Following an investigation into a former high-ranking military official, Douglas Glenn, it was concluded that Glenn instigated racially and sexually insensitive behavior in the workplace including using the N-word in the office on a casual basis. 

The investigation was launched by the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General after a complaint was filed by an anonymous employee within the Department, and it found that Glenn often raised his voice, offered alcohol to his colleagues and subordinates, and gave sexual and racially offensive comments to coworkers - all of which violate Pentagon policy.

'Insulting, disrespectful'

Now a chief financial officer at the Office of Personnel Management, Glenn first was promoted to the position of CFO at the DoD in December 2020, but left his post less than a year later in November 2021. Glenn was responsible for overseeing the Pentagon's financial management policies and its multibillion-dollar budget.

The report states that Glenn constantly denied encouraging a hostile work environment deliberately although he did confirm many of the allegations against him.

During his time as CFO in the DoD, he partook in “an overall course of conduct that failed to treat subordinates with dignity and respect and created an offensive work environment for his subordinates." The report further stated that “three subordinates told [the Office of Inspector General] that his comments were insulting, disrespectful, and implied that ‘DoD employees sucked.’”

One DoD recalled how Glenn once told her that even if all the women in the office were lined up, they wouldn't be as pretty as she is. Another employee recalled how Glenn referred to her as a “hot blond”. The report adds that “Mr. Glenn responded to the sexually sensitive comments by telling us that the comments did not sound like anything he would say.”

Regarding the use of racial slurs, Glenn reportedly “asked an Asian American subordinate to share her feelings during the all-hands meeting about being an Asian female in a department that considers China its biggest threat.” 

Rise of sexual assault in the military

This follows vows made by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to “stamp out sexual assault, to rid our ranks of racists and extremists, and to create a climate where everyone fit and willing has the opportunity to serve this country with dignity". In that context, The Intercept reported in 2021 that the DoD intends to start screening service members’ social media accounts for extremist content. 

Reports of sexual assault have skyrocketed in recent years. According to a Defense Department survey published in September, which began to collect data in 2015, nearly 36,000 service members said they had experienced unwanted sexual contact, a sharp increase over the 20,500 victims among active-duty personnel found in 2018, the last time the survey was conducted. About one in 12 women on active duty (8.4%) reported having been assaulted or subjected to an assault attempt in the last year, while figures for men doubled to 1.5%, the Pentagon’s Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military for 2021 reports. 

As part of Austin's initiative, the DoD confirmed earlier this month that Pentagon officials are planning on renaming military infrastructure tied to the Confederate States of America at the beginning of 2024, which includes nine Army bases, two Navy ships, and more than 1,000 items on American military installations.