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Fake Diplomas: What Do You Think?
What do you think about this story? Tell us your thoughts about a top AMCOM leader possessing a fake college degree. Watch Part 3 on Thursday.
HUNTSVILLE, AL -
It's graduation season all across the country. Thousands of students spent years to get their bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees.
However, many people have bought phony diplomas. In Part 1 of our Taking Action Investigation, WHNT NEWS 19 showed you how fake degrees have infiltrated the enlisted ranks of the U.S. Army.
Now, our investigation reveals this breach of trust goes all the way to the top civilian ranks at Huntsville's Redstone Arsenal.
The fake degree is in the hand of a key essential leader at the U.S. Army's Aviation and Missile Command, AMCOM. The bogus diplomas are against policy, put a person's integrity in question, and make them a potential target for blackmail.
As Director of Readiness for the Army's Aviation and Missile Command, Chris Oleyte carries the weight of America's missile defense readiness on his shoulders. He's also carrying other baggage.
WHNT NEWS 19's Chief Investigative Reporter Wendy Halloran confronted him. "Did you buy a degree from that diploma mill?" we asked.
"Uh, nothing to talk about," Oleyte replied.
Oleyte has top secret clearance, and access to classified information about missile defense. He would probably rather you not know about this secret he's hidden.
"It's on your bio," we say. "Yeah," he replies. "So, I don't even understand why you're talking to me about it," Oleyte said.
Did the system promote him, despite his bogus degree? Does the Department of the Army care that he has a fake credential?
"You have an obligation to talk to us," we say. "No, I don't, you're on my property," Oleyte replies.
Oleyte's secret potentially compromises the integrity of AMCOM and certainly defrauds you, the taxpayer.
"Taxpayers pay your salary," WHNT NEWS 19's Wendy Halloran says. "You don't want to talk about a degree from a degree mill? You're a key essential leader, and that's from a diploma mill."
"I don't appreciate [this]," Oleyte says. "Put the camera down. Please, please the camera."
In 2001, Olyete's impressive government resume boasted a Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management from Trinity College and University out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
"To be fair, in a description of Trinity College and University, it's something that lives in a metal box 'that big' that you could use to store cat food basically in, it's completely fake," said George Gollin, an expert on diploma mills. More from him shortly.
Oleyte's resume lists that he got that bachelor's degree in 2001. The next year, he got a big promotion, to Senior Command Representative in Korea... a promotion that moved him up from a GS 13 to a GS 14, and likely afforded him a sizeable increase in salary.
Oleyte had the authority over all AMCOM issues, personnel and equipment in that country and reported directly to the AMCOM commanding general in Korea.
By the government's standards, it's a very important position. That began Oleyte's rise through the chain of command. Two years later, he was reassigned to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville as the Deputy Director of Readiness. He was later promoted to Director of Readiness.
WHNT NEWS 19's Wendy Halloran further confronted Oleyte about his bogus degree and the position he holds.
However, many people have bought phony diplomas. In Part 1 of our Taking Action Investigation, WHNT NEWS 19 showed you how fake degrees have infiltrated the enlisted ranks of the U.S. Army.
Now, our investigation reveals this breach of trust goes all the way to the top civilian ranks at Huntsville's Redstone Arsenal.
The fake degree is in the hand of a key essential leader at the U.S. Army's Aviation and Missile Command, AMCOM. The bogus diplomas are against policy, put a person's integrity in question, and make them a potential target for blackmail.
As Director of Readiness for the Army's Aviation and Missile Command, Chris Oleyte carries the weight of America's missile defense readiness on his shoulders. He's also carrying other baggage.
WHNT NEWS 19's Chief Investigative Reporter Wendy Halloran confronted him. "Did you buy a degree from that diploma mill?" we asked.
"Uh, nothing to talk about," Oleyte replied.
Oleyte has top secret clearance, and access to classified information about missile defense. He would probably rather you not know about this secret he's hidden.
"It's on your bio," we say. "Yeah," he replies. "So, I don't even understand why you're talking to me about it," Oleyte said.
Did the system promote him, despite his bogus degree? Does the Department of the Army care that he has a fake credential?
"You have an obligation to talk to us," we say. "No, I don't, you're on my property," Oleyte replies.
Oleyte's secret potentially compromises the integrity of AMCOM and certainly defrauds you, the taxpayer.
"Taxpayers pay your salary," WHNT NEWS 19's Wendy Halloran says. "You don't want to talk about a degree from a degree mill? You're a key essential leader, and that's from a diploma mill."
"I don't appreciate [this]," Oleyte says. "Put the camera down. Please, please the camera."
In 2001, Olyete's impressive government resume boasted a Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management from Trinity College and University out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
"To be fair, in a description of Trinity College and University, it's something that lives in a metal box 'that big' that you could use to store cat food basically in, it's completely fake," said George Gollin, an expert on diploma mills. More from him shortly.
Oleyte's resume lists that he got that bachelor's degree in 2001. The next year, he got a big promotion, to Senior Command Representative in Korea... a promotion that moved him up from a GS 13 to a GS 14, and likely afforded him a sizeable increase in salary.
Oleyte had the authority over all AMCOM issues, personnel and equipment in that country and reported directly to the AMCOM commanding general in Korea.
By the government's standards, it's a very important position. That began Oleyte's rise through the chain of command. Two years later, he was reassigned to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville as the Deputy Director of Readiness. He was later promoted to Director of Readiness.
WHNT NEWS 19's Wendy Halloran further confronted Oleyte about his bogus degree and the position he holds.
AMCOM's promotion selection process is just as corrupt, especially when guys with fake degrees have a say in a particular selection.
John @ 10:58 AM CDT, Aug 1, 2009
Well Wendy, are you doing a follow up or are you just going to leave all of us in suspense?
Lookng In @ 10:09 AM CDT, Jul 1, 2009
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, DO A FOLLOW UP REPORT, PLEASE TELL US AMOCM SIS SOMETHING ABOUT CHRIS OLEYTE
joe blow @ 5:45 PM CDT, Jun 12, 2009
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