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HUNTSVILLE, AL—
For months, WHNT NEWS 19 has been Taking Action to uncover a true Breach of Trust. Civil servants right here at Redstone Arsenal using fake college degrees for promotions and pay raises. All at your expense.Now, six months later, a Commander's investigation confirms our findings.
Chief Investigative Reporter Wendy Halloran broke this story that triggered a Commander's Inquiry.
We were dogged in our pursuit for answers. We exposed things the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command tried to keep from public scrutiny.
Read our reports to the left of this story. The videos are listed above.
In the end, we had to invoke our right to the Freedom of Information Act to get answers.
It's been a long wait, but we finally have the documents. However, Redstone Arsenal's Freedom of Information Office has redacted so much information on these documents that they essentially conceal the findings.
But this "Breach of Trust" comes shining through.
It's called AR 15-6 Investigation-Misrepresentation of Educational Background in Official Matters.
It comes after we exposed a key essential leader on Redstone Arsenal. Chris Oleyte, the Army Aviation and Missile Command Director of Readiness. Oleyte bought and used a fake degree from Trinity College and University in a promotion he got. And kept.
Documents proved it.
When we confronted Mr. Oleyte about this, he told us, "That was way back when."
Our Taking Action Investigation triggered a "Commander's Inquiry" on Redstone Arsenal. This involved a resume review of more than 2,300 employees.
Interviews, e-mails or statements were taken from the individuals involved, according to the FOIA request.
In a taped statement delivered to WHNT NEWS 19 several months ago, AMCOM Commanding General Jim Myles said, "Out of 2,300 employees, only six were found to still have false diplomas."
However, taxpayers won't know who tried to take shortcuts to get ahead. Redstone Arsenal's Freedom of Information Office withheld the names, citing it would be an invasion of personal privacy.
But it does make known that a policy was in place that contained "unambiguous" and "precise" language to all employees regarding higher educational credentials and the responsibilities of managers and supervisors to adhere to these policies.
That policy, it said, clearly states that listing of invalid or unaccredited educational credentials on resumes or other forms of application for merit promotion or reassignment is "unacceptable."
The FOIA reveals that policy remained in effect until May 2007 when AMCOM was deleting internal policies that duplicated Federal or Department of the Army policies.
