Publisher’s Notebook: Grunwald stands by her military record

Edie Grunwald has surprised everyone with how tight she has made the race for Lieutenant Governor.

Early on it was Kevin Meyer’s to lose. Grunwald, who is no stranger to adversity, has persevered with relentless fundraising and campaigning.

Alaska Landmine blogger Jeff Landfield, in an entry on Aug. 8 titled ‘Grunwald’s Military Past Raises Questions,’ calls into question Grunwald’s 30-year military service. He states that the cornerstone of Grunwald’s campaign is her military career. His questioning refers to her involvement in the sexual assault and harassment scandal of the Alaska National Guard that came to light during the Parnell administration.

I spoke with Grunwald on Sunday as she was working through her victim’s impact statement for the second trial of the murder of her son David, who was murdered in November 2016 and four people stand accused. One of the four has already been convicted.

So in between going to every court hearing in her son’s case, she is running a very competitive campaign. Grunwald’s 30-year career really doesn’t raise any questions especially if you read the 93-page Collins report concerning the National Guard scandal. Patricia Collins a former Superior Court Judge out of Juneau was tapped by the Walker administration to investigate the Alaska National Guard sexual harassment scandal. The scandal plagued the administration led by former Gov. Sean Parnell. The administration was slow to react when chaplains serving the National Guard kept bringing the reports of sexual assault and harassment to the attention of the Parnell administration.

Landfield reached out to Lt. Colonel Candis Olmstead concerning Grunwald’s career. The answer to Grunwald’s involvement is really in her answer and the Collins report. When Grunwald retired she was the Director of Human Resources. It’s not illogical to think that the Director of Human Resources would have known or been involved in cases involving sexual harassment. Grunwald understands that people can draw a conclusion that since she was the Director of Human Resources that she had to be a part of the scandal or the cover up. But, because it’s the military and particularly the National Guard it’s a little complicated. In our conversation Grunwald explained to me that those complaints would have never crossed her desk.

“First of all, I was assigned to the Air Guard.” Grunwald told me.

This is significant because in the Collins report she states the Air Guard kept thorough personnel records including any sexual harassment and assault charges. The victims would have reported their allegations to the sexual assault response coordinator, health care personnel, trained victim advocates or a chaplain/religious advisor. The response that Landfield received from Olmstead clearly stated that Grunwald did not supervise or oversee the sexual assault response coordinator, who was a contracted employee at the time.

“My position was more about overseeing the processing of paperwork for new hires. New hires for not only the full time military positions but full time civilian positions as well as part time Guard personnel.

“Sexual assault or harassment charges rarely came across my desk.” She explained. “I remember a sexual harassment complaint came to my attention from a survey. I immediately sent that to the proper person to handle it.”

What further complicated reporting was that when ‘off duty’ the members of the Guard were civilians and some reports were made to Alaska State Troopers or Anchorage Police Department.

The conclusion I draw from the Collins report is that blame for the lack of support for the victims falls at the feet of immediate supervisors, Unit Commanders, and the system that was in place. There’s a unique dynamic in the military. Accountability amongst peers is highly encouraged from basic training and throughout your time of service. I spent three years in the military and right or wrong we didn’t report wrong doings outside of our trusted circle. This is an embarrassing advantage for the perpetrator, but for a woman who is a victim of sexual assault I would imagine it’s a living hell. She is torn between being a victim who wants justice and a soldier who wants her team members to trust her as misguided as that may sound. It’s hard to explain the courage it would take to come forward. As courageous as it is in civilian life it would be ten times harder in the military. While I’ve got your six (back) may be an admirable battle cry in combat, in non-combat life having someone’s back to cover up a crime… that is not the intent. It’s difficult for a young soldier to differentiate. Which is why few assaults were being reported plus trust in those that these cases would be reported to.

When victims did come forward their superiors handled it poorly according to the report. What the scandal really boils down to is dysfunction in culture. Nowhere in the report is Edie Grunwald mentioned as part of the problem.

Why was she fired, rehired and then fired again?

With the pressure of the Alaska Dispatch News, now Anchorage Daily News, on the Parnell Administration and it being an election year, something had to be done to show action.

After a federal investigation lead to the firing of Major General Tom Katkus, adjutant general and his deputy, civilian McHugh Pierre, acting adjutant general Brigadier General Mike Bridges fired Brigadier General Catherine Jorgensen and Grunwald.

“Jorgensen was a by-the-book officer. She dotted her i’s and crossed her t’s. People didn’t like her because she held them accountable.” Grunwald told me. “He fired two officers who were qualified to be adjutant general.”

Gov. Parnell ordered Bridges to rehire the two. Then two weeks later they were fired again. Grunwald later retired with honor from the military.

The firing came one day after Parnell held a town hall meeting with members of the Guard that did not include the media. A recording of the meeting revealed that several members of the Guard were pressuring Parnell for more leadership changes according to a published report in the ADN.

Why did Parnell fire Jorgenson and Grunwald?

“I wasn’t a part of that town hall meeting so I don’t know what was said.” stated Grunwald. Reflecting on the time she worked with Katkus, Grunwald recalled, “I was on the sidelines and kept detailed notes on every meeting I had with General Katkus. When I met with Kaktus I had very detailed notes for my part of the meetings.”

A key part of the chain for reporting these cases was the sexual assault response coordinator. From the Collins report, “The Alaska National Guard Sexual Assault Response Coordinator during this time period was a contract employee. Several witnesses felt that she was not strict enough about maintaining client confidentiality.”

I draw the conclusion from the report that the contract employee was a large part of the issue. If a victim can’t trust the ‘go to’ person to report to then what do they have to fall back on? Grunwald states that when the position became open in 2012 she informed a friend she knew since 1985 about the opening. Although Grunwald was not part of the hiring process for the current Alaska National Guard Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Octavia Thompson, she knew with her experience and education she would do a great job.

“She’s still there and she’s been promoted and it changed everything. Having the position filled by an actual employee instead of a contractor makes all the difference too,” Grunwald said.

Grunwald feels by reaching out to Thompson and letting her know about the position she was actually part of the solution.

Why does Grunwald believe she was part of the leadership change in 2014?

“Parnell was under political pressure. He was slow to react for four years. For four years he did virtually nothing. Then he had to do something,” Grunwald said.

After all it was a campaign year and the Alaska Dispatch News was relentless in its coverage, plus other media jumped on board, which is what they were suppose to do.

“I had no knowledge of the recruiters criminal activity either,” Grunwald said.

The Mitchell report backs her statement.

“Major General Katkus and Lt. Colonel Joseph Lawendowski have a long-standing professional relationship and are reputed to be friends and neighbors. Maj. Gen. Katkus was Lt. Col. Lawendowski's supervisor before being named Adjutant General, and thereafter, Maj. Gen. Katkus ordered that Lt. Col. Lawendowski report directly to him, which is not consistent with typical National Guard command structure,” the Collins report states.

Grunwald stated, “Parnell believed General Kaktus all those years and that’s on him.”