RichardHarlos.com

I served in the U.S. Navy for 3 years, was discharged honorably, and have been going about my life without much thought to the whole experience. Oh, there was a time when it seemed much more significant a contribution to me but lately, with all the administrative shenanigans coming from our government, it’s more of a fond memory than something I’m actually proud to share with others.

As of yesterday, I learned that I am officially at risk for identity theft. Why? Because I was discharged after 1975 and, according to this article, my personal information from my tenure with the U.S. Navy is now in the hands of someone other than the Department of Veteran’s Affairs:

Personal information about tens of millions of veterans might have fallen into criminal hands when someone stole the electronic data stored at the Maryland home of a federal government employee, officials announced yesterday.

The burglary earlier this month could mark one of the largest thefts of data that can be used to steal someone’s identity, electronic privacy experts said.

The missing information contained names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth for up to 26.5 million veterans and some spouses. Those affected include all of those discharged by the military after 1975 and those discharged before 1975 who filed claims later with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
-from ID data of vets could be at risk, BaltimoreSun.com, 23 May 2006.

With all the news that’s reported compromises in identity data from so many sources lately, I have to wonder if these are random thefts by random criminal minds with an obsession for identity theft or if this might be a more coordinated effort by serious identity-data peddlers.

Were you ever in the military? Do you fit the at-risk criteria of this recent theft? I’d love to hear from you if you’re at risk like me; sort of a ‘misery loves company’ thing.
:-)

Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson announced several personnel changes yesterday that will include the firing of a senior career data analyst who lost the sensitive personal information of millions of veterans.

The 60-year-old civil servant, a GS-14 employee who earns between $91,407 and $118,828 a year, has been notified that he will be terminated, VA officials said. The employee violated department policy by taking home electronic files containing the names, birth dates and Social Security numbers of as many as 26.5 million veterans.
-from Theft of Data Leads to Firings, Moves at VA.

I an never delighted to see an individual undergo punishment. I wonder what this guy is going to do for employment now… at 60 years old… having earned a six-figure salary… it just saddens me to think of his individual fate. Was there not some other way to deal with his violation of department policy like, say, forbidding him from taking a laptop computer in/out of the facility? Firing him doesn’t get the compromised data back so… what’s the desired outcome of such a firing?

I think I shall never appreciate the beaurocratic mindset in any of its variations. People in authority will tell you, “It’s nothing personal, it’s just policy.” What they fail to acknowledge is that policy affects people, and that makes it personal.

UPDATE: 11 August 2006: 2 Teens Arrested in Theft of VA Laptop

Two teenagers were arrested Saturday in the theft of a laptop and hard drive containing sensitive data on up to 26.5 million veterans and military personnel, authorities said.

The government-owned equipment was stolen May 3 during a burglary at the Maryland home of a Veterans Affairs employee. The laptop and hard drive were turned into the FBI June 28 by an unidentified person in response to a $50,000 reward offer. …

Police said charges were pending against a third male suspect who is a juvenile (see Teen Suspect Also Faces Murder Charge).