Paula Coughlin
Encyclopedia
Paula Coughlin, now known as Paula Puopolo, was a Lieutenant
in the United States Navy
. She was a whistleblower who played a role in opening investigations into what was known as the "Tailhook scandal
".
Coughlin attended Old Dominion University
, where she joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps. She joined the navy in 1984 and became a helicopter pilot.
She attended the Tailhook conference in September 1991, organized by former navy aviators at the Las Vegas Hilton
. Many of the attendees got raucously drunk. Coughlin was one of the first female attendees who reported being indecently assaulted by male attendees. Coughlin testified she feared being gang-raped when she was forced to "run the gauntlet". She had reported the incident to senior officers, but after a lack of progress due to "closing ranks and obfuscation" she went public in June 1992. The President, George H.W. Bush, met with Coughlin and expressed sympathy with her and promised a full investigation. Coughlin later described being called in to see Dick Cheney
—then Secretary of Defense— who told her he had just fired the Secretary of the Navy, implying it was her fault. She resigned from the Navy in February 1994, after being subject to abuse in retaliation for her allegations. She settled out of court with the Tailhook Association in October 1994, and was awarded $5.3 million in damages after a jury concluded that the Las Vegas Hilton
hotel had been negligent in not providing adequate security at the Tailhook convention. A May 1995 made-for-television movie broadcast on ABC was based on Coughlin's story, though she was not involved in making it.
After separating from the Navy, Coughlin married Joe Puopolo and opened a yoga centre.
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the United States Navy
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...
. She was a whistleblower who played a role in opening investigations into what was known as the "Tailhook scandal
Tailhook scandal
The Tailhook scandal refers to a series of incidents where more than 100 U.S. Navy and United States Marine Corps aviation officers were alleged to have sexually assaulted at least 87 women, or otherwise engaged in "improper and indecent" conduct at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada...
".
Coughlin attended Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
, where she joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps. She joined the navy in 1984 and became a helicopter pilot.
She attended the Tailhook conference in September 1991, organized by former navy aviators at the Las Vegas Hilton
Las Vegas Hilton
The Las Vegas Hilton is a hotel, casino, and convention center in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is a joint venture between Colony Capital, which owns 60 percent, and New York City-based REIT Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds, which owns the remaining 40 percent...
. Many of the attendees got raucously drunk. Coughlin was one of the first female attendees who reported being indecently assaulted by male attendees. Coughlin testified she feared being gang-raped when she was forced to "run the gauntlet". She had reported the incident to senior officers, but after a lack of progress due to "closing ranks and obfuscation" she went public in June 1992. The President, George H.W. Bush, met with Coughlin and expressed sympathy with her and promised a full investigation. Coughlin later described being called in to see Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
—then Secretary of Defense— who told her he had just fired the Secretary of the Navy, implying it was her fault. She resigned from the Navy in February 1994, after being subject to abuse in retaliation for her allegations. She settled out of court with the Tailhook Association in October 1994, and was awarded $5.3 million in damages after a jury concluded that the Las Vegas Hilton
Las Vegas Hilton
The Las Vegas Hilton is a hotel, casino, and convention center in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is a joint venture between Colony Capital, which owns 60 percent, and New York City-based REIT Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds, which owns the remaining 40 percent...
hotel had been negligent in not providing adequate security at the Tailhook convention. A May 1995 made-for-television movie broadcast on ABC was based on Coughlin's story, though she was not involved in making it.
After separating from the Navy, Coughlin married Joe Puopolo and opened a yoga centre.
External links
- Biography on Ocean Yoga site
- Coughlin's case in the Department of Defense Inspector General report, February 1993, hosted by PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....