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?1 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 8: HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Disease Control
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Pie
3 Memorandum

Date: October 22, 2013
From: Center Director, National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)

To: George Luber, Supervisor, Health Scientist, Climate and Health Program,

Subject: Proposal to Remove

This is advance notice that I am proposing to remove you from your full-time position of Supervisory
Health Scientist, GS-0601-15, in the Climate and Health Program, Division of Environment Health
Science and Practice (DEHSP), National Center for Environment Health Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) and from Federal Service. The Agency is proposing this action to promote
the ef?ciency of the service. This action will be effected no earlier than thirty (30) calendar days from the
date you receive this memorandum. This notice of proposed removal is based on the following charges:

On March 1, 2018, Donna Knutson, Deputy Director, and John Tibbs, the Management
Of?cial, were made aware of issues regarding the management of the Climate and Health
Program that implicated you in alleged ethics violations, misuse of position, and conduct unbecoming of a
federal employee. Mr. Tibbs and Ms. Mattie Gilliam, Deputy Management Of?cer followed-up over the
next months with employees, the Director of Ethics for CDC, and the Business Integrity Service Of?ce
(BISM) to gather information and evidence that might refute or substantiate the charges. The issues
below summarize the results of the due diligence employed to follow up on the issues.

Charge 1: Falsi?cation of TimelAttendance Records

Speci?cation 1: On October 18, 2014, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on October
9, 2014. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 5.5 hours on that date. Your
certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 2: On September 19, 2015, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on
September 10, 2015. This certification was false in that you only performed duty for 5.5 hours on that
date. Your certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 3: On September 17, 2016, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on
September 15, 2016. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 5.5 hours on that
date. Your certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 4: On October 15, 2016, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on October

6, 2016. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 5.5 hours on that date. Your
certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 5: On October 15, 2016, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on October 13,
2016. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 6.5 hours on that date. Your
certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 6: On September 2, 2017, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on August
24, 2017. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 6.5 hours on that date. Your
certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 7: On September 2, 2017, you certi?ed your time and attendance recOrd in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on August
31, 2017. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty fer 6.5 hours on that date. Your
certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 8: On September 16, 2017, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on
September 7, 2017. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 6.5 hours on that
date. Your certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Specification 9: On October 14, 2017, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you perfOrmed 8 hours of duty on October
5, 2017. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 6.5 hours on that date. Your
certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 10: On October 14, 2017, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on October
12, 2017. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 6.5 hours on that date. Your
certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 11: On October 23, 2017, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on October
19, 2017. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 6.5 hours on that date. Your
certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 12: On October 23, 2017, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on October
26, 2017. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 6.5 hours on that date. Your
certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 13: On November 11, 2017, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on
November 2, 2017. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty fer 6.5 hours on that
date. Your certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 14: On November 11, 2017, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in 'l?ASNet, the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on
November 9, 2017. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 6.5 hours on that
date. Your certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 15: On November 25, 2017, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on
November 16, 2017. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 6.5 hours on that
date. Your certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 16: On January 20, 2018, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on January
16, 2018. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 6 hours on that date. Your
certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 17: On February 3, 2018, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on January
23, 2018. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 6 hours on that date. Your
certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 18: On February 3, 2018, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on January
30, 2018. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 6 hours on that date. Your
certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation On February 17, 2018, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on February
6, 2018. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 6 hours on that date. Your
certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 20: On February 17, 2018, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on February
13, 2018. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 6 hours on that date. Your
certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 21: On March 3, 2018, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on February
20, 2018. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 6 hours on that date. Your
certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 22: On March 17, 2018, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on March
13, 2018. This certi?cation was false in that you only performed duty for 6 hours on that date. Your
certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Speci?cation 23: On March 31, 2018, you certi?ed your time and attendance record in the
electronic time and attendance system, indicating that you performed 8 hours of duty on March

20, 2018. This certi?cation was false in that yen only performed duty for 6 hours on that date. Your
certi?cation was knowingly false and made with the intent to mislead the Agency.

Charge 2: Failure to Obtain Prior Approval to Engage in Outside Activities

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adheres to the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) policies, through 5 CPR. requires that an employee obtain written
approval from his or her supervisor to engage in outside activities, with or without compensation, in
outside employment, including engaging in teaching, speaking, writing, or editing that relates to the
employee of?cial duties. HHS form must be completed forty??ve (45) days prior to the
engagement in outside activities. In addition, the form must he completed annually when reporting the
outcome of the activities. There are three instances where prior approval requests were not found in the
EPATS system or in the prior paper-based system.

Speci?cation 1: You failed to obtain approval prior to your work as co-author on the book entitled
Global Climate Change and Human Health: From Science to Practice between June 6, 2013, and its
publication date in September 2015.

Speci?cation 2: You failed to obtain approval prior to your work as co-author of a chapter in the book
entitled Foundations of Global Health between July 22, 2016, and its publication date on March 2, 2018.

Speci?cation 3: You failed to obtain approval prior to your work as an instructor fer Emory University?s
?Advanced Seminar in Climate Change and Health: Research and Policy? between January 15 April 30,
2018.

Charge 3: Misuse of Position

Speci?cation 1: On September 26, 2016, you encouraged, directed, coerced or requested that 
Conlon be a guest lecturer at the Rollins School of Public Health, class EH 582, ?Global Climate Change:
Health Impacts and Response?. At the time of your request, you were the Chief of the Climate and
Health Program and you were directly supervising Ms. Conlon. Ms. Conlon?s appearance as a guest
lecturer was not required for the performance of her of?cial duties or authorized in accordance with law
or regulation.

Speci?cation 2: On September 27, 2016, you asked Stasia to co-author a chapter of the book
entitled Foundations of Global Health. At the time of your request, you were the Chief of the Climate
and Health Program and you were directly responsible for supervising the work of Ms. an
ORISE contractor. Additionally, at the time of your request, you were engaged in working in a
nongovernmental capacity as a co-author on the same book. Your action reasonably created the
appearance of a con?ict of interest.

Speci?cation 3: In July 2017, you encouraged, directed, coerced, or requested that Conlon and
Chelsea Austin use of?cial time to deveIOp materials and produce a syllabus for a course, Climate
Adaptation, for an unapproved outside activity with Yale University. In addition, you told Ms. Conlon
that she would be the instructor of the WebEx course, and Ms. Austin would serve as a discussion leader,
as well as ?lecturer? status at Yale University. The program would be available to interested parties for a
fee, collected by Yale University, and scheduled to run from October 22-November 21, 2018. You told
Ms. Conlon and Ms. Austin that the project would fall under ?of?cial duties?. At the time of your
request, you were Chief, Climate and Health Program and you were directly responsible for supervising
Ms. Conlon and supervising the work of Ms. Austin, an ORISE contractor. Ms. Conlon and Ms. Austin?s

work on the course was not required for the performance of their of?cial duties or authorized in
accordance with law or regulation. Your conduct violated 5 C.F.R. 

Speci?cation 4: On October 30, 2017, you encouraged, directed, coerced or requested that 
Conlon to be a guest lecturer at the Rollins School of Public Health, class EH 582, ?Global Climate
Change." Health Impacts and Response?. At the time of your request, you were the Chief of the Climate
and Health Program and you were directly supervising Ms. Conlon. Ms. Conlon?s appearance as a guest
lecturer was not required for the performance of their official duties or authorized in accordance with law
or regulation.

Charge 4: Conduct Unbecoming to a Federal Employee

Speci?cation 1: Between June 19-23, 2016, while on duty and attending the annual meeting for the
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, you asked CDC colleagues to join you on a daylong
?shing trip instead of attending the conference. Such conduct was unbecoming of a federal employee.

Speci?cation 2: Between June 19-23, 2016, while on duty and attending the annual meeting for the
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, you revealed to another colleague that you had been
?high? during the ?shing trip. Such conduct was unbecoming of a federal employee.

Speci?cation 3: Between October 30 and November 2, 2016, while on duty and attending the annual
meeting for the American Public Health Association, you missed nearly all of your presentation and
admitted to a colleague that you were late because you were hung over and still drunk from the night
before. Such conduct was unbecoming of a federal employee.

The material relied upon to support the proposed action is on ?le in the Human Resources Office, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Should you desire to review this material, contact Ms.
Treshia Simmons, Human Resources Specialist, at (770) 488-1124 or (404) 904-9207.

You may answer this notice in person (orally), in writing, or both, and may submit af?davits and other
documentary evidence in support of your answer. Your written reply should be directed to Ms. Shaunette
Crawford, Executive Of?cer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Clifton Road, Building
21, Room 11031, Mailstop D25, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, or her designee, who will serve as the deciding
of?cial in this matter. Should you desire to answer in person, contact Ms. Crawford?s of?ce, telephone
number (404) 639-7136, to arrange a meeting. You will be allowed 15 calendar days from the date you
receive this notice to submit your answer. Consideration will be given to any answer you submit. As
soon as possible after your answer is received, or after the expiration of the 15-day limit if you do not
answer, you will be given a written decision.

You have the right to reply to this notice, and to submit affidavits in support of your reply, showing why
this notice is inaccurate and any other reasons why your proposed removal should not be effected. You
also have the right to be accompanied, represented, and advised by an attorney, at your own expense, or
other representative of your choice. However, we may disallow as your representative, an individual
whose activities as a representative would cause a con?ict of interest or position, an employee who cannot
be released from his or her of?cial duties because of the priority needs of the government, or an employee
whose release would give to unreasonable costs to the government.

If you choose someone to represent you, that person?s name, address, and telephone number must be
given to Ms. Crawford in writing providing your authorization for your representative to have access to
official records personal to you and relevant to this proposed action.

You will be allowed four (4) hours of of?cial time, if otherwise in an active duty status, to review the
materials relied on to support this proposal, to secure af?davits, and to prepare an answer to this notice.
Additional of?cial time may be granted if necessary. You should arrange with your immediate supervisor

for the use of of?cial time.

Patrick N. Breysse, 
Director, 

I acknowledge receipt of this proposal:

/i 20?224?

Employee/Signature Date