Sandia Nat'l Labs, DOE Pressured Polygraph Critic

[George W. Maschke]

On 9 Aug. 2002, the Washington Post published an op-ed piece by Dr. Alan P. Zelicoff, a senior scientist at Sandia National Laboratories, titled "
Polygraph Hypocrisy." In this article he is especially critical of Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-AL), who worked to expand polygraph screening in the Department of Energy but refused to submit to an FBI polygraph examination in the ongoing leak investigation in the Senate and House intelligence committees.

Dr. Zelicoff was pressured by lab management not to publish the article, and indirectly threatened by the Department of Energy after the article appeared. John Fleck of the Albuquerque Tribune tells the story in a 22 Aug. article titled, "Sandia Tried to Silence Criticism, Scientist Says." I encourage all to read it.

Dr. Zelicoff, who is an outspoken critic of polygraphy, also had an article published on the subject last year in Skeptical Inquirer. A version of the article which appeared in the Albuquerque Tribune under the title "False Detector" has been reproduced by permission on AntiPolygraph.org .

See also Dr. Zelicoff's unanswered letter to Sen. Shelby dated 6 Nov. 2000.

Dr. Zelicoff's courage in speaking truth to power is commendable, and it is to be hoped that others will follow his example.

[beech trees]

Dr. Zelicoff is truly a brave man to purposefully jeopordize his career to speak his mind. It's a testament to his credentials that he remains employed, as Mr. Carson makes it clear  in the article that Dr. Zelicoff is a valued and respected employee of Sandia. Well done, Dr. Zelicoff, please keep up the good work.