A New Scandal for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy: A “Historic Financial Misconduct Case”

April 30, 2024

New York, NY

NEW LONDON, Conn.—There appears to more trouble on the horizon for the United States Coast Guard Academy in the form of a “historic financial misconduct” scandal after the Academy’s External Affairs Officer told Conneticut newspaper The Day that the Academy’s new policy to strip honors from past award recipients was developed in response to a “historic financial misconduct case.”

Cmdr. Krystyn Pecora, the academy's External Affairs Officer, declined to provide The Day with any further information about the nature or severity of the financial misconduct case. This lack of transparency has once again raised concerns about the academy's commitment to accountability as it continues to deal with the fallout from the Operation Fouled Anchor scandal.

The “historic financial misconduct” case came to light after The Day asked the Academy about its newly announced policy that allows for the revocation of honors and recognition from individuals found to have “committed serious misconduct or engaged in criminal activity.” Under the new policy, any person may notify academy leadership about derogatory information pertaining to past award recipients, including cadets, officers, faculty, staff, and civilian personnel. The academy's legal office and the Coast Guard Investigative Service will then seek corroborating evidence through records of criminal or administrative investigations. If an allegation lacks substantiation, a separate investigation will be conducted before a decision is made, according to Pecora.

It was previously widely believed the Academy’s new policy was a direct response to the ongoing Operation Fouled Anchor scandal, but Pecora told The Day that the Operation Fouled Anchor cases were only “involved in the thought process” for the new policy and not the primary initiating factor in the development of the new policy.

While the policy itself is a step towards addressing misconduct within the ranks of the Coast Guard Academy, the absence of details surrounding the catalyst for its creation has left many questions unanswered. As a taxpayer-funded institution, the academy has an obligation to be transparent and accountable to the public it serves, as Congress has repeatedly emphasized over the past year.

Critics have already argued that the academy’s refusal to disclose information about the financial misconduct case undermines public trust and raises concerns about the potential for other incidents to be swept under the rug. “It’s outrageous,” said Ryan Melogy, a victims’ rights attorney and an activist who helped expose the Operation Fouled Anchor scandal. “Why hasn’t the public heard anything about this financial scandal? How many more historic scandals is the Coast Guard hiding?”

Others have called for an independent investigation into the matter to ensure that appropriate measures have been taken to hold those responsible accountable and prevent similar misconduct from occurring in the future. The Coast Guard Academy's superintendent, Rear Adm. Michael Johnston, stated that the new policy is intended to ensure that awards and honors reflect the institution's values and culture. However, without a clear understanding of the events and potential financial crimes that led to its implementation, it remains to be seen whether the policy will be effective in achieving this goal.

Melogy says that as the academy moves forward with this new approach to handling misconduct among its members, it must also take steps to rebuild trust with the public through increased transparency and a demonstrated commitment to accountability. “The U.S. Coast Guard Academy must uphold the high standards of honor and integrity expected of those who serve in the United States Coast Guard,” Melogy said.

Retired Coast Guard Cmdr. Kimberly Young-McLear, a prominent Coast Guard whistleblower who was harassed and bullied while serving in the Coast Guard, told The Day she is skeptical about the new policy. Young-McLear told The Day the Academy’s new policy only pertains to “honorary awards” rather than service records awards, “which are the ones that actually matter ... Symbolic vs. real awards.”