Hill sells un-'sanitized' surplus
That includes selling computers without verifying that their memories were erased. It includes clearing for sale without sanitization some guidance and control systems for missiles, infrared or laser tracking systems, safety and arming devices and more.
Some items were actually sold, and others were caught by inspectors before sales occurred, according to Air Force Audit Agency reports obtained by the Deseret Morning News through a Freedom of Information Act request.
"Equipment specialists did not always properly code items requiring demilitarization (the removal of dangerous or sensitive components and data). Inappropriately assigned codes can compromise military technology, national interests, public safety and security," said a report about problems at Hill's Ogden Air Logistics Center.
But in response to Morning News inquiries, the Ogden ALS issued a statement saying it had researched the items it had released as surplus and concluded they "do not present a danger to the public. The assets contained no classified, sensitive or controlled information."
Those four bases manage the life cycle — from production to destruction — of thousands of weapons, aircraft parts and myriad other types of equipment. They decide how much "demilitarization," if any, of items is needed before their sale as surplus.
Random sampling by inspectors showed that officials at Ogden had given the wrong codes in computers about how to handle demilitarization eventually for 52 percent of items reviewed; Lackland had miscoded 50 percent; Warner Robins miscoded 42 percent; and Oklahoma City had miscoded 33 percent.
An example that inspectors noted from Ogden's records is that a flight simulator trainer "valued at $52 million was coded as 'no demilitarization necessary' when it should have been coded as a Security Classified Item, requiring demilitarization before physical transfer to the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office."
Some other items that inspectors said were miscoded by officials at Ogden included a warhead subassembly for a guided missile, a safety and arming device, a guidance and control system and an infrared seeker sensor.
Regardless of how equipment types have been coded previously in computers, equipment specialists are supposed to double check just before items are released as surplus whether coding is correct and any planned sanitization is adequate.
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