Self-Proclaimed Whistleblower Takes On Lockheed Martin

By Katie Hauser

Published on August 30, 2006

De Kort worked for Lockheed Martin in conjunction with the US Coast Guard on the Deepwater program, which aimed to convert obsolete ships in an effort to refurbish and bolster the Coast Guard fleet.

According to De Kort, he noticed serious flaws within one month of beginning work as an engineer on the project. Security cameras on the ship he was working on had numerous blind spots, leaving crew members vulnerable to attack, and the purportedly secure communications system was found to be susceptible to eavesdropping.

Furthermore, though requirements stipulate that every component of the refurbished ship function at a temperature of negative 40 degrees, De Kort argues that some of the equipment would not work properly in extremely cold conditions.

De Kort asserts that he was ordered to withhold his feedback about the project because it was over budget and behind schedule. Eventually, De Kort was taken off the assignment.

Within days of posting his Internet video, De Kort was laid off from his job. Representatives from Lockheed claim that the layoff was not a retaliatory act.

As a result of De Kort’s actions, the Homeland Security Committee has launched an investigation targeting Lockheed Martin and the Coast Guard.

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