Former DOE Polygraph Program Chief David M. Renzelman On 26 February 2003, David M. Renzelman resigned under pressure as chief of the Department of Energy's polygraph program. Renzelman's ouster came following an investigation of derogatory remarks about DOE laboratory employees that he made at DOE's
CNA-250 counterintelligence staff course in January.
On 3 March 2003,
National Nuclear Security Administration Director Linton F. Brooks was sent an anonymous fax congratulating him on his decision to oust Renzelman:
Quote:March 3, 2003
Linton F. Brooks
DOE/NNSA
Washington D.C.
SUBMIT VIA FAX: 202-586-4892
Dear Mr. Brooks:
We at Sandia National Labs want to thank you for your leadership and professionalism in dealing with David Renzelman who has been a long-standing embarrassment to the Department.
His derogatory reference to our employees and scientists, especially Dr. Zelicoff, in public forums and meetings is inexcusable and not forgiven by a mere false apology. In his resignation memo (attached), he continues to express his rash of insults by stating one of our employees used countermeasures in a polygraph examination. We also understand Renzelman and his clerk [Anne] Reed have addressed national and state polygraph association gatherings at DOE expense to refute the results of the NAS study, and in doing so, made inflammatory remarks regarding Dr. Zelicoff and Sandia employees who have had problems with polygraph.
Kathy Eberwein recognized the problems with Renzelman years ago but was rebuffed by DOE OCI leadership as they failed to properly address the ethical and contract fraud issues involving Renzelman from his association with [Anne] Reed to his attempt to illegally move the contract to another contractor. Your decision to remove Renzelman from his position as Director of the Inspection and Polygraph Program was met with elation among all ranks within DOE.
As we prepare for the next inspection, we do so with more confidence that we will not be crucified by someone who has lost their objectivity. I beg your pardon for this anonymity, but we still are not trusting. Again, Mr. Brooks, thank you.
The following is the text of Renzelman's resignation memo:
Quote:From: Renzelman, David M
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2003 4:05 PM
To: Daniel.Baur@CN.DOE.GOV; Stephen.Dillard@CN.DOE.GOV; Doug.Watson@CN.DOE.GOV; nousend@nv.doe.gov; Charlie.Costa@CN.DOE.GOV; Jim.Judge@CN.DOE.GOV; bill.durika@CN.DOE.GOV; Duffin, Andrew J; Anne.Reed@CN.DOE.GOV; Heysel, Avitus J; Leifheit, Frank; Kitchen, David V; Ries, David V; Hanson, Deborah K; Stukey, Donald E; Driver, Douglas D; Loturco, Frank A; Sherman, James J; McCartney, Janice I; Torrence, Larry E; Redmond, Paul J; Corbin, Richard L; Wade, Robert B; Hyatt, Victoria A (Vikki); Deanes, William L; Bedoya, Alex; Killeen, Daniel C; Hendrick, Donald R; Phillips, Donald M; Hoffman, Edward L; Melton, Jerry L; Mata, John P; Fox, Ronald L; Montague, Roy C; Gille, Steven C; Hilton, Tracey J; Vinskey, Wolfgang; caroline.barnes@CN.DOE.GOV; DAN.BRUNO@CN.DOE.GOV; douglas.hinckley@CN.DOE.GOV; THOMAS.HARPER@CN.DOE.GOV; Tod.Brown@CN.DOE.GOV; Tricia.Brown@CN.DOE.GOV; Zandra.Acree@CN.DOE.GOV
Subject: My resignation
All,
In background, during January of this year, I inappropriately referred to a female person who had been practicing countermeasures in one of our polygraph examinations, with inappropriate terms and also related some anecdotes about Scientists at NNSA Laboratories in their attempts to demean polygraph testing, during my presentation at a CNA 250 Course.
A person in this class complained about me in writing and it was referred up to the highest levels of management in DOE and NNSA and it has been decided that I should not and cannot continue as Director of either Program.
While I could try and explain this all day, it would be to no avail and I have this date, voluntarily stepped down as Program Director for both the Polygraph Program and the Inspections Program and will most likely retire in the very near future.
Effective today and until further notice, Anne Reed has been appointed as Acting Director, of both Programs. Dan Baur will be in contact with John Mata for matters pertaining to polygraph cases and Larry Torrence for matters pertaining to inspections.
I have enjoyed working with each and every one of you and will miss the relationships we have enjoyed, (or at least I did) and I will cherish them forever.
I urge your support for Anne Reed in the interim and I thank you for the past.
Semper Fidelis
Dave
Both the anonymous memo to NNSI director Brooks and Renzeman's farewell memo may be downloaded in PDF format here:
http://antipolygraph.org/articles/article-038.pdf