A. Ernest Fitzgerald facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
A. Ernest Fitzgerald
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| Born |
Arthur Ernest Fitzgerald
July 31, 1926 |
| Died | January 31, 2019 (aged 92) Falls Church, Virginia, U.S.
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| Education | University of Alabama (BS) |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Employer | United States Air Force |
| Known for | Pentagon whistleblower |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Navy |
Arthur Ernest "Ernie" Fitzgerald (born July 31, 1926 – died January 31, 2019) was an American engineer. He worked for the United States Air Force in a high-ranking position. Fitzgerald is best known as a whistleblower for the U.S. government. A whistleblower is someone who tells the public or authorities about secret problems or illegal activities within a company or government.
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Who Was A. Ernest Fitzgerald?
Ernie Fitzgerald was a smart engineer who worked to improve how the United States Air Force managed its money and projects. He was in charge of finding ways to save money and make sure things were done efficiently. This included looking at costs, analyzing information, and making sure projects were on track.
Fitzgerald served in the United States Navy before going to college. He earned a degree in industrial engineering from the University of Alabama. An industrial engineer helps organizations work better and more efficiently. He even held several patents for his inventions. Fitzgerald also wrote books like "The High Priests of Waste" and "The Pentagonists." He passed away in Falls Church, Virginia, when he was 92 years old.
Speaking Up About Government Spending
Fitzgerald started working for the U.S. Air Force in 1965. He was a Deputy for Management Systems at the Pentagon, which is the headquarters for the U.S. military. While working there, he discovered some big problems.
In 1968 and 1969, Fitzgerald spoke to the U.S. Congress. He told them about huge cost overruns and technical issues with a large transport airplane called the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. A cost overrun means a project ends up costing much more money than originally planned.
Because he spoke honestly about these problems, some people accused him of sharing secret information. As a result, President Richard Nixon ordered that Fitzgerald be fired from his job.
Fighting for His Rights
After being fired, Fitzgerald fought to get his job back. He successfully appealed to the United States Civil Service Commission. This commission helps protect government employees.
He was also involved in important legal cases. One famous case was Nixon v. Fitzgerald, which went all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States. These cases helped set rules about the rights of government employees and the power of the president.
A Champion for Whistleblowers
In 1968, Fitzgerald bravely reported that the Lockheed C-5 aircraft program was going to cost $2.3 billion more than expected. When he spoke to Congress, he chose to be completely honest. He shared details about billions of dollars in extra costs and other technical issues.
Because of his honesty, President Richard Nixon ordered his firing. The Secretary of Defense, Melvin Laird, carried out this order.
Ernie Fitzgerald's courage in telling the truth helped create stronger protections for whistleblowers in the United States. He spent more than 40 years fighting against waste and fraud in government spending. He believed it was important for people to speak up when they saw problems.
Awards and Recognition
Fitzgerald received many awards for his bravery and commitment to honesty:
- 1967 Air Force nominee, Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award
- 1973 Judge Henry T. Edgerton Award
- 1976 Freedom Award
- 1977 Marshall Engineers and Scientists Association Award
- 1986 Sigma Delta Chi First Amendment Award
- 1988 Cavallo Foundation Award
- 1989 First Amendment Award, Tau Beta Phi, Alpha Pi Mu and Phi Eta Sigma, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va.
- 1996 The Paul H. Douglas Ethics in Government Award
See also
- Anti-Gag Statute
- Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense
- Department of Defense Whistleblower Program
