H
Harry Hope
Guest
"Whatever the reason for the suicide, this is going to contribute to a
widespread perception that something is not right about the Air Force
acquisition system," said Loren Thompson at the Virginia-based
Lexington Institute.
"Riechers was under some suspicion because of an expose in the press,
but it certainly didn't rise to the level of a serious scandal, so his
apparent suicide is hard to explain," Thompson added.
Riechers' predecessor, Darleen Druyun, served nine months in jail in
2005 for violating federal conflict of interest laws by taking a job
with Boeing while still overseeing billions of dollars of its work for
the Air Force.
That scandal prompted Congress to scrap a $23.5 billion tanker deal
with Boeing.
From Reuters, 10/15/07:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/airforce_death_dc
Senior Air Force purchasing official found dead
By Andrea Shalal-Esa
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -
The U.S. Air Force's No. 2 acquisition official, facing scrutiny for a
temporary job arranged by the service while he awaited Senate
confirmation, was found dead at his home in an apparent suicide,
according to an internal Air Force memo obtained by Reuters on Monday.
"Mr. Riechers was found deceased in his home, cause of death appears
to be suicide, time of death is unknown," said the memo, which was
issued late Sunday.
Charles Riechers became the principal deputy assistant secretary for
acquisition at the Air Force in January 2007 after working two months
for defense contractor Commonwealth Research Institute.
The Air Force had no immediate comment.
The Washington Post reported earlier this month that Riechers was
hired by Commonwealth Research Institute at the request of the Air
Force while Riechers was out of work and awaiting Senate confirmation
for his new position.
The job paid $13,400 a month.
Commonwealth Research Institute has close ties to the Pentagon and has
received hundreds of millions of dollars in military grants and
contracts in recent years, according to the October 1 Post report.
"I really didn't do anything for CRI," Riechers told the newspaper.
"I got a paycheck from them."
At the time, the Air Force downplayed the report, saying the temporary
job was a common arrangement to help the service under an existing
contract.
A spokeswoman also said Riechers had been quoted out of context.
But Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, a Michigan
Democrat, criticized the deal and asked the Air Force to explain the
arrangement.
New questions arose on Friday about Commonwealth Research Institute
when Pemco Aviation Group amended its protest of a $1.2 billion
contract awarded to Boeing Co for maintenance of a fleet of 450 KC-135
aerial refueling tankers.
Pemco raised questions about a possible conflict of interest in the
award because of ties between Commonwealth Research Institute, its
parent Concurrent Technologies, and Boeing.
SETBACK
One defense analyst said Riechers' death is yet another setback for
the Air Force's weapons-buying office.
"Whatever the reason for the suicide, this is going to contribute to a
widespread perception that something is not right about the Air Force
acquisition system," said Loren Thompson at the Virginia-based
Lexington Institute.
"Riechers was under some suspicion because of an expose in the press,
but it certainly didn't rise to the level of a serious scandal, so his
apparent suicide is hard to explain," Thompson added.
Riechers' predecessor, Darleen Druyun, served nine months in jail in
2005 for violating federal conflict of interest laws by taking a job
with Boeing while still overseeing billions of dollars of its work for
the Air Force.
That scandal prompted Congress to scrap a $23.5 billion tanker deal
with Boeing. The service is poised to announce a new contract award in
the next few months.
Congressional auditors this year twice upheld protests about a $15
billion Air Force helicopter deal that also went to Boeing.
Riechers was on active duty with the Air Force for 20 years until
2002, when he joined SRI International, a nonprofit scientific
research institute, according to a biography published on the Air
Force Web site.
From 2002 until November 2006 he worked at various Pentagon offices,
including as chief of operations for the Advanced Concept and
Technology Demonstration program.
The Washington Post said he did that work as a contractor for SRI.
In November, Riechers began working as a senior technical adviser for
Commonwealth, "with assignment to the Assistant Secretary of the Air
Force for Acquisition," the biography said.
Riechers lived in Loudoun County, Virginia, near Washington, D.C.
________________________________________________
Developing.......
Harry
widespread perception that something is not right about the Air Force
acquisition system," said Loren Thompson at the Virginia-based
Lexington Institute.
"Riechers was under some suspicion because of an expose in the press,
but it certainly didn't rise to the level of a serious scandal, so his
apparent suicide is hard to explain," Thompson added.
Riechers' predecessor, Darleen Druyun, served nine months in jail in
2005 for violating federal conflict of interest laws by taking a job
with Boeing while still overseeing billions of dollars of its work for
the Air Force.
That scandal prompted Congress to scrap a $23.5 billion tanker deal
with Boeing.
From Reuters, 10/15/07:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/airforce_death_dc
Senior Air Force purchasing official found dead
By Andrea Shalal-Esa
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -
The U.S. Air Force's No. 2 acquisition official, facing scrutiny for a
temporary job arranged by the service while he awaited Senate
confirmation, was found dead at his home in an apparent suicide,
according to an internal Air Force memo obtained by Reuters on Monday.
"Mr. Riechers was found deceased in his home, cause of death appears
to be suicide, time of death is unknown," said the memo, which was
issued late Sunday.
Charles Riechers became the principal deputy assistant secretary for
acquisition at the Air Force in January 2007 after working two months
for defense contractor Commonwealth Research Institute.
The Air Force had no immediate comment.
The Washington Post reported earlier this month that Riechers was
hired by Commonwealth Research Institute at the request of the Air
Force while Riechers was out of work and awaiting Senate confirmation
for his new position.
The job paid $13,400 a month.
Commonwealth Research Institute has close ties to the Pentagon and has
received hundreds of millions of dollars in military grants and
contracts in recent years, according to the October 1 Post report.
"I really didn't do anything for CRI," Riechers told the newspaper.
"I got a paycheck from them."
At the time, the Air Force downplayed the report, saying the temporary
job was a common arrangement to help the service under an existing
contract.
A spokeswoman also said Riechers had been quoted out of context.
But Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, a Michigan
Democrat, criticized the deal and asked the Air Force to explain the
arrangement.
New questions arose on Friday about Commonwealth Research Institute
when Pemco Aviation Group amended its protest of a $1.2 billion
contract awarded to Boeing Co for maintenance of a fleet of 450 KC-135
aerial refueling tankers.
Pemco raised questions about a possible conflict of interest in the
award because of ties between Commonwealth Research Institute, its
parent Concurrent Technologies, and Boeing.
SETBACK
One defense analyst said Riechers' death is yet another setback for
the Air Force's weapons-buying office.
"Whatever the reason for the suicide, this is going to contribute to a
widespread perception that something is not right about the Air Force
acquisition system," said Loren Thompson at the Virginia-based
Lexington Institute.
"Riechers was under some suspicion because of an expose in the press,
but it certainly didn't rise to the level of a serious scandal, so his
apparent suicide is hard to explain," Thompson added.
Riechers' predecessor, Darleen Druyun, served nine months in jail in
2005 for violating federal conflict of interest laws by taking a job
with Boeing while still overseeing billions of dollars of its work for
the Air Force.
That scandal prompted Congress to scrap a $23.5 billion tanker deal
with Boeing. The service is poised to announce a new contract award in
the next few months.
Congressional auditors this year twice upheld protests about a $15
billion Air Force helicopter deal that also went to Boeing.
Riechers was on active duty with the Air Force for 20 years until
2002, when he joined SRI International, a nonprofit scientific
research institute, according to a biography published on the Air
Force Web site.
From 2002 until November 2006 he worked at various Pentagon offices,
including as chief of operations for the Advanced Concept and
Technology Demonstration program.
The Washington Post said he did that work as a contractor for SRI.
In November, Riechers began working as a senior technical adviser for
Commonwealth, "with assignment to the Assistant Secretary of the Air
Force for Acquisition," the biography said.
Riechers lived in Loudoun County, Virginia, near Washington, D.C.
________________________________________________
Developing.......
Harry
