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What's happening in the federal IT community
By Friday, June 20, 2008 | 5:24 PM
Nextgov's Editor at Large Bob Brewin broke the story this week that the Defense Department planned to withdraw the nomination of Rear Adm. Elizabeth Hight to be the next director of the Defense Information Systems Agency. The reason: Hight's husband, retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Gary Salisbury, is vice president of business development and sales for Northrop Grumman's mission systems sector, defense mission systems division. Northrop Grumman is Defense's third-largest contractor, according to a ranking of Defense contractors compiled annually by Government Executive.
At least one senator on the Armed Services Committee thought the relationship presented a conflict of interest and pushed to have Hight's nomination withdrawn.
The reaction to the rejection of Hight, who was considered one of the strongest candidates for the job but will continue to serve as DISA's deputy director, was disappointment mixed with a tinge of irritation. Bernie Skoch, a consultant with Suss Consulting in Jenkintown, Pa., and a retired Air Force general who served a tour at DISA, told Brewin he believed that Hight and Salisbury could have kept their professional lives separate from their personal lives.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Charles Croom, DISA's current director who plans to retire July 22, expressed regret that Hight will not succeed him. She "would have been the most qualified director we have ever had," he said.
DISA purchases hundreds of millions of dollars worth of information technology hardware and services every year, the kind of hardware and services that Northrop Grumman sells. This seems like a slam-dunk definition of a conflict of interest, despite what people say are Hight's rock-solid qualifications. It's hard to see Hight and Salisbury not having to explain over and over again the uncomfortable relationship to the IT industry and even the Hill. But it would be good to hear from you. Did the Senate make the right decision?
Comments
When I was being trained as an acquisition professional with the Marine Corps there was always stress placed on the term/phrase "even if there is the appearance of impropriety it should be avoided". It was almost the theme of the Marine Corps Acquisition Excellence day in 2006. Defense Acquisition University (DAU) also teaches the same mantra. It seems like the only decision that could be made in keeping with those current teachings. I think we can all recall what happened with the Air Force civilian Darleen Druyun and her daughter. If decision makers knowingly create a similar situation and something happens again then it will be their fault as much as the perpetrators this time. She may be very well qualified for the positions but we have a lot of very well qualified Generals and I don't feel as though DISA will suffer under any of them. Instead of her recusing herself or trying to attempt to explain how they would handle/avoid COI, maybe he should just step down from his position...but that would eat into the 500k+ they make a year as a family and could put them in a financial bind.
WTB | Thursday, June 26, 2008 | 2:55 PMYES they did complete conflict of interest unfortunet but a good call.
Jose Martinez | Wednesday, June 25, 2008 | 12:09 PMThe conflict of interest concern should be in effect in her position as Deputy as well, and would definitely be questioned on every decision as the Director. The right thing to do would be for her husband to resign from his position and do something outside the defense sector for awhile to reduce or eliminate the conflict of interest perception. Croom has done so much for improving DISA's quality fo operations and its reputation. Hight also has a stellar reputation. It is a shame that she will not get the opportunity to serve this nation in a position where she can do the most good.
JM | Wednesday, June 25, 2008 | 7:05 AMAbsolutely!
JE | Tuesday, June 24, 2008 | 9:13 AMDid the Senate make the right decision? I hesitantly agree. Hight may very well have been the best person for the job. Unfortunately, we live in an era where we and our leaders must avoid the appearance of impropriety.
Jack H | Tuesday, June 24, 2008 | 9:08 AMI have know Adm Hight for 24 years and also served with Gen Salisbury.
Given the nature of the positions I think it is reasonable to have Adm Hight explain how they would avoid conflict of interest. We do this when a company is making a proposal on which another part of the company may have "insider knowledge." We call it "firewalling."
Adm Hight is unquestionably not only extremely well qualified for the position, but also an extremely ethical professional.
We are hurting ourselves by depriving DISA of her leadership as director.
skm | Tuesday, June 24, 2008 | 8:38 AMIt seems to me that if there was concern about conflict of interest, it exists whether or not she is Director or the Deputy. All she would need to do is to recuse herself from decisions where there would be a potential conflict.
Once again, our political leaders are being political rather than looking out for what makes logical, business sense. She should have the opportunity to be the Director and recuse herself, as appropriate, when needed.
Croom is one of the best things that ever happened to DISA - it's too bad the services have their "three year" "rule". Three years is hardly time to get started in a huge organization. If Hight were to succeed Croom, at least there would be an opportunity for the good things he started to continue.
A person who would like DISA to continue to improve | Tuesday, June 24, 2008 | 8:13 AMconcurr never heard of anybody who was married not conversing unless thry are divorced
lemick | Tuesday, June 24, 2008 | 6:17 AMNot only yeah, but heck yeah! I'm sorry but there is no way that the appearance of conflict of interest can possibly be avoided. I've been told over and over that no one is so good that no one else can do their job. There is always someone else who qualified to do the job. I'm amazed that Hight is allowed to be the Deputy Director. Can you tell me that the DD doesn't also have a lot of influence at DISA?
Bill B | Monday, June 23, 2008 | 2:12 PMThe individual's qualifications have nothing to do with the existence or non-existence of a conflict of interest. This situation would be tailor-made for a conflict of interest and I do think the right decision was made. Which is scary since I seldom agree with Congress on anything.
James | Monday, June 23, 2008 | 1:15 PMHow sad that a Woman, Navy GO will not get this post. Her husband should have resigned so she could keep this post.
Sunny | Monday, June 23, 2008 | 11:04 AMYes, I do believe this was the right decision. Consider last months GAO report: Post-government employment of Defense contracting officials could pose conflict of interest. I understand she would have been a qualified director but it would have been a difficult thing to keep separate in the household and clearly a conflict of interest.
Susie M | Monday, June 23, 2008 | 10:30 AMI believe it's the right decision. Whenever Northrup Grumman got a contract from DISA, there would always be the appearance of a conflict of interest. There are even concerns with her ability to influence contracts as deputy director.
Erich Darr | Monday, June 23, 2008 | 10:06 AMAgain the Senate fouls up again. Put her in charge and worry about conflict of interest later. Congress does that day-in-day-out. Nothing new with them.
Vernon Ferris | Monday, June 23, 2008 | 9:11 AMI was Commander Hights CMC at her first command, and there is no way she would allow her husband’s position to sway her in any way. She is the most principled commander I ever worked for and not selecting her as the director of DISA is an absolute travesty.
Robert M. Jett FCCM(SW) USN RET | Saturday, June 21, 2008 | 7:12 PMI'm not as concerned with the decision as I am the precednce that it sets. If you beleive that the senate made the correct decision then they need to hold this standard to the rest of the community, which means going back and resolving all the current conflicts. Does the VP of the US have a conflict with the Bechtel? Does the VADM have any less of a perceived conflict within her current potition?
dave | Saturday, June 21, 2008 | 10:09 AM