The top executive at the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), the largest tribal health organization in the U.S., has been placed on leave following unspecified allegations.

Stacy Bohlen, a citizen of the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, was placed on leave by the NIHB board last week. A public statement from the organization cited “allegations against our Chief Executive Officer (CEO).”

“The Board of Directors takes this matter very seriously and per NIHB policy has placed the CEO on administrative leave while we conduct a thorough investigation by independent counsel,” William “Bill” Smith, the vice president and chief of the Valdez Native Tribe, said in the August 12 statement.

“The fact that this matter is under investigation does not suggest that there has been a finding of wrongdoing on the part of our CEO,” Smith added.

A separate statement addressed to the “NIHB Family” is also circulating. It contains much of the same information about Bohlen’s status, while also noting that a “third-party law firm has been hired to conduct the investigation.”

“The board met today as we take this matter very seriously,” Smith said.

But neither statement gives an indication of the nature of the allegations that have been made against Bohlen, who has worked at NIHB for more than 20 years, initially as executive director before the title was changed to its current one of CEO. A spokesperson for the organization declined to provide details when asked by Indianz.Com on Monday.

The NIHB spokesperson also declined to reveal the name of the law firm that is conducting the investigation into Bohlen. Other tribal organizations, most notably the National Congress of American Indians and, more recently, NAFOA, have turned to outside counsel to look into allegations against high-ranking executives.

“Officially, that’s all we are going to say because it’s under investigation,” NIHB Communications Director Ned Johnson told Indianz.Com, referring to the statement made public by the organization.

The lack of details from NIHB has tribal advocates in the nation’s capital speculating about the reasons for Bohlen being placed on leave. Several contacted by Indianz.Com did not think that the allegations are of a financial nature.

“I just can’t imagine it being finances,” one tribal advocate who has worked with NIBH in the past said. “She was pretty much by the book,” the same person said of Bohlen’s financial management skills.

With finances seemingly out of the picture, other advocates in Washington, D.C., wondered whether the allegations are related to management of staff. In the past, inter-tribal organizations have been hit with human resource complaints that led to high-profile ousters and even litigation.

Another person in D.C. who heard about Bohlen’s status early last week, almost immediately after the NIHB board took action, speculated that the complaint originated with an unspecified “staffer” who documented the alleged misconduct that’s now being investigated.

But Smith said NIHB’s work to advance health systems in Indian Country would not suffer while the investigation is underway. Anthony “A.C.” Locklear, a citizen of the Lumbee Tribe who has been serving as the organization’s first-ever Director of Federal Relations since August 2022, has been named as “acting CEO” by the board.

“Our People deserve for us to continue the mission, and we will,” Smith said in the statement addressed to “Tribal Leaders, Member Organizations, and Partners.”

Johnson said NIHB does not typically announce personnel decisions, although it did so when Locklear was promoted to his current position two years ago. The organization recently brought Amber Torres, the former chairwoman of the Walker River Paiute Tribe, on board as the “interim” Chief Operating Officer (COO) but her presence wasn’t widely known until she testified before the U.S. Congress last month.

As COO, Torres succeeds Jamie Gomez, a citizen of the Tlingit and Haida Tribes from Alaska, on but NIHB did not publicize Torres’s arrival or Gomez’s departure. Gomez announced on social media last month that she is serving as Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Advancement for her tribal nation.

But tribal advocates in D.C. who pay attention to the comings and goings at inter-tribal organizations say NIHB has seemingly been trying to fulfill a significant number of positions. In late May, NIHB sought applicants for an “Executive Assistant” who would report to the CEO.

“Lots of staff have left,” one person said of NIHB.

Both statements from the National Indian Health Board about Stacy Bohlen being placed on leave were signed by William “Bill” Smith, the Chair of NIHB’s Board of Directors.

Dear Tribal Leaders, Member Organizations, and Partners:

Last week, the National Indian Health Board of Directors were made aware of allegations against our Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Board of Directors takes this matter very seriously and per NIHB policy has placed the CEO on administrative leave while we conduct a thorough investigation by independent counsel. The fact that this matter is under investigation does not suggest that there has been a finding of wrongdoing on the part of our CEO.

The vital work that NIHB does for Indian Country, however, must not be impacted. Our People deserve for us to continue the mission, and we will.

A.C. Locklear, Lumbee, has been named Acting CEO, and the Board and I have complete confidence in him to lead during this time.

If you have questions about this matter, please email nihbcommunications@nihb.org. To contact A.C. Locklear, please email ceo@nihb.org.

AwA’ahdah,

Chairman Chief William “Bill” Smith

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Dear NIHB Family,

On behalf of myself and the Board of Directors, I wanted to inform you that we are aware of the allegations made against the CEO, Stacy Bohlen. The Board met today as we take this matter very seriously. The actions the Board has taken are (1) Stacy has been placed on administrative leave pending a full investigation, (2) a third-party law firm has been hired to conduct the investigation, and (3) A.C. Locklear has been named Acting CEO. Please note, the fact that this matter is under investigation does not suggest that there has been a finding of wrongdoing on the part of the CEO.

I am in constant communication with A.C. and the Board will inform you of any further actions, as warranted.

Thank you all for your dedication to Indian Country and the important work of NIHB.

AwA’ahdah,

Chairman Chief William “Bill” Smith