Charles Riechers
Charles D. ("Chuck") Riechers (1960 – 2007) had been appointed as principal deputy to the assistant secretary for acquisition of the United States Air Force in 2007 when he committed suicide. Riechers' story has been cited as worthy of mention in a "chronology of the problems plaguing Air Force procurement",[1] and has also been considered "a window into the culture of the whole debacle" of "corruption of government contracting".[2]
Biography[edit]
Riechers was a native of Ohio,[3] and studied engineering at the University of Michigan and California Polytechnic University.[3] He joined the Air Force[1][3] and served in the Gulf War, flying radar-jamming missions,[3] and at the Pentagon,[4] before retiring in 2002.[5]
Final appointment and death[edit]
In 2007, Riechers was appointed to the second-most senior acquisitions position in the Air Force, which had remained vacant since the resignation of Darleen Druyun in 2003.[6] While awaiting his appointment, he had been given a job through a defense contractor, Commonwealth Research Institute (CRI),[1] for which he was paid $26,788 for two months.[5] He did not perform work for CRI, but instead performed duties in support of the Air Force position he had been appointed to,[1][5] including overseeing procurement of maintenance for refueling tankers.[5] An unsuccessful tenderer for that contract had questioned whether Riechers had a conflict of interest, as Boeing, the successful tenderer, was also a client of CRI's corporate parent.[1][5]
"I really didn't do anything for CRI," Riechers, said "I got a paycheck from them." (Washington Post, Oct. 1, 2007)[7]
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.[7] "While Mr. Riechers's appointment was pending, the Air Force identified an opportunity to gain immediately from Mr. Riechers's expertise under a preexisting contract and open task order with Commonwealth Research," the Air Force said.[7] However, questions were raised in the Senate Armed Services Committee, and the Air Force was asked to explain the arrangement.[5]
Riechers was found dead at his Virginia home on October 14, 2007.[8] Two military officials said Mr. Riechers had apparently killed himself by running his car’s engine in his enclosed garage.[9][10][7][11] He left a suicide note for his employers, expressing regret for his naïveté,[3] and for "having created a new acquisition scandal for the Air Force".[6]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Curry, William Sims (2016). Government Contracting: Promises and Perils (2nd, revised ed.). Routledge. p. 34. ISBN 9781315536446. Retrieved 23 March 2019. Search this book on
- ↑ Rich, Frank (28 October 2007). "The corruption that cost America a war". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. New York Times. pp. E1, E5. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 THOMPSON, GINGER; SCHMITT, ERIC (4 December 2007). "Life Was Lost in Maelstrom of Suspicion". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ↑ "Milestones". TIME. 18 October 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Procurement Official Questioned About No-Work Deal Found Dead", The Washington Post, 16 October 2007.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Shalal-Esa, Andrea (23 October 2007). "Suicide note cites worry about Air Force scandal". Reuters. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Air Force Arranged No-Work Contract", The Washington Post, 1 October 2007.
- ↑ Goldenberg, Suzanne (16 October 2007). "Top US air force official commits suicide". The Guardian. London, England. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ↑ "AF acquisitions official apparently kills self", Air Force Times, 18 October 2007.
- ↑ "Top Air Force Official Dies in Apparent Suicide", The New York Times, 15 October 2007.
- ↑ O'Harrow, Robert, Jr., "Pentagon, FBI Probing Air Force Contracts", The Washington Post, April 18, 2008, page D1.
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