FBI Probes Boeing Worker’s Laptop Data
Posted by admin on 20 Oct 2006 at 12:36 pm | Tagged as: Cleared News
A scientist in the Los Angeles area working for DoD prime contractor Boeing is under investigation for mishandling classified information.
“Abraham Lesnik, listed as an employee at Boeing’s Space Based Radar group in El Segundo, has been the subject of three searches of his Valley Village home, the FBI confirmed.
The investigation stems from classified information found on a laptop computer used by Lesnik that was confiscated by Boeing, then turned over to the FBI, according to sources and news reports.
Lesnik, an expert in high-energy physics, developed anti-missile systems for Boeing and has a high-level security clearance.”
So is this a case of espionage, or is this brilliant scientist not so smart when it comes to adhering to basic security guidelines? Regardless of the answer to this question, I hate to see Boeing’s image as a great American company and aerospace leaderĂ‚Â tarnished. This will be interesting to watch unfold.
One article says Lesnik was using the laptop in question for personal stuff during a company meeting. As a senior engineer for 28 years, I don’t see espionage here. This guy just slipped up, and it will probably cost him his clearance.
Lesnik fights this probe legally with a countersuit, he had taken his computer home — not just in corp. meeting — and has a large amount of personal data on it.
He may think he’s in the right, but it bears /very/ close examination. This is exactly what the FBI is for, and they’re doing their job.
As for Boeing’s reputation (security and technical), it’s also tarnished by the inclusion of a large, privately-owned foreign firm in a lead role in its recent SBI (Secure Border Initiative) contract win to monitor our security (look up “Elbit”).
What’s wrong with pure American jobs and American technology, /especially/ when it comes to our domestic security?