Ombuds

Ombuds are individuals who rely on a number of techniques to resolve disputes. These techniques include counseling, mediating, conciliating, and fact finding. Usually, when an ombud receives a complaint, s/he interviews the parties, reviews files, and makes recommendations to the disputants. The ombuds do not impose solutions. The power of the ombud lies in his/her ability to persuade the parties to accept his/her recommendations. An individual not accepting the proposed solution of the ombud is free to pursue a remedy in other forums for dispute resolution.

Here is a list of agencies which have an ombuds program, including either the agency's webpage or telephone number:

Defense Logistics Agency
(703)767-6777
http://www.dla.mil/do/resolve/resolve.asp
http://www.dscc.dla.mil/offices/legal/adr/adr.html

Department of Agriculture
Food and Safety Inspection Service
(612) 370-2010

Department of Energy, Los Alamos National Laboratory
http://www.lanl.gov/ombuds/

National Institute of Health
(301) 594-7231
http://www4.od.nih.gov/ccr

Department of Justice
http://www.usdoj.gov/odr

• Federal Bureau of Investigation
  (202) 324-2156

Department of the Navy
(202) 764-0746
http://adr.navy.mil

Department of State
(202) 647-8104
http://www.state.gov/s/ocr/

U.S. Secret Service (Department of Homeland Security)
(202) 406-5555
http://www.secretservice.gov/index.shtml

International Broadcasting Bureau (Broadcasting Board of Governors)
(202) 619-2012

Smithsonian Institution
(202) 357-3261