WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon is broadening its inquiry of procurement procedures to see how one woman was able to give preferential treatment to the Boeing Corp. Michael Wynne, the Pentagon's acting acquisition chief said the investigation will consider what lapses in the Air Force system allowed former Air Force official Darleen Druyun to favor Boeing, whether those problems still exist and whether similar problems exist in the other services, the Washington Post reported.
The scrutiny was spurred by Druyun's admission last month she gave preferential treatment to Boeing after the company hired her daughter and son-in-law. Druyun was sentenced to nine months in prison.
The Pentagon has also asked the Government Accountability Office to handle protests filed by Boeing's competitors after Druyun admitted her relationship with Boeing tainted her decision to award the company a $4 billion contract to upgrade the electronics for C-130 transport planes.
Air Force officials have made significant changes to the procurement system after Druyun retired and joined Boeing as a vice president. Her position was eliminated and her power spread among a range of lower-ranking officials.
