Jeffrey D. Gordon
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey D. Gordon is a communications consultant to several conservative Washington, DC-based think tanks. Gordon is also a contributing columnist to Fox News, AOL News, the Washington Times and other media outlets. Previously, he was a Commander in the United States Navy
.
Gordon served as a Navy spokesman in various assignments and geographical locations since the early 1990s to include at the Pacific Fleet Headquarters in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Naval Forces Southern Command in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico; Naval Support Activity, Naples, Italy; Amphibious Force, Seventh Fleet based in Okinawa, Japan; and Atlantic Fleet headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia. Gordon served at Guantanamo Bay as the Naval Base spokesman for the Haitian and Cuban refugee crises of 1994. Later that year, he deployed to Haiti with the Multi-National Force for the restoration of President Jean Bertrand Aristide to power.
While based in Puerto Rico from 1999 to 2001, Gordon served as a spokesman for defense of the Atlantic Fleet's controversial training range on Vieques Island, which had been occupied by protestors in an attempt to force the Navy's departure after decades of major fleet exercises.
Gordon served in Navy Office of Information (CHINFO) as the director of public affairs plans. Gordon moved from the Navy to the Department of Defense Press Office in 2005. Gordon's final assignment in the Defense Department was to serve as a Pentagon spokesman for the Western Hemisphere, which notably included issues related to the extrajudicial detention
of captives seized during the "global war on terror
", in the Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba
.
Gordon was responsible for justifying an explanation for the DoD prohibition for military personnel using social networking services like myspace
, or to use sites like youtube
. In February 2007, Gordon was also responsible for justifying the restrictions placed on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) jet, a larger aircraft than had been used by her predecessor, House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).
On October 2, 2007, Gordon went on record offering an explanation as to why captives, who have been cleared for release, have continued to be held in Guantanamo.
Gordon was one of the chief proponents who routinely cited the danger posed by recidivism amongst former Guantanamo detainees, including during both the Bush and Obama Administrations. As recently as July 21, 2009, Gordon told CNN's Peter Bergen that one in seven detainees are confirmed or suspected of having returned to terrorism.
Gordon retired from the Navy as a Commander.
, writing in the Washington Post, described a letter Gordon had written to a senior editor at the Miami Herald.
The letter claimed Miami Herald reporter Carol Rosenberg
had made crude jokes at his expense that implied he was a gay man. He complained that the jokes were not "light-hearted", but "were delivered with harsh invective." Kurtz noted that Gordon is scheduled to retire from the Navy soon, and he speculated that this "may help explain the unusually harsh nature of his complaint."
As Howard Kurtz noted, the Miami Herald did acknowledge that Rosenberg had employed profanity.
The Miami Herald quoted an email from Gordon's superior, Colonel David Lapan, where he characterized Gordon's complaint as "a private matter":
Gordon's Miami Herald complaint became the subject of newspaper reporting in October 2011. When contacted by The Daily Caller
Gordon stated he could no longer recall what he wrote in his letter, but asserted that the Miami Herald's investigation had concluded in a "satisfactory manner".
.
Citing Gordon's complaint against the Miami Herald, the Miami New Times asserted: "So keep an eye on how the Cain campaign deals with unfriendly journalists. If they start accusing every person who asks tough questions of sexual harassment, don't be too surprised."
On October 31 2011 The Atlantic Wire wrote about Gordon's sexual harrassment complaint, comparing it to sexual harassment complaints that employees of the National Restaurant Association
had leveled against Cain for misbehavior they asserted he committed when they reported to him there.
They pointed out that in a column Gordon wrote for Fox News in August 2010 he described Rosenberg's continuing support from her colleagues as part of a "media conspiracy".
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
Naval career
He was born in New York City, and grew up in central New Jersey. Gordon received his undergraduate, graduate and professional education from Penn State University, Norwich University, and the U.S. Air Force Command and Staff College. He also attended a 3-day executive course at Harvard Law School's Program on Negotiation.Gordon served as a Navy spokesman in various assignments and geographical locations since the early 1990s to include at the Pacific Fleet Headquarters in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Naval Forces Southern Command in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico; Naval Support Activity, Naples, Italy; Amphibious Force, Seventh Fleet based in Okinawa, Japan; and Atlantic Fleet headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia. Gordon served at Guantanamo Bay as the Naval Base spokesman for the Haitian and Cuban refugee crises of 1994. Later that year, he deployed to Haiti with the Multi-National Force for the restoration of President Jean Bertrand Aristide to power.
While based in Puerto Rico from 1999 to 2001, Gordon served as a spokesman for defense of the Atlantic Fleet's controversial training range on Vieques Island, which had been occupied by protestors in an attempt to force the Navy's departure after decades of major fleet exercises.
Gordon served in Navy Office of Information (CHINFO) as the director of public affairs plans. Gordon moved from the Navy to the Department of Defense Press Office in 2005. Gordon's final assignment in the Defense Department was to serve as a Pentagon spokesman for the Western Hemisphere, which notably included issues related to the extrajudicial detention
Extrajudicial detention
Arbitrary or extrajudicial detention is the detention of individuals by a state, without ever laying formal charges against them.Although it has a long history of legitimate use in wartime , detention without charge, sometimes in secret, has been one of the hallmarks of totalitarian states...
of captives seized during the "global war on terror
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
", in the Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
Gordon was responsible for justifying an explanation for the DoD prohibition for military personnel using social networking services like myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
, or to use sites like youtube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. In February 2007, Gordon was also responsible for justifying the restrictions placed on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) jet, a larger aircraft than had been used by her predecessor, House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).
On October 2, 2007, Gordon went on record offering an explanation as to why captives, who have been cleared for release, have continued to be held in Guantanamo.
Gordon was one of the chief proponents who routinely cited the danger posed by recidivism amongst former Guantanamo detainees, including during both the Bush and Obama Administrations. As recently as July 21, 2009, Gordon told CNN's Peter Bergen that one in seven detainees are confirmed or suspected of having returned to terrorism.
Gordon retired from the Navy as a Commander.
Complaint against Miami Herald
On July 25, 2009 Howard KurtzHoward Kurtz
Howard "Howie" Alan Kurtz is an American journalist and author with a special focus on the media. He is host of CNN's Reliable Sources program, and Washington bureau chief for The Daily Beast. He is the former media writer for The Washington Post. He has written five books about the media...
, writing in the Washington Post, described a letter Gordon had written to a senior editor at the Miami Herald.
The letter claimed Miami Herald reporter Carol Rosenberg
Carol Rosenberg
Carol Rosenberg is a senior journalist, currently with the McClatchy News Service.Rosenberg works at the Miami Herald, which has provided extensive coverage of the operation of the Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba.-Biography:...
had made crude jokes at his expense that implied he was a gay man. He complained that the jokes were not "light-hearted", but "were delivered with harsh invective." Kurtz noted that Gordon is scheduled to retire from the Navy soon, and he speculated that this "may help explain the unusually harsh nature of his complaint."
As Howard Kurtz noted, the Miami Herald did acknowledge that Rosenberg had employed profanity.
The Miami Herald quoted an email from Gordon's superior, Colonel David Lapan, where he characterized Gordon's complaint as "a private matter":
Gordon's Miami Herald complaint became the subject of newspaper reporting in October 2011. When contacted by The Daily Caller
The Daily Caller
The Daily Caller is a news website based in Washington, D.C., United States, with a focus on politics, original reporting and breaking news, founded by journalist and political pundit Tucker Carlson and Neil Patel, former adviser to former Vice President Dick Cheney...
Gordon stated he could no longer recall what he wrote in his letter, but asserted that the Miami Herald's investigation had concluded in a "satisfactory manner".
Political activities
As of September 1, 2011, Gordon became Vice President of Communications and Foreign Policy and Security Advisor for 2012 Republican presidential candidate Herman CainHerman Cain
Herman Cain is a candidate for the 2012 U.S. Republican Party presidential nomination.Cain has a background as a business executive, syndicated columnist, and radio host from Georgia. He served as chairman and CEO of Godfather's Pizza from 1986 to 1996...
.
Citing Gordon's complaint against the Miami Herald, the Miami New Times asserted: "So keep an eye on how the Cain campaign deals with unfriendly journalists. If they start accusing every person who asks tough questions of sexual harassment, don't be too surprised."
On October 31 2011 The Atlantic Wire wrote about Gordon's sexual harrassment complaint, comparing it to sexual harassment complaints that employees of the National Restaurant Association
National Restaurant Association
thumb|National Restaurant Association logoThe National Restaurant Association is a restaurant industry business association in the United States, representing more than 380,000 restaurant locations. It also operates the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation...
had leveled against Cain for misbehavior they asserted he committed when they reported to him there.
They pointed out that in a column Gordon wrote for Fox News in August 2010 he described Rosenberg's continuing support from her colleagues as part of a "media conspiracy".