The State: Whistleblower’s lawyer: USAF could do more
The State profiles TSgt Jennifer Smith, who worked with Protect Our Defenders to expose United States Air Force indifference to blatant sexual harassment and retaliation against many of those who report misconduct.
Smith, a 17-year highly decorated enlisted veteran of the Air Force who rose to the rank of technical sergeant, made her formal complaint of various sexual misconduct charges in November 2012, ultimately leading to Maj. Gen. Lawrence Wells ordering an investigation into the various accusations.
In addition, declassified reports from the Smith investigation verified it was the former technical sergeant’s whistleblowing that led to the “Health and Welfare Inspection” ordered last year by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. During this investigation at more than 100 Air Force installations worldwide involving nearly 600,000 military and civilian personnel, officials removed 631 pieces of pornography, 3,987 pieces of “unprofessional material” and 27,598 pieces of “inappropriate or offensive items” from military workplaces.
