The Pentagon chief called the female subordinate a hot blonde

The Pentagon chief called the female subordinate a “hot blonde” and discussed another’s sex life, using an N-word

Douglas Glenn, a veteran government finance expert, was accused of using sexually suggestive and racist language in a report released on Thursday

Douglas Glenn, a veteran government finance expert, was accused of using sexually suggestive and racist language in a report released on Thursday

A senior Pentagon official “failed to treat subordinates with dignity and respect,” the inspector general concluded — noting how he made sexually suggestive comments, used racial slurs and drank with his coworkers on the job.

He called one staffer a “hot blonde” and told another he “hoped a handsome guy would rub oil on her back at the beach.”

He used the n-word at a meeting with his staff and said it might be understandable that people would lock their car doors when a black man walked past – an incident Barack Obama recalled in a 2013 speech.

Douglas Glenn joined the Department of Defense from the Home Office in 2018 and was promoted to Acting Comptroller – the Secretary of Defense’s chief adviser on budgetary matters – in January 2021.

Complaints began as soon as he took on the role of auditor and sparked the investigation – despite this, he was hired as chief financial officer in the Office of Personnel Management in November 2021.

The OPM has not commented on the report’s findings or addressed his future in the role. Glenn has yet to answer.

Glenn joined the Department of Defense from the Home Office in 2018, and in January 2021 was promoted to Acting Comptroller – the Secretary of Defense's chief adviser on budgetary matters

Glenn joined the Department of Defense from the Home Office in 2018, and in January 2021 was promoted to Acting Comptroller – the Secretary of Defense’s chief adviser on budgetary matters

Robert Storch, the inspector general, spent nearly two years compiling the report, speaking to 18 witnesses and combing through hundreds of thousands of emails.

The report was published on Thursday.

At a staff meeting in February 2021, he referenced Obama’s 2013 speech, in which he spoke about his experiences with racism and recalled hearing people lock their car doors as he walked by.

Glenn told employees “that the people who locked their car doors “may not have been racist” or had other reasons for locking,” the report reads.

Staff told investigators that his comments “made her and other subordinates feel appalled, surprised, betrayed, stunned and very confused and that it was an inappropriate and insensitive thing to say.”

Glenn told Stroch’s team he wanted to show how “people can look at things differently on race issues.”

“Who are the people in the car locking their doors?” Glenn told the inspector general’s staff, according to the report.

“Maybe they are racists. Maybe they look at a black man and assume there is a high risk of being robbed.

“Or maybe they’re just following National Highway Administration guidelines to lock your doors when you’re driving. It could be both.”

Glenn was referring to a 2013 speech by Barack Obama in which Obama addressed the racism he experienced.  Glenn tried to downplay Obama's comments

Glenn was referring to a 2013 speech by Barack Obama in which Obama addressed the racism he experienced. Glenn tried to downplay Obama’s statements

Glenn, in the same session, asked an Asian-American woman how she felt being an “Asian woman” in a department “that sees China as its biggest threat.”

He admitted to investigators it was “awkward” but said he believes he asked for their consent before the meeting.

Glenn “states that his performance rating for the period was ‘above average’, leading him to believe that no one had complained to their manager about his sweeping comments,” the report reads.

At another staff meeting a few weeks later, which focused on diversity and inclusion, Glenn shared an anecdote about how he misunderstood someone and thought they used the N-word.

Glenn acknowledged the use of the racial slur but said the story was meant to “highlight the varied reactions he received and explain why talking about race is difficult.”

The report noted that one employee was “concerned, appalled and offended that Mr Glenn thought it was okay to use the n-word”.

He also made sexually inappropriate comments – commenting on an employee’s attractiveness in relation to others.

Another female employee said Glenn called her a “hot blonde” at happy hour outside of the office.

Glenn denied making the comments, saying it didn’t sound like anything he would say.

Employees also recounted two occasions when Glenn drank wine and craft beer in his office during work hours and offered it to his subordinates.

Glenn accepted that he kept alcohol in his office and drank occasionally, mostly after hours, but stopped when he learned that the Department of Defense required written authorization to consume alcohol on the job.

Three people who had previously worked for Glenn – two women and a black man – contacted the Washington Post to defend him.

“I would call him my best boss in 32 years in government,” said Vickie Jones, who worked for Glenn a decade ago when he was deputy chief financial officer at the General Services Administration.

Glenn denied intentionally creating a hostile work environment.

“Mr Glenn told us that his subordinates may have interpreted what he said as sexually suggestive, but his comments were ‘in no way, shape or form intended,'” reads the report.

The report’s authors said: “We stand by our conclusions.”