John Windom, 64, a retired Navy officer, Washington
Another Lenka Stankova hurting the war fighters. John Windom, 64, a retired Navy officer, was charged with making false statements, concealment of material facts and falsification of a record or document tied to a failure to report more than $15,000 in cash, casino chips and other gifts from contractors. The Justice Department announced the charges on Wednesday, accusing him of “accepting, and sometimes demanding, extravagant gifts from a group of contractors and subcontractors who worked on the project he was overseeing.” As the indictment notes, Windom was aware of the rules regarding reporting gifts and receipts, per training for officials. “An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” the Justice Department said in its release. Top Stories This Week News Army raises enlistment age to 42, eases marijuana restrictions Patty Nieberg News Pentagon wants to increase naval, special operations capabilities on Greenland Nicholas Slayton Tech & Tactics French sailor goes running, reveals flagship’s location via fitness app Nicholas Slayton The VA began a project to modernize its health records in 2017, aiming to digitize information, an initiative estimated to cost $16 billion, but has since exceeded that and is expected to cost as much as $37 billion. In 2018, the 10-year contract was awarded to Cerner (now known as Oracle Health after Oracle acquired it). Windom was appointed as Executive Director of the Office of Electronic Record Modernization in 2017 and helped supervise the VA’s choice of Cerner for the contract. According to the grand jury indictment against him, Windom used his position to take money and gifts from a group of business executives from information technology and consulting companies who were contractors on the project. According to the indictment, Windom allegedly called them “the Power Group.” Windom used his role to “encourage, monitor, and facilitate contract and subcontracting opportunities for members of the Power Group, related and unrelated to the EHRM project.” Windom was allegedly given payment in everything from cash, to $8,200 in Louis Vuitton gift cards and $1,800 in casino chips. He was also given a High Efficiency Particulate Air, or HEPA, filter worth $631. The indictment also accuses Windom of using his position to “coerce” payments and gifts from others. Per the indictment, Windom “repeatedly reminded Power Group members to remain loyal and directed them to maintain confidentiality and their relationship with him.” In one message at the start of 2020, Windom messaged Power Group members, telling them that “loose lips sink ships.” Windom’s initial contract was extended, and in 2022 he was reassigned to serve as deputy director of the Federal electronic Health Modernization Office, a joint VA and Department of Defense project. Nine years after the modernization effort started, the Electronic Health Record program is used by only a handful of VA sites, with the program hit by glitches and usability issues. The VA paused the program in 2023, but is expected to roll out at several sites this year. Windom faces a maximum sentence of over 20 years in prison if convicted on all counts. Task & Purpose Video Each week on Tuesdays and Fridays our team will bring you analysis of military tech, tactics, and doctrine. Watch Here Nicholas Slayton Avatar Nicholas Slayton Contributing Editor Nicholas Slayton is a Contributing Editor for Task & Purpose. In addition to covering breaking news, he writes about history, shipwrecks, and the military’s hunt for unidentified anomalous phenomenon (formerly known as UFOs). 5 Viewing We want Task & Purpose to be a nice place to chat and and swap stories, but please read and follow our guidelines here. Sort by 1 day ago I can only assume what kind of officer he was in the military. Pretty sure this was not his first “rodeo.” Gets 0 sympathy from me. 1 day ago When Trump fired 90% of the Inspector Generals day one of this administration, he signaled it was business as usual for the only stable genius who can not fail to bankrupt countless businesses througjout his life. Greed and corruption exist in this administration like none other. It's impact has ... See more 1 day ago "Hey boss......you buy that new HEPA machine for the house?" Others had to know something. 1 day ago What would anybody expect from a bureaucracy that goes out of its way to find every reason to deny claims of service members? There is more corruption in the VA than just that guy. 1 day ago If convicted, he should lose his Navy retirement. Powered by TermsPrivacy Trending U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing take cover in a bunker during exercise Grand Shield 22-2 at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Dec. 15, 2021. Grand Shield tested Al Udeid’s readiness to respond to regional threats. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Noah D. Coger) Pentagon looks for vendors to supply pre-made bunkers within 30 days Patty Nieberg U.S. Marines with Lima Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a live fire deck shoot aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7), Philippine Sea, March 16, 2026. The 31st MEU is a persistent, combat credible force operating aboard the ships of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, routinely interacting and operating with our allies and partners to contribute to deterrence, security, crisis response, and combat operations in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gerardo Mendez) USS Tripoli, 2,200 Marines arrive in the Middle East Nicholas Slayton More in News HINES, IL - MAY 30: A sign marks the entrance to the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital on May 30, 2014 in Hines, Illinois. Hines, which is located in suburban Chicago, has been linked to allegations that administrators kept secret waiting lists at Veterans Administration hospitals so hospital executives could collect bonuses linked to meeting standards for rapid treatment. Today, as the scandal continued to grow, Veterans *** Secretary Eric Shinseki apologized in public and then resigned from his post. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Veteran entrepreneurs say VA cuts have gutted their businesses Patty Nieberg Disabled Army veteran fired from the VA will attend Trump speech to Congress Disabled Army veteran fired from the VA will attend Trump speech to Congress Patty Nieberg As the VA celebrates 100 years of medical research, the very people doing that job are being fired As the VA celebrates 100 years of medical research, the very people doing that job are being fired Patty Nieberg PACT Act Healthcare, the economy, reproductive rights: what matters most to veterans in the midterm elections Jeff Schogol Sarah Cavanaugh Woman accused of stolen valor charged with defrauding $250,000 from veteran charities Jeff Schogol air force wounded warrior program Inside the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program’s toxic workplace David Roza 230,000 veterans’ disability ratings are stuck in limbo due to COVID-19 230,000 veterans’ disability ratings are stuck in limbo due to COVID-19 David Roza With the ‘Tally Bill’, vets could hold the VA accountable when medical malpractice occurs at the hands of a contractor With the ‘Tally Bill’, vets could hold the VA accountable when medical malpractice occurs at the hands of a contractor
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Peter Ferrara, Tilden High School
He was a wonderful teacher and A wonderful human being He taught history with both His head and his heart He knew how to motivate Students and he had a presence That commanded your respect He was able to establish authority In a non threatening way He encouraged me to be my Best self He was the kind of teacher that Every teacher should be like
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Milton Whitley, 455 caprock dr, Sunnyvale, TX, 75182
I agree hang the pictures do everyone can see whose a hard worker a quality employee and whose a STANKOVA
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McDonald's, State Rd 57, Petersburg, IN, 47557
Keanna was very pleasant, I enjoyed great service and everything was very clean
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Archie Mays, Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA
Worst experience ever waited 3 hours in small hot no seating room office non caring staff dr seems on thresh hold of retirement Seem like there just in it for money or tax breaks. Lousey
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