Fort Wayne Guard base leader under investigation

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FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) — The Indiana National Guard is
investigating a complaint that the commander of its base in Fort Wayne
has misspent public funds.
WANE-TV reports someone from within the
122nd Fighter Wing filed a formal complaint accusing Col.
David
Augustine of carelessly spending more than $230,000 since being
appointed to the post in January 2011.
Lt. Col. Cathy Van Bree, an
Indiana National Guard public affairs officer, said an investigation was
started on Tuesday, but wouldn’t disclose details.
Lt. Chris
Myers, a public information officer at the base, said Augustine would
not comment on the allegations until the investigation is complete.
The
complaint obtained by WANE-TV alleges Augustine’s improper spending
included $100,000 on classes for Guard members to learn how to give
speeches as part of a development program, $50,000 for a neon sign,
$50,000 for two holiday parties and $30,000 to renovate a personal
office. The complaint also said Augustine used A-10 combat jets flown
from the base as "his personal taxi."
The Journal Gazette reports
that Van Bree said in a statement that a National Guard officer from
another state was selected "as an impartial third-party investigating
officer" after consultations with the National Guard Bureau’s staff
judge advocate and inspector general.
Van Bree said she didn’t know how long it would take to investigate the complaint, which she said was
made April 28.

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