Slashdot Mirror
YouTube Used for Whistleblowing
fightmaster writes "A Lockheed Martin engineer with concerns about the safety and security flaws in a fleet of refurbished Coast Guard patrol boats turned to YouTube in order to publicize concerns he felt were being ignored by his employer and the government. From the article: 'The 41-year-old Lockheed Martin engineer had complained to his bosses. He had told his story to government investigators. He had called congressmen. But when no one seemed to be stepping up to correct what he saw as critical security flaws in a fleet of refurbished Coast Guard patrol boats, De Kort did just about the only thing left he could think of to get action: He made a video and posted it on YouTube.com.'"
I am already unemployed
Cameras - this doesn't affect any system that digitizes or montors them . All we need was one more camera. As for the security aspect - the CG and LM maintain there is no issue. As such I cannot compromise a non-problem. The boast have been this way for almost a year. if there were issues the CG had plenty of time to correct them. Which is better not fixing this and having that secusrity isue or fixing this with the video (the video was alast resort after 3 years - see below)? (Now the CG has to use a watch stander - they are more secure) FLIR was an example - it might also have been fixed by adding a heater. See we didn't get the environmental requirements until after design review and most of the equip was bought (which is nuts - this is also the time I came on the program ) The FLIR was the first system we looked at. When I told management there was an issue with the FLIR they directed us to stop looking in to the rest. So. . .my worry is that there are more issues (and not just temp)
Cables - EVERY SINGLE cable on each boat that was supposed to be shielded is not. Almost 100 cables on each boat. We actually removed the shielded cable for the old systems we were putting back in. I have a TEMPEST background. I also talked to experts in Lockheed as well as the company that certs Air Force One. All agree that under these conditions it is very improbable that the instrumented test would pass. Also - the IG asked for test data months ago - and hasn't gotten it. They also asked to independently check the boats. The CG won't comply. Don't you think they would if the test actually passed?
As for the way I did this. I spent 3 years - went through 3 LM ethics investigations, coporate legal, the CEO and Board of Directors. I went to the Commandant of the CG, the CO of the boats, the Navy, GAO, NSA etc. Finally the DHS IG agreed to investigate. They have told me all of my claims look to be legitimate. However they can't continue because the CG isn't cooperating. I then went to the Homeland Security Committee and asked them to push the CG - they refused. Meanwhile these boats are operating. Also - all the other gov't orgs who use those classified circuits are at risk.
My advice to some of you - since you are engineers. Don't assume or make judgements until you know what you are talking about. Feel free to email me - imispgh@yahoo.com
Thank you. The video was the last thing I wanted to do. Didn't want to live with these things eating away at me. Background 6 years Navy Comm Tech 1.5 years US State Dept Comm Eng - 8 months Comm Eng for Counter Terrorism group 12 yeas LM - Syst Eng, PM amd Eng Manager. Including SW PM for an Aegis BAseline and SW Eng Manager for LM NORAD projects
As prior military who worked on UHF SATCOM (satellite communications systems) for a period of nearly four years as a lead programmer in the Air Force, I would tend to believe rather than disregard these statements. I have worked with forces from US Coast Guard, Navy, Army, Air Force, NATO forces, etc and in real-world scenarios, operational security is often overlooked or even covered up in order for projects to not lose funding or lose face in the eyes of upper management and project supporters high up in the government. It is also overlooked sometimes because of the BS red tape involved to implement the simplest security protocols. I pray that some of these issues have been resolved or that the shortcomings described have been negated by other means, however I doubt it. I wish you good luck in your fight and hope that in the end you are vindicated - if so, I hope you sue LM's ass off for the hell I'm sure you've been through. Thanks for standing up - let us know how we can help.
I personally think it is rather commendable, and while I think the short term will be rough for him, hopefully it can bring to light other issues that the coast guard has been glossing over. My dad was in the navy and road an icebreaker on a trip up near the North Pole. If equipment was not rated to survive in the cold weather, they were basically useless to the crew.
Keep it up, you have media attention now, and thanks to midterm elections, something might actually be done about it.
Gonzo Granzeau
"Nothing the god of biomechanics wouldn't let you into heaven for.." -Roy Batty