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A former United States Air Force officer and whistleblower is threatening legal action against Dunedin International Airport Ltd, after claiming he was subjected to "derogatory" comments during a job interview.
Dr Tim Ferner (57), a former USAF lieutenant-colonel now living in Outram, has sent a written complaint outlining his concerns to the Dunedin City Council, Government ministers and the Otago Daily Times.
Dunedin International Airport Ltd (DIAL) is part-owned by the DCC, through Dunedin City Holdings Ltd, and the Crown.
In his complaint, Dr Ferner said he applied for a part-time job at the airport and was interviewed twice, on February 11 and 12.
At the second interview, he alleged airport chief executive Richard Roberts made "derogatory and potentially discriminatory" statements about military veterans being "too authoritarian" to work at the airport.
He said Mr Roberts also questioned the authenticity of Dr Ferner's CV, which detailed his military background, saying it was "all rubbish".
Dr Ferner responded by withdrawing his application and filing his complaint, and yesterday said he was "very seriously" considering legal action.
"Everything in my CV is true. I'm not going to apologise for all of the things I've done during my Air Force career, nor will I have my integrity impugned by some petty bureaucrat like Mr Roberts."
Neither Mr Roberts nor business development general manager Megan Crawford responded to ODT requests for comment.
Instead, DIAL board chairman Tony Allison released a brief written statement which confirmed a complaint had been received.
"The matter is regarding an employment interview therefore we regard it as a confidential employment matter that we do not want to comment specifically on.
"I can confirm I have spoken to the parties involved and am satisfied with our process."
Mr Allison would not address the specific claims made by Dr Ferner, the threat of legal action or any steps being taken to resolve the situation, when asked.
Dr Ferner first featured in the ODT in 2013, when it emerged he was living quietly in Henley after a long USAF career.
His CV detailed his qualifications, including as a master navigator with 3200 flight hours and 37 combat support missions, as well as postings as a chief navigator in Japan, executive officer at Nato HQ in Turkey, and as chief of the Nato Air Integration Working Group in Germany.
He was chief of staff for the USAF Coalition and Irregular Warfare Centre of Excellence think-tank when he uncovered a multimillion-dollar scam involving a military contractor, Science Applications International Corp (SAIC).
The company later agreed to a pay the US Government $US5.75 million ($NZ8.4 million) to settle allegations it circumvented the bidding process for lucrative contracts, and Dr Ferner later received a payout of at least $US1.3 million.
Since moving to Dunedin in 2011, Dr Ferner - married to a New Zealand wife and with two sons - had completed a PhD at the University of Otago, examining the role of whistleblowers in the US Department of Defence.
He said he had been frustrated by numerous failed attempts to secure work in Dunedin, as he was considered over-qualified for many potential jobs.
He did not need the money, but wanted to contribute, and had sought the airport role because of his desire to return to an airport environment, he said.
Prof Robert Patman, of the University of Otago, who was Dr Ferner's primary PhD supervisor, was "quite shocked" to hear of Dr Ferner's alleged treatment.
He was "highly accomplished" and had a "great work ethic", as well as being a "very honest person".
"He's a person who has got high ethical standards, and that may be why he's outraged by those comments."