<p>Its time for Joe to go...couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. </p>
<p>God steer thee well Kings Point!</p>
<p>Oliver</p>
<p>Actually, its time for Connaughton to go. </p>
<p>His unabashed quest for higher elected office has made for tepid leadership at MARAD and a complete lack of vision for the Academy. He has consistently submitted budgets to OMB below what the Academy has requested and has shown no commitment to get the necessary funds to complete the dormitory renovation or adequately pay professors and staff.</p>
<p>Additionally, there has been no transparency between MARAD and the Academy’s Board of Visitors. When asked about the situation by Congress he tells them that they “may” have found irregularities, but he’s got it under control. Most competent mangers in that situation would ask for advice from its Board, but Connaughton is above asking for advice from anyone but his political handlers. Moreover, Connaughton refuses to let the Academy Administration deal directly with its Board of Visitors. That’s like the Governor of some state telling the President of State U that he couldn’t talk to his Board of Regents. That would never fly.</p>
<p>Finally, Joe Stewart wouldn’t appease the Union toadies and sycophants who have been sucking up to Connaughton and I think that’s really what’s behind all this. Hopefully, wiser heads will prevail and uncover who really needs to go!</p>
<p>as mids, we were only told he was resigning, and that had been known for a couple of years that it would happen this year or next.</p>
<p>Yeah I am sure he was gonna go sometime...but as it happened, he got fired!! </p>
<p>Concerned KP Mom: News Flash!! Not many people in this business ever associated tepid leadership with Mr. Connaughton. </p>
<p>"Budgets, smudgets", thats what Joe would say...when he got smacked with an Anti-Deficiency Act violation....close to $2 million overspent on salary's...what for the 20+ faculty over the federal salary cap??? Come on!! Lousy management at KP that what got him fired!!</p>
<p>The problems are at KP, not MARAD!!</p>
<p>Connaughton seems like a nice enough guy and I'm sure he's a good leader. But so were Mike Wynne and Buz Moseley.</p>
<p>I understand that the Anti Deficiency Act issue is with the administration of the Non Appropriated Funds Instrumentalities and that there is a paper trail leading back to MARAD and DOT authorizing their use in a similar fashion to the other Academies. Additionally, I understand that the color of money issue regarding salaries was also sanctioned by MARAD.</p>
<p>GAO is begining an audit, I think it will find that there is plenty of culpability to go around.</p>
<p>However, saying the problems are at KP not MARAD is like saying the Air Force nuke problem was at Minot AFB, not HQ. If its that big a problem, Peters should fire Connaughton the way Gates fired Wynne and Moseley.</p>
<p>Needless to say, there needs to be better oversight of both MARAD and the Academy.</p>
<p>We'll have to wait and see what is the next shoe to drop.</p>
<p>LFWB dad..nice is fine...but...accountability matters....the anti-def has nothing to do with the NAFI's...USMMA overshot the appropriated pay and benefits line for three years running, all by playing shell games with the operations and Maint. funds during the continuing resolutions....BTW...MARAD is doing the audits, not GAO...I agree that there needs to be better oversight of the Academy and that's why DOT supposedly stripped Stewart of his fiscal authority.</p>
<p>
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....BTW...MARAD is doing the audits, not GAO...
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</p>
<p>MARAD may be doing its own audits, but the Senate Appropriations Committee has requested a GAO Audit as well of both the Academy and MARAD.</p>
<p>You're right accountability does matter. And like the Wing Commnader at Minot was canned, then Wynne and Moseley -- If Stewart goes so, should Connaughton -- accountability up the chain.</p>
<p>so is RADM McMahon taking over? I mean like nowish...?</p>
<p>If this was going on for three years running as Oliver says, then somebody at MARAD definately needs to be fired. One year you can blame on the Academy, three years running, somebody at the top was alseep!</p>
<p>They fired Fran Harvey for Walter Reed. This seems like DOT's Walter Reed. Not only is there a fix needed at the Academy, MARAD is where the buck stops and I'd say Connaughton should go too.</p>
<p>Maybe a few more head should roll in the Air Force Secretariat...According to the GAO the Air Force had six ADA violations in the last three years adding up to about a half a billion dollars. Sounds like Gates did the right thing.</p>
<p>I must say as an alumni from his early years I am quite saddened by this development. That's all I will say for now.</p>
<p>davy,</p>
<p>I don't think so...the other shoe dropped today....</p>
<p>do tell Oliver......</p>
<p>RADM mcmahon got the boot too?</p>
<p>Guys--it would be nice if you could speak in English--Who got fired?</p>