Douglas Pasternak Email & Phone Number

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Summary: Led dozens of investigations centered on science, technology, homeland security and environmental public health issues that resulted in Congressional hearings, the production of Committee staff reports and the initiation of investigations by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Offices of Inspector General (OIGs). These efforts held managers and federal agencies accountable for their actions and resulted in widespread media coverage on CNN, ABC News, National Public Radio (NPR), The Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and dozens of other media outlets. Investigations produced millions of dollars in potential savings for the U.S. taxpayer, improved national security programs, identified gaps in a key government counterterrorism database, exposed public health threats, and triggered the implementation of more vigorous scientific processes at federal agencies. One oversight effort led to the cancellation of a technically flawed aviation research program partially funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and another led to the salvation of an important Department of Homeland Security (DHS) science and technology laboratory proposed for closure. Initiated investigation, pursued jointly with the District of Columbia’s Inspector General’s (IG’s) office, which disclosed a scientifically flawed public health report produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the Washington, D.C. lead-in-water crisis. This investigation led the CDC to issue a formal notification correcting the public record. Another investigation of a sister CDC agency led to the director’s departure. Most recently, I led a bi-partisan investigation that resulted in the abrupt “retirement” of a federal Inspector General who grossly mismanaged his office and engaged in personal misconduct.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Summary: Conceived, researched and led multiple investigative projects. Coordinated and directed researchers, producers and camera crews in the U.S. and abroad. Reported, authored and produced stories for NBC Nightly News, the Today Show and MSNBC, including hidden-camera investigations. Received Emmy Award, Edward R. Murrow Award and other investigative reporting honors.One of the stories I reported and produced revealed that the Department of Defense (DOD) was collecting data on peaceful anti-war protest groups in the wake of the 9.11 terrorist attacks. NBC’s exclusive report led to congressional investigations, a DOD IG report and the Pentagon’s public admission they had violated their own policies. A link to that NBC News segment, "Is the Pentagon spying on Americans," can be found here: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10454316. In covering Hurricane Katrina, I was the first to expose FEMA’s mismanagement of hundreds of ice shipments to Hurricane Katrina victims that resulted in millions of dollars wasted and critical delays of ice to those in need. These stories became emblematic of FEMA’s chaotic response to Hurricane Katrina. One of those stories, "FEMA’s Ice Follies,” can be found here: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9369937.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Senior Editor, Investigative Unit, 1999-2003• Associate Editor, Investigative Unit, 1992-1998• Reporter-Researcher, World Section, 1990-1992Summary: Authored numerous investigative stories exposing waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement at federal government agencies. Launched and supervised the creation and development of an investigative database of the 9.11 terrorist attacks. Regularly appeared as national security expert on radio and television. Investigations included examining the public health consequences of counterfeit drugs and the off-label use of antidepressants for children as well as multiple national security stories. Two of these cover stories were finalists in the National Magazine Awards, the magazine industry’s highest honor. Several other stories are listed below. “Spies in the Skies,” cover story, August 11, 2003: Unmasked bungled technical assessments, multi-billion dollar cost overruns and mismanagement at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the nation’s super-secret spy satellite agency that led to failures of satellites vital to the war on terrorism.“Wonder Weapons,” cover story, July 7, 1997: Using government contracts, obscure technical journals and patents revealed how a classified Department of Defense program on non-lethal weapons was relying on medical research to develop a wide array of exotic electromagnetic weapons that stun and disable without killing.“Tales from the Crypt,” Sept. 18, 1995: Relying on government records, scientific journals and obituaries chronicled physicians, patients and their family members involved in secret cold war-era U.S. government-sponsored human radiation experiments.

B.A. Political Science

Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (Semester Abroad)

Master Level Courses In National Security Studies (18 Credit Hours)

Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland (Semester Abroad)