DISA's Conflict-of-Interest Quandary

Nextgov's Editor at Large Bob Brewin broke the story this week that the Defense Department planned to withdraw the nomination of Rear Adm. Elizabeth Hight to be the next director of the Defense Information Systems Agency. The reason: Hight's husband, retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Gary Salisbury, is vice president of business development and sales for Northrop Grumman's mission systems sector, defense mission systems division. Northrop Grumman is Defense's third-largest contractor, according to a ranking of Defense contractors compiled annually by Government Executive.

At least one senator on the Armed Services Committee thought the relationship presented a conflict of interest and pushed to have Hight's nomination withdrawn.

The reaction to the rejection of Hight, who was considered one of the strongest candidates for the job but will continue to serve as DISA's deputy director, was disappointment mixed with a tinge of irritation. Bernie Skoch, a consultant with Suss Consulting in Jenkintown, Pa., and a retired Air Force general who served a tour at DISA, told Brewin he believed that Hight and Salisbury could have kept their professional lives separate from their personal lives.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Charles Croom, DISA's current director who plans to retire July 22, expressed regret that Hight will not succeed him. She "would have been the most qualified director we have ever had," he said.

DISA purchases hundreds of millions of dollars worth of information technology hardware and services every year, the kind of hardware and services that Northrop Grumman sells. This seems like a slam-dunk definition of a conflict of interest, despite what people say are Hight's rock-solid qualifications. It's hard to see Hight and Salisbury not having to explain over and over again the uncomfortable relationship to the IT industry and even the Hill. But it would be good to hear from you. Did the Senate make the right decision?