Deputy CIO at Homeland Security Department placed on leave

Computerworld ^ | June 6, 2003 | LINDA ROSENCRANCE

[RippleFire]

Laura Callahan, the deputy CIO of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), was placed on paid administrative leave last week after questions surfaced about her academic qualifications, a DHS spokeswoman confirmed.

The move came after members of Congress contacted department officials demanding answers to questions about her academic background, as well as about the department's policy on background checks.

On her resume, Callahan, who was appointed to the position on April 1, said she received her academic degrees, including a doctorate in computer information systems, from Hamilton University in Evanston, Wyo.

However, the congressmen, including Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), contend that according to published reports, Hamilton isn't licensed by that state, nor is the school accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. The congressmen said Hamilton is a "diploma mill."

"What is troubling to me is that a senior official in the Department of Homeland Security in the office of the CIO would have a questionable degree in computer information systems," Maloney said in a letter dated June 4 to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. "I would hope that checking credentials on a resume is a standard procedure in any background check."

DHS spokeswoman Michelle Petrovich said the department is investigating the allegations. She declined to comment on the department's procedures concerning background checks.

In 2001, Callahan was deputy CIO at the U.S. Department of Labor, and in 2002, she also became that department's IT center director.

A spokesman for the Labor Department referred Computerworld to the Office of Personnel Management. The Labor Department couldn't be reached for comment at deadline.

This isn't the first time Callahan has been embroiled in controversy.

In March 2000, she was one of two White House officials accused of threatening Northrop Grumman Corp. workers with jail unless they kept quiet about the disappearance of thousands of White House e-mails, according to press reports at the time. Callahan was the White House webmaster under the Clinton administration, and Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman ran the White House computer system at the time.

The e-mails in question had been subpoenaed during congressional and judicial criminal inquiries that included investigations into campaign finance abuse during the 1996 presidential campaign. Callahan testified under oath at a congressional hearing that she never threatened anyone over the e-mails. The outcome of the investigation couldn't be determined.

[RippleFire]

Why did she even have a job?

In March 2000, she was one of two White House officials accused of threatening Northrop Grumman Corp. workers with jail unless they kept quiet about the disappearance of thousands of White House e-mails, according to press reports at the time.

[oceanview]

i will never understand by Bush has not cleaned house of all Clinton appointees across the board. I suspect this is part of the Karl Rove "be nice" strategy. Nonsense.

[ThreePuttinDude]

Callahan was the White House webmaster under the Clinton administration, and Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman ran the White House computer system at the time.

Sounds as if the "New Tone" didn't work on this hire.

[thinktwice]

In March 2000, she was one of two White House officials accused of threatening Northrop Grumman Corp. workers with jail unless they kept quiet about the disappearance of thousands of White House e-mails,

This Woman is a Clintonoid. Where was the Bush WH staff on this matter?

[nvcdl]

I'll bet a lot of Clintonites have burrowed in the Homeland Security department.

[pops88]

Hamilton University

The university is run by the FION Fellowship (Faith In The Order of Nature)

[gcruse]

Callahan was the White House webmaster under the Clinton administration

Well, that explains the lack of background checks.  The Clintons
have everyone's FBI files which is superior to a resume, anyway.
Inner White House employees went years without clearance.
Figures they couldn't spot the phony.  And if Callahan has been
doing a good job as CIO or deputy CIO for the last couple of
years, and her superiors gave her good evaluations, should she
be fired for not having a degree?  If resume pumping is a terminal
offense, people would be flying out of government like a jail break.

[KC Burke]

see http://www.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/05/02/whitehouse.email/
for the story on her testimony and a picture

[Bubba_Leroy]

[thegreatbeast]

"In March 2000, she was one of two White House officials accused of threatening Northrop Grumman Corp. workers with jail unless they kept quiet about the disappearance of thousands of White House e-mails, according to press reports at the time. Callahan was the White House webmaster under the Clinton administration, and Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman ran the White House computer system at the time." The school looks to be a bona fide institution if it has a working off-campus mechanism in place. The accreditation is posted on the Hamilton site. And the FION association is no more troubling than those of other colleges.
But what the hell is this woman doing working for the Bushies for? I know the gov't isn't very computer savvy but even the Feds could have found another Tech Poobah that had a republican leaning. This is just stupid.

[gcruse]

It makes you wonder how many other Clinton hires are still on the job, and it goes a long way towards explaining the State Dept.

[secret garden]

In your last sentence,
If resume pumping is a terminal
offense, people would be flying out of government like a jail break ,
you make it sound like that would be a bad thing. I disagree.

[TheBattman]

Actually, the only FION Church is on of only two buildings on the Hamilton University "Campus" known as University Center.

Here is their "Doctrinal Statement" -

Faith in the Order of Nature
FION Fellowship Church University Center 100 Bear River Drive Evanston, WY 82930 USA Toll-Free Fax:  888-922-0927 International Fax:  808-738-0054 e-mail:  info@fion-wy.org
FION Fellowship Doctrinal Statement ONE HIGHER POWER We believe there is one higher power that created and brings order to the universe that we share.  Some may call this higher power God while others may use different names.  We refer to the higher power as Nature. We believe that Nature is mysterious. We believe we should learn about Nature but accept that a true knowledge cannot be achieved. We believe Nature controls all things and is present in all things both living and nonliving.  And, since Nature is present in all things, we should respect all things. LIVING FORMS IN NATURE We believe that all life forms are worthy of our respect for they have a special place in Nature's order.  We believe that we should be kind and gentle to all other living forms and allow our life to disturb their lives as little as possible. We believe that in Nature all things are constantly changing yet they remain the same; that whatever Nature has created is never destroyed.  We believe when death, as we know it, occurs nothing changes but the form itself. SERVICE OF RESPECT We believe that Nature should be respected and revered.  What others may refer to as a worship service we call a Service of Respect.  We should gather together with Nature in a Service of Respect and speak of our belief, our respect and our thankfulness for what Nature has created. We believe in inclusion and reject exclusion.  All are welcome at a Service of Respect.  Especially welcome are those who profess no faith or are members or practitioners of other religions or faiths.  We seek not to convert but share our belief in Nature. OUR SPECIAL MINISTRY We believe that Nature has chosen us to minister through teaching and education, and that we should minister to believers, nonbelievers and all others equally. We believe that Nature provides education naturally as we pass through our life and formally in schools institutions.  This process includes education about Nature and about all that Nature has created. We consider all subjects and disciplines to be natural because all were created by Nature and all are important to Nature's order.  Even those that others may consider secular or outside the realm of Nature are included. We accept all education as equal in Nature.  We offer recognition and special designations to those who have achieved higher levels of understanding regardless if obtained naturally or formally. INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY We believe that individually we have the power, granted by Nature, to direct and shape our own lives within the order that Nature has provided.   We refer to this power as Individual Responsibility.  We believe that each individual should direct their own course through life and are responsible to others and to Nature for their choices and actions.  We believe moral questions should be answered with the primary test of what impact an action or decision will have on Nature and the lives of others. Although all lives are equal in Nature, we believe that Nature has provided some with greater ability and talent.  We believe that those with the greater ability and talent should share knowledge, resources and the material fruits which, the greater ability and talent may provide.