and Our Response
The Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland
Defense and Global Security provided comments on the report
but did not address Recommendation 1.a or 1.b. The Acting
Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
provided comments on the report but did not address
Recommendation 2. Comments from the Director, Defense
Procurement and Acquisition Policy partially addressed
Recommendation 3. As a result of management comments,
we renumbered Recommendation 2 as Recommendation 2.a,
added Recommendation 2.b, and revised Recommendation 3.
Therefore, we request the Acting Under Secretary of Defense
for Personnel and Readiness, Acting Assistant Secretary
of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security,
and Director, Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy
provide additional comments on the recommendations by
November 16, 2015.
This report is a result of Project No. D2014-D000RF-0078.000.