Professor alleges academy retaliated against him

Claims he was denied pay raise after writing column

By JENNIFER HLAD Staff Writer

Published 10/09/09

A Naval Academy professor who wrote a guest column in The Capital criticizing the academy's minority admissions procedures said he was unfairly denied a raise because he spoke out.

File photo
Naval Academy professor Bruce E. Fleming recently filed a complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, saying academy administrators retaliated against him for writing negatively about diversity efforts.

Bruce E. Fleming recently filed a complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, saying academy administrators retaliated against him for writing negatively about diversity efforts.

Academy leadership learned about the complaint by reading a blog post by Fleming, academy spokesman Cmdr. Joe Carpenter said in an e-mail.

"In that we are unaware of the details of this complaint and because the academy administration is not in receipt...

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Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 12 1

It's everywhere. - 2009-10-09 18:22:44

A very close person to me had a co-worker hired for 'Diversity' reasons.
He was well qualified...it seemed. Former Navy CPO (Turned out to be a lie but got him 10 points), of African origin (5 points) and disabled (5 or 10 point preference, I forget). The disability?
He was NUTS!
He scammed the Navy and pulled the 'Race Card' every time he was to be disciplined and was a 'Sea Lawyer' that dragged everything out forever until the accusers backed down and later transferred him etc. He got no work done for the Navy but they promoted or transferred him to shut him up and get him to drop his never ending discrimination suits.
He was hired at my friend's Federal facility in B'more where he pulled the same stunts, killed morale in the shop, set back production a full year, tied up 90% of the legal department and sued my friend for a Million Dollars for reporting his sexual harrasment!
It took years to fire him.
Guess what? When he applies for a Federal job he goes to the front of the line!
My friend has applied for several positions and is an expert in several fields but the nutcase is always there ahead of everyone else.
Why does this happen?
Diversity.

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Emmaline Giles - West River, MD - Karma: Terrible

You Lie... - 2009-10-09 17:06:34

...Carpenter! I've worked for the Federal government for over a decade and affirmative action and diversity initiatives (same thing, really) have harmed the effectiveness and/or efficiency of government. Why do you think government screws up so much or costs so much? I see it around me everyday. However, in my experience AA has helped white women more than blacks, but its real effect has been to drive many very qualified, smart and innovative white men away. As a result, dolts like Phillips and Fowler rise to the top. These are usually white men who have perfected the dark arts, like backstabbing, and other political chicanery. There are a number of qualified and effective black managers in government, but they get lost among Franklin Raines and Ray Nagrin, and the like.

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Nathan D. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Neutral

Oh please... - 2009-10-09 14:21:11

So the Naval Academy goes politically correct, gets called on it, then seeks revenge. Everyone knows the military tries to put their best face on for the public. Fact of the matter is, there is a lot of wink wink, "you know the real deal" going on in day to day in all aspects of military life. Fleming can't be too surprised at the cause and effect of his actions if he has spent anytime at all around the military environment, and he has. He knows how the game is played. Choosing to speak the truth is not what they want to hear. Speaking it publicly is even worse to them.

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Dave D. - Pasadena, MD - Karma: Excellent

M.A.S.H - 2009-10-09 12:51:29

Is it just me, or does this call look just like BJ from the TV sitcom M.A.S.H????

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Rick M. - Laurel, Md - Karma: Excellent

Let's hear it for USNA - 2009-10-09 12:19:28

It is in the best interest of the students to kick this racist man of of the academy. The morale of the men, the cohesiveness of the brigade is of the utmost importance and Phlegming does nothing but cause divisiveness.

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Fred Shubbie - , - Karma: Terrible