Top Navy Executives Had Complained to Man’s Employer : 2 Officials Censured in Pentagon Critic’s Firing

The Pentagon’s inspector general has concluded that top Navy officials “acted improperly” in lodging complaints with a defense contractor about one of its executives who had publicly criticized the department’s budget request as too high. The executive was later fired.

The report released Wednesday brought calls from the former executive, Dr. Lawrence J. Korb, from Rep. Denny Smith (R-Ore.) and from the American Civil Liberties Union for the removal of Navy Secretary John F. Lehman Jr. and two assistant secretaries, Everett Pyatt and Melvyn R. Paisley.

There is no evidence that Navy officials asked Raytheon Co. to fire Korb, a former assistant defense secretary, the report said. But it concluded that their complaints played a role in his dismissal from the company earlier this year and showed a clear disregard for the right of freedom of speech.

The report said that, although Lehman had not directed Pyatt and Paisley to call Raytheon, he erred in supporting their actions.

It said the Navy officials had acted improperly in complaining to Raytheon “with the intention of restricting Dr. Korb from making public statements” that were contrary to Navy and Defense Department positions.

The investigation by the independent Office of the Inspector General was requested last July by Rep. Smith.

Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger assured the congressman “that, in my view, Department of Defense officials should never seek to pressure contractors or their personnel to express, or not to express, views on any matters of public policy.”

“I will caution any individuals who were involved, and have asked the (Department of Defense) general counsel to ensure that (department) regulations reflect my view as set forth above.”

Korb joined Raytheon as a Washington vice president in 1985. He participated in a news conference on defense spending last February, sponsored by the Committee for National Security.

Korb and other members of the nonprofit group suggested that the Pentagon could maintain a strong force with a smaller budget than President Reagan requested.

After the news conference, Raytheon received phone calls and letters from Paisley and Pyatt. The two deputies have acknowledged suggesting to Raytheon that it tell Korb to stop speaking out against the President’s budget.