Iraqi-American Officer Alleges Michigan Guard Discriminates

A military officer of Iraqi descent has filed a complaint with the U.S.l Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging he was discriminated against because of his ethnicity and unfairly passed over for promotions by the Michigan National Guard.

Former Dearborn resident Lt. Col.Jason Awadi, currently a strategist with the chief of staff of the Army in Washington, DC, alleged in the complaint filed Wednesday that he was denied a promotion this summer while lesser qualified whites were advanced, the Detroit Free Press reports.

Awadi expected to be promoted to communications director this past summer after he was nominated unanimously by senior-ranking military officials, and had been given “official military orders” to start the new job in October, according to Michigan Radio.

He reportedly had begun training for the position and was in the process of moving his family back to Michigan when he was summoned in late August to the office of Maj. Gen. Gregory Vadnais, director of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and Adjutant General for the Michigan Guard.

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Vadnais reportedly told him the position was going to another officer, and when Awadi questioned that, Vadnais reportedly responded, “Some people are more deserving than others.”

“The officer [who received the position] is a white male and certainly doesn’t have the communication expertise that I have,” Awadi said, according to the Michigan Radio report.

He was denied a second promotion, which also went to a less-qualified white officer, Awadi said.

“Prior to the appointment of General Vadnais, three directorships were held by minorities,” Ayad alleged in the complaint. “However, all three were forced into retirement under similar circumstances and were replaced by non-minorities.”

A spokesman of the Michigan Guard told the Free Press the matter is under investigation, but Vadnais is prohibited from speaking specifically about the allegations.

However, the spokesman added:

“The Michigan National Guard takes pride in being a diverse organization and that pride is evidenced by our presence in 43 communities around Michigan and an established history of having minorities in leadership positions. The Adjutant General maintains a robust equal opportunity program and will personally ensure that this matter is looked into and given the due process it deserves. The Adjutant General will provide more information when the issue is resolved and he is able to speak on the matter.”

Awadi, who was born in Iraq, joined the Guard in 1995 and has worked full-time since 2002. A former communications officer at Fort Gordon and combat veteran, he served as the Michigan Army National Guard from 2011 to 2013.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Awadi graduated from Fordson High School in Dearborn; Wayne State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree; Davenport University, where he received his MBA; and Norwich University, where he received his master of arts degree in emergency management.

» Photo via attorney Nabih Ayad