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Navy disciplines
officer on Kauai

The Barking Sands commander
is cited for misuse of funds
on base housing projects


By Anthony Sommer
tsommer@starbulletin.com

BARKING SANDS, Kauai >> The commander of the Pacific Missile Range was disciplined but not relieved of command after a yearlong investigation found he had spent thousands of dollars, without authorization, to refurbish his government-owned home, a Navy spokeswoman said yesterday.

The Navy Inspector General's Office in Hawaii found that Capt. Brian Moss spent more than $177,000 on his home on base and two beach gazebos, using funds that were not authorized or were designated for base operations or enlisted housing.

"Very appropriate and effective disciplinary actions were taken," said Lt. Cmdr. Jane Campbell, public affairs officer for the Hawaii Navy region.

She confirmed Moss remains in command of the Navy's premier missile testing facility. The Pacific Missile Range also provides the Navy's most sophisticated nuclear submarine training range in the Pacific and hosts numerous international naval training exercises.

Campbell would not elaborate on the disciplinary actions. She said Moss was stripped of his authority over housing funds, but that action already was planned for all base commanders under a Navy "regionalization" program.

Moss' expenditures included more than $119,000 for the two gazebos that originally were estimated to cost $15,000, according to the report which was obtained by KHON-TV under the Freedom of Information Act. Also spent was more than $13,000 for carpeting inside the commander's house, including almost $2,700 to fly the carpet to Hawaii from the mainland after Moss rejected locally available carpet, according to the report.

The investigation substantiated allegations that Moss directed work to be performed on his residence in violation of applicable laws and regulations, the report said.

Moss, who would not comment on the charges, took command of the Pacific Missile Range on Nov. 22, 1999. The base was just beginning a continuing series of tests of the Navy's new anti-missile missile, which is considered the Navy's top priority weapons project.

According to the missile range's Web site, Moss has 5,000 hours as a test pilot and with carrier squadrons flying the A-6 Intruder. Prior to taking command of the Pacific Missile Range, Moss served as director of test and engineering resources at the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization.


The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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