One GS-15, One SES Employee Relieved Of Managerial Duties Pending Investigation

This is certainly not the type of investigation normally conducted by the NTSB.  Two top managers for the board are under investigation for allegedly wrapping a noose around the nameplate of a former career NTSB executive and hanging it from a wall fixture following a meeting at the agency. Neither the two managers, one a GS-15, the other a Senior Executive Service (SES) employee, nor the former employee have been identified, though The Washington Post reports all are white.

The incident occurred at the end of a meeting August 6th. The noose was fashioned out of soft cord used for crowd control. It was discovered by an employee and turned over to a supervisor.

NTSB Chair Debora Hersman was not present at the meeting. She later sent an e-mail to all employees at the agency, saying the display was very disturbing. "At a minimum, this behavior exhibited insensitivity and lack of judgment, and has no place in our organization," she said in the e-mail.

NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson told the Post "According to the individuals, it was an attempt at a joke. They indicated they had no racial or ethnic intent in the action. Clearly, they were not sensitive to the symbolism of the noose." He said the two men were cooperating with the inquiry.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov