RC-135V 64-14848 (After the FIRE) 30 April 2015

I revealed to Congress in 2008 that the United States Air Force was operating a fleet of reconnaissance aircraft (RC-135s) that were not airworthy. To divert attention away from the maintenance issues that I had reported, the agency retaliated with an immediate attack on my character. The diversion included a trip through the Pentagon, Congress, and the Nebraska State Court system. Eventually, government investigations substantiated the non-airworthy conditions that I had reported, but not before the United States had secured a 1.3 billion dollar foreign military sale to the United Kingdom for the same type of aircraft.

The agency suspended my security clearance and refused to provide me with the derogatory information it had compiled against me. After 17 months, I conducted a one man, lawful and peaceful protest at the off-base residence of Lt. Col. Dana C. McCown, the Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Commander of the 55th Wing. My protest broke the stalemate when McCown petitioned the Sarpy County District Court for a harassment protection order against me. Through civil court actions, I was able to prove that McCown and her partner (Ms. Dawn A. Tanner) lied to local law enforcement officials and federal investigators, which paved my way to a global settlement in April 2011. (Click here for May 2011 press release) 

My security clearance was adjudicated in April 2012. Although a Federal administrative law judge recommended the reinstatement of my security clearance, the Personnel Security Appeals Board (PSAB) chose to disregard his recommendation.

Through these events, I stumbled upon a breach of national security involving two major commands spanning several decades. When I reported this security breach to senior defense officials a “be on the lookout” (BOLO) was issued against me by the 55th Wing security forces.  The BOLO  violated the terms of the settlement and challenged my authority to act as a Union Officer of AFGE Local 1486.

Congress and the Justice Department clearly demonstrated an inability to protect me from prohibited personnel practices (5 U.S.C. § 2302).

Now that I have retired, I provide this information to demonstrate the manner in which government agencies employ the use of harassment, intimidation, and reprisals to control the federal workforce when managers fear that they have been caught doing something unethical or illegal. 

George Sarris enlisted in the United States Air Force in the spring of 1977 as a tactical fighter aircraft mechanic. In 1985 he was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Major in Professional Aeronautics. Following completion of the required curriculum, the FAA granted Mr. Sarris an airframe and powerplant license.

In 1986 Mr. Sarris gained employment as a dual-status technician of the Air National Guard. Over the next sixteen years, he maintained the pneudraulic systems of the RF4-C and the KC-135 aircraft. He volunteered for no-notice deployments, taking part in the Kosovo Campaign as well as Operation Enduring Freedom.

Mr. Sarris transferred to the Federal civil service in 2002 where he became the senior mechanic maintaining variants of the RC-135 aircraft at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. During this same period, he transferred to a traditional status of the Air National Guard and provided training to mechanics converting to the KC-135 airframe. Mr. Sarris retired from the Air National Guard in 2005 after serving for twenty-eight years. He continued to work as a civilian mechanic for the Air Force on the RC-135 aircraft maintenance program until he blew the whistle on the 55th Wing for utilizing aircraft that were not airworthy.

In 2012, Mr. Sarris became the vice president of AFGE Local 1486 representing the Wage Grade employees of Offutt AFB, including the civilian mechanics of the aircraft maintenance squadron. Mr. Sarris retired from the Federal civil service in 2014.