THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 5, 1996 TAG: 9601050449
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DALE EISMAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
A Navy captain whose career has been in limbo since his acquittal last fall of sexual harassment and fraternization charges has appealed to the service's top civilian official in an attempt to salvage his promotion to rear admiral.
Capt. Everett L. Greene met with Navy Secretary John H. Dalton for about an hour in Dalton's Pentagon office Thursday to address what he said were questions about his ``leadership style'' and his dealings with two female lieutenants who worked for him in 1993.
``I felt it was a sincere effort to allow me an opportunity to address the issues,'' Greene said. The secretary ``indicated he wanted some time to review his notes and reflect and said he would get back to me.''
Navy sources suggest Dalton is unlikely to sign off on Greene's nomination for flag rank, which has been on hold since last February. Shortly after a promotion board recommended him, allegations surfaced that he had harassed two women who worked for him at the Navy's Bureau of Personnel.
Greene formerly headed the bureau's equal opportunity office. The women worked there on a sexual harassment hot line the Navy established after the Tailhook scandal of 1991.
Greene, 47, has acknowledged sending one of the women, Lt. Mary E. Felix, a series of notes and cards, including one in which he promised that ``Whenever you need to be adored, I will be there. . . .''
The messages, he says, were his way of offering support as Felix stuggled to cope with medical and emotional problems after a failed romance with another naval officer.
A jury of admirals and captains absolved Greene of any criminal wrongdoing after a weeklong court-martial. But Dalton quickly sent word of his reservations about promoting the veteran officer.
Greene said Thursday that should Dalton seek to withdraw his nomination, he will appeal to Defense Secretary William J. Perry.
He could take his case all the way to President Clinton, in whose name nominations for admiral are submitted. by CNB