Navy Fires Admiral for Lying - Vice Adm. John Stufflebeem

Navy Fires Admiral for Lying - Vice Adm. John Stufflebeem

Navy Fires Admiral for Lying

Associated Press | March 25, 2008

WASHINGTON - The Navy fired a three-star admiral after a Pentagon investigation concluded he'd lied during questioning about whether he had an inappropriate relationship while working at the White House in 1990, officials said March 24.

Vice Adm. John Stufflebeem, a career naval aviator, was relieved as director of the Navy staff last week by the Navy's top officer, Adm. Gary Roughead, Navy spokesman Capt. Frank Thorp said.

The investigation by the Pentagon inspector general began on the basis of an anonymous letter accusing Stufflebeem of having an inappropriate relationship while serving as a military aide to President George H.W. Bush in 1990. The investigation's findings, which have not been made public, are under review by the Navy.

Pending the outcome of the review, Stufflebeem remains a member of Roughead's staff, but at a two-star level, Thorp said.

Stufflebeem served as deputy director for global operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2001 and appeared before reporters at the Pentagon as a spokesman in the early months of the war in Afghanistan.

He is a 1975 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and was designated a naval aviator in 1980.

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Navy Times

Vice admiral fired over false testimony



By David Brown - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Mar 25, 2008 5:44:58 EDT



PH1 Michael W. Pendergrass / Navy Vice Adm. John Stufflebeem, shown here in 2002 as commander, Carrier Group 2, was fired as director of the Navy staff March 21.



Navy Vice Adm. John Harvey, who has already been confirmed to succeed Vice Adm. John Stufflebeem as director of Navy staff, assumed that role effective March 24. He will continue to serve as CNP until his designated replacement comes aboard.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

The three-star director of the Navy staff was fired last Friday for providing “false and misleading information” during a Defense Department inspector general investigation, the Navy’s top spokesman confirmed Monday.

Vice Adm. John “Boomer” Stufflebeem was relieved by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead due to the testimony Stufflebeem gave during the investigation, said Rear Adm. Frank Thorp, the Navy’s chief of information.

“As a result, the CNO lost confidence in Admiral Stufflebeem’s judgment and his continuing ability to lead in the office of the CNO,” Thorp said.

Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. John Harvey, who has already been confirmed to succeed Stufflebeem as director of Navy staff, assumed that role effective Monday. He will continue to serve as CNP until his designated replacement, Rear Adm. Mark Ferguson, comes aboard. Stufflebeem had not yet been nominated for a new position prior to Roughead’s actions.

The DoD IG investigation began after officials received an anonymous letter earlier this year accusing Stufflebeem of having an inappropriate relationship while serving as President George H.W. Bush’s military aide in 1990. Thorp was careful to point out that Stufflebeem was relieved directly due to the misleading testimony, not because of the allegations in the letter.

Thorp said the findings of the IG investigation are still under review, and the case will be sent to Adm. Kirkland Donald, director of naval nuclear propulsion, “for appropriate review and action,” he said. In the meantime, Stufflebeem is working on the staff of the CNO, he said.

An earlier anonymous letter regarding Stufflebeem was sent in 1999, but at the time, the Navy and DoD deemed there was “insufficient evidence to pursue the matter,” Thorp said.

Stufflebeem’s rank has reverted to rear admiral, which is typically done when an officer is not serving in a three-star billet. Officers need congressional approval to serve as vice admiral or above, and can only maintain that rank when actually serving in those jobs.

Stufflebeem, a career naval aviator, rose to prominence in the opening days of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001, frequently briefing reporters as the deputy director for global operations on the Joint Staff. After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1975, Stufflebeem was a practice-squad punter for the Detroit Lions under a special program that allowed the NFL to carry military players in a reserve status while they are on active duty. The Lions asked Stufflebeem to join them full time, but the aviator opted to fly jets.