Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly has issued a Secretarial Letter of Censure to now-retired United States Navy Chief Logistics Specialist (LSC) Ulysis T. Guno, following a thorough review of his interactions with Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA), a defense contractor and prohibited source.    

Acting Secretary Modly determined that in 2004, while serving as Supply Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO), USS CUSHING (DD 985), and between 2009 and 2010, while serving as LCPO for Logistics Support Center, Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, Detachment Singapore, LSC (Ret.) Guno repeatedly and improperly accepted and solicited gifts from Leonard Francis and GDMA, a prohibited source.  Based on the evidence reviewed, the total value of the gifts LSC (Ret.) Guno received from Mr. Francis/GDMA was at least $10,617.90.  During the same period, LSC (Ret.) Guno repeatedly took action for the benefit of Mr. Francis/GDMA; he made a practice of unquestioningly recommending the approval of invoices on which he knew or believed GDMA was overbilling the Navy, and he shared internal Navy information with Mr. Francis/GDMA.  Acting Secretary Modly determined that LSC (Ret.) Guno engaged in graft by soliciting and accepting things of value in recognition of services rendered to Mr. Francis/GDMA relating to official matters in which the United States was interested.  Finally, Acting Secretary Modly determined that in 2018, LSC (Ret.) Guno made numerous false official statements to a Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Special Agent who was interviewing him regarding the allegations at issue.  LSC (Ret.) Guno retired from the Navy in 2010.

Acting Secretary Modly has determined that LSC (Ret.) Guno’s conduct was contrary to the Joint Ethics Regulation, U.S. Navy Regulations, and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.  His actions constituted significant deviations from the standards expected of all members of the naval service, particularly chief petty officers and others entrusted with positions of importance.

“The Navy’s core values include high standards of ethical conduct for all Sailors, and chief petty officers must not only meet those high standards but model them for others.  By abusing his position to solicit and receive gifts from a defense contractor, LSC (Ret.) Guno utterly failed to meet those standards.  LSC (Ret.) Guno’s behavior is an embarrassment to the Navy, to the Sailors who served with him, and to the thousands of Sailors who serve this country day in and day out with pride, professionalism, and integrity,” said Modly.

LSC (Ret.) Guno’s conduct was examined as part of the joint investigation led by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and reviewed by the Consolidated Disposition Authority (CDA) for the GDMA matter.  GDMA is the subject of an ongoing federal fraud and bribery investigation, which was initiated by NCIS.  In March 2014, the Secretary of the Navy directed the appointment of a CDA to act as an independent authority to review GDMA matters forwarded by the DOJ to the Department of the Navy after the DOJ has declined to press criminal charges in the federal judicial system.  The purpose of the CDA is to review the GDMA-related conduct of Navy members and determine what, if any, disciplinary or administrative actions are warranted and available.

The GDMA investigation continues, led by DOJ and supported by NCIS and DCIS.  The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California in San Diego and the Department of Justice Criminal Division in Washington, D.C., are leading the prosecution.