Governor RICHARD LYNN SCOTT is considering naming a dodgy St. Augustine arms merchant advisor/lobbyist, retired Florida National Guard (FNG) commanding Bridgadier General DOUGLAS BURNETT, a member of the board of the St. Johns River Water Management District, to replace Senator JOHN THRASHER. BURNETT was most noted as FNG commanding general for planning an elaborate flyover ceremony for his rent party, with four aircraft, including two Stealth F-22 Raptors, easily costing $100,000. I reported BURNETT to the Pentagon Inspector General. http://cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com/2010/06/blog-post_192.html
His Stealth aircraft flyover was then cancelled.
General BURNETT told me today he consults with AM GENERAL, manufacturer of HUMVEES, in their dealings with National Guard units around the nation. His SJRWMD bio is more expansive, referring to multiple "defense contractors" as his clients. Here is Burnett's SJRWMD bio:
Mr. Burnett is president of Doug Burnett and Associates, a consulting firm for major defense contractors. He was appointed to a four-year term to an at-large seat on the Governing Board on May 21, 2013. Mr. Burnett is a retired major general with the Florida National Guard, having served during his 47-year tenure as a tactical fighter and airline pilot, technical and personnel program manager, and a commanding officer. A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Mr. Burnett held several key positions with the Florida National Guard, including Chief of Safety, Group Operations Officer, Director of Operations, Chief of Staff, Assistant Adjutant/Air and Adjutant General. As Adjutant General, he had responsibility for more than 12,000 soldiers and airmen who were engaged in combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere, as well as responding to hurricanes, wildfires and other major natural disasters. Mr. Burnett served on the Reserve Forces Policy Board, an advisory board to the Secretary of Defense, and was Chairman of the National Guard Domestic Operations Advisory Committee. In addition to his military career, Mr. Burnett was a commercial pilot for Pan American World Airways and National Airlines. He earned a degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is a graduate of the USAF Command and General Staff College and the USAF Air War College. Mr. Burnett is past president of the National Guard Officers Association of Florida and has served two terms as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Guard Association of the United States. Mr. Burnett currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Air National Guard, U.S.
Here's my letter to IG Gordon S. Heddell, which stopped the Stealth flyover for his party:
Inspector General Asked to Investigate Flyover Party for General Douglas Burnett's Retirement
June 24, 2010
Honorable Gordon S. Heddell
The Inspector General
United States Department of Defense
Arlington, Virginia 20301-1900 via fax to 703-604-8567
Re: Florida National Guard (FNG) Standards of Official Conduct Investigation --
FLYOVER OF TWO F-15s and TWO F-22s for CHANGE OF COMMAND
Dear General Heddell:
1. In today’s St. Augustine Record, it is reported that the Florida National Guard (FNG) will stage a flyover of two F-15s and two F-22s on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at Camp Blanding. See enclosures. That’s four expensive aircraft, including two Stealth Raptors.
2. Why? Because a FNG general is retiring. This makes for one expensive party.
3. I object. I request that you investigate. I have asked FNG for copies of any EIS (including carbon footprint analysis) and of the cost projection. See enclosure, saying FNG will answer “next week.” This is unacceptable.
4. This flyover boondogggler appears to be waste, fraud, and abuse. There are at fifty State National Guard commanding generals. If every one holds a flyover party every time there is a personnel change – along with every single other general officer in the U.S. military -- that is quite a lot of money. Those defending these flyovers may claim they are “training.” This is casuistry. If the General’s purpose is to project an image of hubris, extravagance and arrogance, he has succeeded. In a nation where people go hungry and live without homes, General Burnett should be told that such waste is inappropriate, and should be ordered to cancel the flyover. As you know, “immense expense is mainly in defense” (as former Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder once sang in concert with “The Capitol Steps” comedy troupe, to the tune of “The Rain in Spain,” from the musical comedy, “My Fair Lady.”
6. I attended the Gulf War victory parade in Washington, D.C. in 1991 and was proud of and enjoyed that flyover.
7. But these are tough economic times and we don’t have money to waste any longer.
8. The next time America wins a war, by all means hold a flyover.
9. In the meantime, to prevent promiscuous consumption of fossil fuels, to avoid needless emission of greenhouse gases, to save energy and to save federal funds, please prepare a programmatic audit, examine the data and kindly recommend that no more flyovers should be held over mere sporting events or personnel changes.
10. Will you please determine whether the Standards of Official Conduct were violated by this flyover?
11. In particular, is the decision to hold a flyover a gross waste of federal funds, an appearance of impropriety, or a conflict of interest? Who decides to hold flyovers?
12. Isn’t the decision to hold the flyover a slap to hard-working Americans who will pay the costs of General Burnett’s flyover party with federal funds?
13. How many flyovers are held by the military annually, and at what total costs?
14. Who is responsible for changing the wasteful management culture of DoD to stop wasteful flyovers and to command respect for greenhouse gas reduction?
15. What are the environmental effects of flyovers on Global Warming?
16. I have taken the liberty of sharing this complaint with General Burnett and the news media.
17. It is hoped that General Burnett will show greater sensitivity and cancel the flyover out of respect for the large numbers of unemployed and underemployed Americans and Floridians. If not, I request that disciplinary action be considered during the next 24 hours.
18. FNG’s refusal to answer my questions makes this complaint necessary and proper. See enclosure.
19. General Burnett’s staff seems to prefer stonewalling to substance. “Next week,” indeed! To whom do they think they’re talking. General Burnett & Co. work for us. This discriminatory good-ole-boy network must learn to be just stewards of federal funds.
20. Therefore, because of the disrespect that General Burnett has shown for the public’s rights under the Freedom of Information Act, will you please take action today? Will you please order General Burnett to preserve, protect and provide copies of all documents on the flyover and related matters in my FOIA request?
Sincerely yours,
ED SLAVIN
Clean Up City of St. Augustine, Florida
www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com
Box 3084
St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084
Enclosures (2)
c: Honorable Barack Obama
Honorable Rahm Emmanuel
Honorable Bill Nelson
Honorable Eric Holder
Honorable Carl Levin
Honorable John McCain
Honorable Ike Skelton
Honorable Buck McKeon
Honorable Adam Smith
Honorable Roscoe Barlett
Major General Douglas Burnett
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8 comments:
Kudos to you! Is there no end to this hubris of The Large Guppies in St. Augustine?
FSU might not even deserve Thrasher, and we sure don't deserve a hot-air balloon like old Brig. Gen. Doug Burnett.
We need change everywhere in Florida, starting with the governor (Scott OUT) and following up in St. Augustine (Bole$ OUT).
We need CHANGE.
MajGen (R) Burnett is a good and honorable man. I'm afraid Ed got it wrong when he instigated the cancellation of the fly-by. His efforts probably quadrupled the amount of fuel used and ultimately carbon being dumped into the atmosphere as the pilots made up the hours lost by the cancelation.
It was MajGen(R) Burnett who cancelled the fly-by, not the IG as IGs have zero command authority.
Only stopped flyover because I reported him to the Pentagon. He knew of the flyover, which was reported twice in the Record. Kindly justify your statements and identify yourself. You sound like you are family, or an FNG member, right?
Partly correct and I gave you full credit for instigating the fly-over cancellation.
I think that you should not have ruined a man's party is what I think. General Burnett deserves TEN FLYOVERS, for saving my life alone. He has given his life to save others lived and has done a miracle for me that otherwise could not have been done. I am a United States soldier only because of him. HE DESERVES TEN FLY OVERS!
You should not have stopped that fly over. If anyone deserves a fly over, it's major General Burnett.
You should not have taken his fly over away. Former General Burnett has given his life to save lives and literally saved mine. He is a dear person to me and an amazing soldier. He did for me what was impossible and because of him is the reason I am a United States soldier. He defied all odds and had me sworn in when it was literally almost impossible due to time and my age. He's a great man and was an amazing General. He deserves 10 fly overs!
1. I "took his flyover away?"
2. You attribute the decision to me, not the military?
3. You give me credit for power I did not know I had.
4. It was waste, fraud and abuse -- not an entitlement.
5. Thank you for speaking out.
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