ETHICAL SCENARIO

NSEC 502

Background.

Examine the Facts.

Truth Matters—Seek the Truth.

Help from Others.

Identify the Ethical Absolutes, Principles, Precepts, Virtues/Character and Values that Relate to the Dilemma(s).

Consider the Consequences, Creative Alternatives and Other Applicable Theories and Doctrines, etc.

Discussion/Decision/Rationale.

Stand for God.

Implementation/Fallback.

Other.

Appendix I

Ethical Scenario Paper Assignment: Advanced

The Technical Expert: Part A & Part B

Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Tom Brown is a career air force officer who currently works in research and development. He is currently near promotion to 0-6 (colonel) and knows that the next evaluation will largely determine if he will make the rank of 0-6. Tom is a practicing Christian, an ordained deacon and sings in the church choir. Tom has a wife (Ruth) and three daughters, one daughter with special needs, his middle daughter about to enter college, and the youngest daughter a few years behind. Ruth is a Christian and devoted to her husband, but she is very security orientated. Financial security is so important to Ruth, that it is a phobia and something she has not completely given to the Lord. This was made manifest ten years earlier when Tom was punished for his [excellent] integrity. [He was punished for doing the right thing.] Although Tom’s boss was asked to retire early [for his lack of integrity] and Tom was exonerated for his actions. However, Tom’s last promotion was delayed, and he thought he was going to leave the Air Force with little prospect of a good job outside the Air Force.

Part A. Tom’s project team is involved in developing and testing a weapons system that is expected to be added to the inventory of the Air Force. Lieutenant Colonel Brown is responsible for testing the performance of the weapons system in a variety of operational environments. Much of the work Tom is doing is classified and his program is likely a target of foreign intelligence agencies. Tom’s best friend, Bob, also works on a different project but in the same office. In the last several weeks, Tom has noticed that Bob with a female that appears to be foreign national. Bob has had a number of unexplained absences in the last six months and complained about marriage difficulties—he is separated from his wife. Bob bought a new BMW and even though he is separated, he is living in high-end apartment complex. During this timeframe, Bob has asked a lot of questions about his program that were clearly beyond Bob’s need-to-know. Bob has also had one security violation in the last six months—failure to secure classified. Tom’s inclination is to look the other way, the last thing he needs to do is jeopardize his job.

Part B. The development program is a controversial one. The Air Force sought approval and funding for the weapons system for several years before congressional resistance was overcome. Several key representatives are still adamantly opposed to the continuation of the program and the eventual purchase of the system. The Air Force, with Pentagon backing, has long insisted that such a weapons system is essential to ensure that it is able to counter certain lethal capabilities which both Russian and China have developed and fielded. The weapons system that Lieutenant Colonel Brown is testing is the choice of the Air Force.

Unfortunately, the weapons system has failed to meet certain minimum requirements established by the Pentagon. When Lieutenant Colonel Brown first reported the difficulties to his project chief, he was told to run the tests again. He was also told that if the weapons system, which had been developed at such cost, were to prove unsatisfactory, the possibility was great that the Congress would terminate the program in the upcoming budget cycle. In the view of the Air Force, such a result would critically undermine its future capabilities in relation to the Russian and China. The project chief went so far as to say that even the president has agreed that the timely procurement of the weapons system is essential to national defense.

While no specific directives have been issued, the project chief has implied that it is his responsibility in this unusual case to ensure that the weapons system meets the minimum requirements. Lieutenant Colonel Brown has identified certain deficiencies that can be corrected over time, but the process will require additional (and costly) development that cannot be accomplished quickly. The project chief has said informally that a flawed but perfectible system would be infinitely preferable to no system at all, but it seems clear that if the system does not meet the minimum requirements, the Congress will cut funding entirely in the upcoming budget process. The project chief has temporarily delayed publication of the test data, but he can resist pressure for only a limited time.

Lieutenant Colonel Brown also believes that procurement of the weapons system is vitally important. He thinks that it would be an extremely grave error to terminate the program and thus at least to postpone acquisition of the system for the foreseeable future. At the same time, he is instinctively repelled by the thought of doctoring his test results in order to conceal the existing shortcomings of the system.

References

Rae, S. (2018). Moral choices: an introduction to ethics. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Tyra, G. (2015). Pursuing moral faithfulness: ethics and Christian discipleship. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

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