UNCLASSIFIED//

ROUTINE

R 311352Z JUL 08

FM OU=SECNAV WASHINGTON DC(UC),L=WASHINGTON,L=DISTRICT OF 
COLUMBIA,OU=ORGANIZATIONS(UC),OU=NAVY,OU=DOD,O=U.S. GOVERNMENT,C=US

TO CN=AL ALNAV(UC),OU=ADDRESS LISTS(UC),OU=NAVY,OU=DOD,O=U.S. 
GOVERNMENT,C=US OU=ALNAV,OU=AIG 6-AZ,OU=AUTODIN PLAS,OU=DOD,O=U.S. 
GOVERNMENT,C=US

INFO OU=CNO WASHINGTON DC(UC),L=WASHINGTON,L=DISTRICT OF 
COLUMBIA,OU=ORGANIZATIONS(UC),OU=NAVY,OU=DOD,O=U.S. GOVERNMENT,C=US 
OU=CNO WASHINGTON DC(UC),L=WASHINGTON,L=DISTRICT OF 
COLUMBIA,OU=ORGANIZATIONS(UC),OU=NAVY,OU=DOD,O=U.S. GOVERNMENT,C=US 
OU=SECNAV WASHINGTON DC(UC),L=WASHINGTON,L=DISTRICT OF 
COLUMBIA,OU=ORGANIZATIONS(UC),OU=NAVY,OU=DOD,O=U.S. GOVERNMENT,C=US

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FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
TO ALNAV

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ALNAV 060/08

MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/JUL//

SUBJ/BALANCING OUR MISSION WITH OVERSIGHT//

RMKS/1.  I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ADHERING TO INTERNAL 
CONTROLS DESIGNED TO PREVENT FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE.  I URGE ALL 
ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACQUISITION PROCESS - FROM REQUIREMENTS GENERATION 
THROUGH CONTRACT CLOSEOUT - TO EMPHASIZE VIGILANCE IN THE PROSECUTION 
OF OUR NAVAL MISSION WHILE ENSURING THE INTEGRITY OF ADEQUATE OVERSIGHT.

2.  IN OCTOBER 2007, I CHARTERED A TEAM, LED BY THE GENERAL COUNSEL OF 
THE NAVY AND THE ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL (ACQUISITION INTEGRITY), TO 
EXAMINE OUR DEPARTMENTS ACQUISITION CHECKS AND BALANCES INTENDED TO 
DETECT, DETER, AND PREVENT FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE IN OVERSEAS 
CONTRACTING ACTIVITIES.  ADDITIONALLY, I TASKED THE TEAM TO DEVELOP 
RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY AND ADEQUACY OF THESE CHECKS 
AND BALANCES.  THIS REVIEW REVEALED GAPS IN OUR OVERSIGHT.

3.  WHILE EXECUTING THE NAVAL MISSION IS ESSENTIAL, IT SHOULD NOT AND 
CANNOT TRUMP OVERSIGHT.  WE MUST BALANCE MISSION EXECUTION WITH 
ADHERENCE TO A SET OF CONTROLS THAT ADEQUATELY PROTECT OUR DEPARTMENT 
FROM FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE.  CIRCUMVENTING OVERSIGHT DESTROYS THE 
LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF OUR DEPARTMENT, AND, IN THE LONG RUN, 
JEOPARDIZES SUCCESSFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE NAVAL MISSION.  ALTHOUGH 
THE RECENT REVIEW BY THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL, NAVAL INSPECTOR 
GENERAL, NAVAL AUDIT SERVICE, NAVAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE SERVICE, AND 
THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE NAVY (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND 
ACQUISITION) FOCUSED ON OCONUS ACTIVITIES, THE LESSONS LEARNED APPLY 
JUST AS STRONGLY TO ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS ACQUISITION ACTIVITIES.

4.  THE SACRIFICE OF RESOURCES TO FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE COMPROMISES 
OUR ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION.  IN MOST CIRCUMSTANCES WE CAN 
TRACE THESE LOSSES TO AN INSTANCE WHERE PERSONNEL HAVE IGNORED 
ESTABLISHED CONTROLS.  IN SOME CASES, THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSIGHT 
SUCCUMB TO MISSION PRESSURE AT THE EXPENSE OF ADEQUATE CHECKS AND 
BALANCES.  WE MUST DO BETTER.  WE OWE OUR NATION AND THE TAXPAYERS OUR 
VERY BEST EFFORTS AS STEWARDS OF DEPARTMENTAL RESOURCES.  THIS REQUIRES 
PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT AND ATTENTION OF LEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS TO 
ENSURE OVERSIGHT CONTROLS ARE PROPERLY ADMINISTERED.  I EXPECT 
LEADERSHIP TO PRIORITIZE THIS ISSUE APPROPRIATELY AND TO CONTINUE TO 
EXPLORE WAYS TO IMPROVE DEPARTMENTAL EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS.

5.  RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE DONALD C. WINTER, SECRETARY OF THE 
NAVY.//

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