Summary: This report responds to congressional concerns about two primary responsibilities of the Navy's Inspector General (IG) organization--resolving complaints received from various sources and inspecting Navy units. The perceived integrity, timeliness, and quality of the complaint process is critical to its success. If persons have doubts about the credibility or effectiveness of the complaint process, they may not report instances of waste or mismanagement. As a result, Congress, the Defense Department (DOD), and the public cannot be sure that allegations are properly examined to minimize waste, mismanagement, and improper activities within the Navy. Navy IG inspections are important because they help to ensure the readiness, effectiveness, and efficiency of Navy commands and provide an assessment of the quantity, quality, and management of resources. The Navy IG needs to ensure that established inspection procedures are adhered to and complaint results are used in planning inspections. The Navy IG could also better inform Congress and DOD by more widely distributing inspection results. Also, the Navy IG could benefit from a comprehensive external review by the DOD IG.
