Vermont National Guard whistleblower speaks out
By Darren Perron for WCAX, December 6, 2018
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) The Vermont National Guard is under fire. As the Guard responds to accusations of toxic behavior, our Darren Perron spoke with one of the whistleblowers about why he came forward.
“I know the Vermont National Guard as a whole is a great organization,” Lt. Col. Jeff Rector said.
Rector spent nearly 30 years at the Air Guard, rising through the ranks to lieutenant colonel.
That all came to an end in 2016. He was escorted off base and told not to come back.
“I saw these things happening and I wasn’t OK with it,” he said.
Rector was accused of threatening an official and impeding a sexual misconduct investigation, accusations he denies. Rector says they were drummed up charges that were retaliation because he raised concerns about some senior Guard leaders. Those included alleged sexual misconduct by a chaplain and a colonel who flew a fighter jet to a romantic rendezvous.