Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar, Navy Region Southwest's new commander, makes her opening remarks after accepting command during a change of command ceremony held on Naval Base Coronado on March 22, 2019.
JOHN SCORZA/U.S. NAVY
Posted on 08/06/2019 10:05:04 AM PDT by Red Badger
SAN DIEGO (Tribune Content Agency) — Redacted Navy documents and the command history of Navy Region Southwest Commander Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar indicate she was investigated in connection with the so-called “Fat Leonard” scandal and had received gifts from the contractor in 1998.
A female officer on-board the salvage ship Salvor accepted gifts in the form of a hotel room, dinner, drinks, entertainment and a golf outing in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, in August 1998, according to a memo signed by Adm. Philip S. Davidson in July 2017.
Although her name was redacted from the documents, Bolivar, a Navy deep sea diver, was the commanding officer of the Salvor in 1998 when the offenses occurred. A lieutenant commander at the time, Bolivar was in charge of the ship from January 1998 through January 2000, Navy records show.
Typically this class of ship carried six officers. Few officers fit the description Davidson provides in his memo.
Scores of Navy officials were alleged to have attended dinners and accepted gifts from contractor Leonard Glenn "Fat Leonard" Francis. All but a select few of their names were redacted from the Navy’s public records.
Bolivar’s gender and the relatively small size of the salvage community made her identity apparent from the documents.
Bolivar’s spokesman on Monday declined to comment and would not confirm or deny that Bolivar was the subject of the investigation.
The Fat Leonard scandal ensnared a generation of naval officers, as almost everyone who commanded a ship in the western Pacific had cause to do business with Glenn Defense Marine Asia, Francis’ company. GDMA was the Navy’s primary ship husbanding service provider in the region for more than a decade.
Despite finding misconduct in the Francis case, Davidson wrote in his memo that the unidentified officer “continued to be a significant contributor and valued leader in the Navy.” He recommended she remain in command.
He wrote that he “personally addressed this … through administrative action and consider this matter closed.”
Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar, Navy Region Southwest's new commander, makes her opening remarks after accepting command during a change of command ceremony held on Naval Base Coronado on March 22, 2019.
JOHN SCORZA/U.S. NAVY
I worked for civil service for 20 years. I recall one rule very well. We were not allowed to accept any gifts of any kind.
The only exception was a cup of coffee etc. if not accepting would have been rude.
What on earth engagements/conflicts is all the chest cabbage from ? I must have missed the news on the last 20 years of sea battles.
I have been hearing about the Fat Leonard Scandal since the second Bill Clinton administration.
It’s not over yet? Must be a legion of lawyers collectively dragging their feet, so other can collect at least some of their pensions.
Bolivar’s personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (four awards) Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards) and various campaign, unit and service awards, including recognition as the Chief of Naval Operations’ Pacific Fleet finalist for the Vice Adm. James Stockdale Leadership Award and a 2005 inductee into the Women Divers Hall of Fame.
In other words, mostly BS medals...
Thanks Red Badger.
“In other words, mostly BS medals...”
Time in service medals. We used to get coins.
She only has two rows of ribbons and four medals. That’s not very much for a RADM. Got to be one of the least decorated flag officers in the U.S. military.
She was a Deep Diver in the Muff Sea. It got pretty hairy down there.
Combat medals anywhere. . . .?
I saw what you did there. . .
;-)
In other words, a participation award.
Good Conduct, National Defense Service, Tying your Shoes Without a Knot...........
Male officer’s headgear. Have uniform regs changed?
Ahhhhh.....the Clintons used Tailhook to emasculate the Navy.
You know, it’s almost like the Clintons and Obama worked for foreign powers trying to destroy the United States.
Huge triple USN PING with 2 backflips
Even Stevie Wonder could see that!...................
Must have, or it’s optional...............
The investigation really didn’t start until 2010, and I think the first indictments were in 2013. They are not playing around, but actually convicting people and sending them to jail. A former Dept Head of mine has been in prison for over three years and has a few to go. No pension for him...
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