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'''Benjamin F. Strickland II''', is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander (CDR) and whistleblower advocate who alleged unlawful retaliation from his Coast Guard Pacific Area chain-of-command and Obama administration Department of Homeland Security officials in violation of the Military Whistleblower Protection Act.

'''Benjamin F. Strickland II''', is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander (CDR) and whistleblower advocate who alleged unlawful retaliation from his Coast Guard Pacific Area chain-of-command and Obama administration Department of Homeland Security officials in violation of the Military Whistleblower Protection Act.

 

==Early life and education==

==Early life and education==

CDR Strickland was born in 1972 and is a native of Seattle, Washington. He graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in 1995 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nautical Science. He attended the U.S. Naval War College in 2009 graduating with a Masters of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. He is a graduate of the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School (MAWS) and is a qualified Joint Operational Planner.[http://www.benstrickland.net www.benstrickland.net]

CDR Strickland was born in 1972 and is a native of Seattle, Washington. He graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in 1995 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nautical Science. He attended the U.S. Naval War College in 2009 graduating with a Masters of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. He is a graduate of the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School (MAWS) and is a qualified Joint Operational Planner. <ref>[http://www.benstrickland.net www.benstrickland.net] </ref>

==Career==

==Career==

From 2009 to 2011, he was assigned as a Strategic Planner in the Office of Defense Operations (CG-532) at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC where he executed responsibility for Coast Guard input into National Defense strategy documents, plans and policy, coordination of service chief-level staff talks, resourcing of Joint Staff global force management requests, and also served as the Desk Officer for all U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command issues. CDR Strickland returned to sea as Operations Officer in USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752) at Alameda, California from July 2011 to June 2012 before assuming duties as Executive Officer in USCGC Munro (WHEC-724) at Kodiak, Alaska in July 2012. a. After his whistleblowing complaints, in 2014 he was reassigned to Coast Guard Headquarters as the Support Division Chief in the Office of Counterterrorism and Defense Operations (CG-ODO-3). He retired from active duty in 2015.

From 2009 to 2011, he was assigned as a Strategic Planner in the Office of Defense Operations (CG-532) at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC where he executed responsibility for Coast Guard input into National Defense strategy documents, plans and policy, coordination of service chief-level staff talks, resourcing of Joint Staff global force management requests, and also served as the Desk Officer for all U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command issues. CDR Strickland returned to sea as Operations Officer in USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752) at Alameda, California from July 2011 to June 2012 before assuming duties as Executive Officer in USCGC Munro (WHEC-724) at Kodiak, Alaska in July 2012. a. After his whistleblowing complaints, in 2014 he was reassigned to Coast Guard Headquarters as the Support Division Chief in the Office of Counterterrorism and Defense Operations (CG-ODO-3). He retired from active duty in 2015.

Whistleblowing Activity:  On May 23, 2013 CDR Strickland was serving as Acting Commanding Officer onboard USCGC Munro (WHEC-724) homeported in Kodiak, Alaska when he made an unrestricted reported regarding a sexual assault alleged to have been committed upon a MUNRO crewmember. CDR Strickland reported the sexual assault allegations immediately to his immediate superior in Command, then-VADM Paul Zukunft and requested an investigation by the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), participated as a witness in the investigations which stemmed from his report, and later expressed his belief of waste, abuse of authority and gross mismanagement by CGIS and senior Coast Guard management officials. After his whistleblowing activity and complaint that CGIS was abusing it's authority and not properly investigating the sexual assault, CDR Strickland became the target of the very investigations which stemmed from his report and was subsequently subjected to multiple acts of retaliation. CDR Strickland was removed from his primary duties, received a derogatory Officer Evaluation Report (OER), and placed in a billet not commensurate with his paygrade as a senior officer. CDR Strickland subsequently filed a whistleblower retaliation complaint with the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (OIG) which was accepted for investigation. His has a case pending adjudication by the Board for Correction of Military Records to have the retaliation taken against him removed from his Coast Guard personnel record.[http://www.militarycorruption.com/benstrickland.htm COAST GUARD WHISTLEBLOWER RETALIATED AGAINST AFTER REPORTING SEXUAL ASSAULT] [http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2015/02/27/coast-guard-sexual-assault-cgis-investigation-firing/23166307/ Sacked cutter XO says he was target of endless inquest]

Whistleblowing Activity:  On May 23, 2013 CDR Strickland was serving as Acting Commanding Officer onboard USCGC Munro (WHEC-724) homeported in Kodiak, Alaska when he made an unrestricted reported regarding a sexual assault alleged to have been committed upon a MUNRO crewmember. CDR Strickland reported the sexual assault allegations immediately to his immediate superior in Command, then-VADM Paul Zukunft and requested an investigation by the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), participated as a witness in the investigations which stemmed from his report, and later expressed his belief of waste, abuse of authority and gross mismanagement by CGIS and senior Coast Guard management officials. After his whistleblowing activity and complaint that CGIS was abusing it's authority and not properly investigating the sexual assault, CDR Strickland became the target of the very investigations which stemmed from his report and was subsequently subjected to multiple acts of retaliation. CDR Strickland was removed from his primary duties, received a derogatory Officer Evaluation Report (OER), and placed in a billet not commensurate with his paygrade as a senior officer. CDR Strickland subsequently filed a whistleblower retaliation complaint with the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (OIG) which was accepted for investigation. His has a case pending adjudication by the Board for Correction of Military Records to have the retaliation taken against him removed from his Coast Guard personnel record.<ref>[http://www.militarycorruption.com/benstrickland.htm COAST GUARD WHISTLEBLOWER RETALIATED AGAINST AFTER REPORTING SEXUAL ASSAULT]</ref> <ref> [http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2015/02/27/coast-guard-sexual-assault-cgis-investigation-firing/23166307/ Sacked cutter XO says he was target of endless inquest] </ref>

Post Retirement: In July 2015, CDR Strickland accepted a civilian position in the maritime industry. He also serves as a member of the executive leadership team for the Washington, DC area-based Alliance for Whistleblowers.

Post Retirement: In July 2015, CDR Strickland accepted a civilian position in the maritime industry. He also serves as a member of the executive leadership team for the Washington, DC area-based Alliance for Whistleblowers.

Coast Guard Expert Rifle Medal,

Coast Guard Expert Rifle Medal,

Coast Guard Pistol Marksman Ribbon

Coast Guard Pistol Marksman Ribbon