Riad Ali Director Audit and Procurement Oversight of Broward Office of the Inspector General
Riad Ali Director Audit and Procurement Oversight of Broward Office of the Inspector General Mr. Ali has been with the OIG since 2014 and is responsible for starting and overseeing the audit section, overseeing the contract/procurement oversight section, and supervising investigations. Prior to working for the OIG, Mr. Ali worked in both public accounting and internal auditing for other government agencies. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting, and he is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Joanna Ayers Managing Director, Forensic Audits and Investigative Service of GAO
Joanna Ayers Managing Director, Forensic Audits and Investigative Service of GAO Johana Ayers is the Managing Director of the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) Forensic Audits and Investigative Service (FAIS) team. In this position, she leads GAO’s efforts to provide Congress with high-quality forensic audits and investigations of fraud, waste, and abuse; other special investigations; and security and vulnerability assessments. The team also handles fraud, waste, and abuse tips received through GAO’s fraud hotline. The team led the development of GAO’s Fraud Risk Framework, which identifies leading practices for use by federal program managers in strategically managing fraud risks, and GAO’s Antifraud Resource, which is a new online interactive resource to inform federal officials, Congress, the media, and the public about fraud schemes and how to combat them. FAIS’s work cuts across a diverse array of U.S. federal government programs administered by Internal Revenue Service, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Homeland Security, among others. This also includes examining fraud in pandemic relief programs and how to better manage associated fraud risks. Prior to being named Managing Director by the U.S. Comptroller General in 2016, Ms. Ayers served as a director in GAO’s Defense Capabilities and Management team and an assistant director in the Contracting and National Security Acquisitions team. She also served as the head of GAO’s office in Baghdad during two, 7-month periods, first in 2008 and again in 2010, enabling GAO to provide first-hand analysis and assessments of the U.S. government’s efforts to stabilize and rebuild Iraq In recognition of her efforts during her more than 24 years with GAO, Ms. Ayers has been the recipient of numerous awards, including a Distinguished Service award and two Meritorious Service awards and the EEO, Diversity, and Inclusion Award. She received her bachelor’s degree from the American University in international studies and her master’s degree in international affairs from the George Washington University.
Robert Baggett Special Agent-in-Charge, Investigations Liaison and Special Operations Division at USDA OIG
Robert Baggett Special Agent-in-Charge, Investigations Liaison and Special Operations Division at USDA OIG Robert M. Baggett serves as the Special Agent-in-Charge of the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General’s Investigations Liaison and Special Operations Division. In this role, he manages several headquarters business operations portfolios for the Office of Investigations, which includes operational budgets, the Hotline and Asset Forfeiture Units, policy, training, and emergency support functions, as well as various investigative and logistics programs. Robert is also a Leadership Coach for the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) Professional Development Committee.
Tammy Bankus Director, NAVAL IG Training and Certification of Navy Inspector General Office
Tammy Bankus Director, NAVAL IG Training and Certification of Navy Inspector General Office Dr. Bankus began her federal civilian career with the Department of the Army at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Following her service at Fort Gordon, she served as a Senior Instructional Design Specialist and advisor at HQ TRADOC, G-3/5/7 from 2010 to 2017. In 2017, she served at Fort Benning, Georgia as the Director of Quality Assurance for Infantry, Armor, and Maneuver Center of Excellence training and education until 2021. During her time at Fort Benning, she managed training accreditation and compliance across over 50 locations impacting the annual training of over 50,000 Soldiers. Presently, she serves as the Director for Training and Certification at the Office of the Naval Inspector General, in Washington D.C. Some of her career assignments include: Implementation of the Naval IG certification program, educational technology senior leader advisor HQ TRADOC, coauthored the future technology section of the Army Learning Concept 2035, and manpower analysis for the 1700 education series, along with Soldier competency models. Dr. Bankus has over 25 years of experience in the fields of psychology and education. Dr. Bankus has a passion for learning and holds a Ph.D. in instructional design and technology, curriculum and instruction from Old Dominion University, Ed.S in educational psychology and instructional technology with additional emphasis in gifted education, special education, and statistics, M.Ed in Adult Education from the University of Georgia (UGA), and M.S. in psychology, along with achieving Executive Leadership Certificates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Virginia, and is a graduate from Department of the Army, HQ TRADOC’s Senior Leader Development program. Dr. Bankus is a strong supporter of evidence-based learning innovations and believes in the need to push our limits as we fully embrace future possibilities.
Maxene Bardwell Assistant Inspector General for Audit at Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC)
Maxene Bardwell Assistant Inspector General for Audit at Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) Maxene M. Bardwell, CPA-CITP, CFE, CIGA, CIA, CISA, CRMA, is the Assistant Inspector General for Audit for WSSC Water in Laurel, Maryland where she leads a team of Office of Inspector General staff who routinely help save the agency and its customers millions of dollars each fiscal year through various audits, risk mitigation efforts, and the deterrence of fraud, waste and abuse. Maxene earned her master’s degree with a finance concentration from Notre Dame of Maryland University and a bachelor’s degree with an accounting concentration from The Ohio State University. Maxene is currently the Vice President of the Board of Directors for ISACA-CMC, member of the America Institute of CPAs (AICPA) Auditing Standards Board, Vice Chairman for the City of Laurel Maryland Ethics Commission, and Executive Committee member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Inspectors General (AIG) and Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA). Maxene is also a Course Manager for the AIG’s Inspectors General Institute and Mentor for the MACPA’s Mentor Program. She is the AICPA’s 2021 Outstanding CPA in Local Government Award Winner.
Brigitte Bishop Inspectrice Générale at Office of the Inspector General City of Montreal
Brigitte Bishop Inspectrice Générale at Office of the Inspector General City of Montreal Brigitte Bishop joined the Montréal OIG in April 2017 as First Deputy Inspector General and was appointed unanimously as Inspector General of the City of Montreal by the members of City Council on December 17, 2018. For more than 27 years, she served as a prosecutor and took on major criminal organizations such as the Hells Angels. She recently obtained the forfeiture of all of their five bunkers in the province of Québec. Since her appointment, the Montréal OIG has issued a record 7 reports in 2019 alone, running the gamut from municipal employees’ conflicts of interest, to directed tenders, kickbacks imposed by a contractor on subcontractors,and fraud. When the Québec provincial government recently tabled a stimulus and coronavirus recovery bill, they sought out Ms. Bishop’s expertise and asked her to appear before the National Assembly to discuss topics related to fighting corruption and the infiltration of organized crime in the legal economy. In 2018, Ms. Bishop earned the designation of Certified Inspector General (CIG) from the Association of Inspectors General, of which she is an active member since 2017.
The Honorable Muriel Bowser Mayor at District of Columbia
The Honorable Muriel Bowser Mayor at District of Columbia On November 6, 2018, Muriel Bowser became the first woman ever re-elected as the Mayor of Washington, DC and the first mayor to earn a second term in 16 years. Since taking office, the Mayor has taken bold steps to reset DC’s global and national competitiveness, speed up affordable housing production, diversify the DC economy, increase satisfaction in city services, and invest in programs and policies that allow more families to live and thrive in DC. Mayor Bowser earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Chatham University and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from American University, and received honorary doctorates from Chatham University and Trinity University. With more than 20 years of experience in local government, she first entered elected office as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in the Riggs Park neighborhood.
LaDonna Candia-Flanagan Chief Investigative Analyst at City of Chicago - Office of the Inspector General
LaDonna Candia-Flanagan Chief Investigative Analyst at City of Chicago - Office of the Inspector General LaDonna Candia-Flanagan first joined the office in 1992 as an investigator, and re-joined the office in 2017 as an Investigative Analyst in the Public Safety section where she currently serves as a Chief Investigative Analyst. Previously, she has served as a Regional Director of Asset Protection for the Walgreens Co. where she lead internal investigations and loss reduction efforts for stores in New York and Connecticut. LaDonna has over 20 years of experience in investigations and, during her tenure with OIG, has screened hundreds of closed police misconduct investigations for material deficiencies. LaDonna has a Master of Public Administration from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Illinois State University. She is also a Certified Inspector General/Inspector and Evaluator.
Roman Castillo Director of CohnReznick LLP
Roman Castillo Director of CohnReznick LLP Roman Castillo is a Director in CohnReznick’s Government and Public Sector practice, Roman Castillo advises government clients on disaster recovery, grants management, and strategies to expedite program delivery while maintaining compliance with federal rules and regulations. Recently, Roman’s team of disaster recovery professionals identified significant improvement opportunities to transform a statewide program designed to prevent evictions during the coronavirus pandemic.
Thomas A. Caulfield Chief Operating Officer at Procurement Integrity Consulting Services
Thomas A. Caulfield Chief Operating Officer at Procurement Integrity Consulting Services Tom has forty-plus years of public and private sector experience in anti-corruption, criminal investigations, anti-fraud strategies, white-collar crimes, and professional development. Now, the Assistant IG for Investigations, Special IG for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR) and the co-founder of "Procurement Integrity Consulting Services (PICS) LLC.” PICS is company committed to helping industry and governments in safeguarding against unnecessary financial losses and reputational damages related to procurement fraud and abuse. The SIGPR was created under the CARES Act and has the duty to conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations of loans and other investments made by the U.S. Treasury Department under the CARES Act.
Joseph M. Centorino Inspector General at City of Miami Beach Office of the Inspector General
Joseph M. Centorino Inspector General at City of Miami Beach Office of the Inspector General Joseph Centorino assumed the position of Inspector General for the City of Miami Beach on November 1, 2019. Centorino previously served as the Executive Director/General Counsel of the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust from 2011 to 2018. In that position he oversaw ethics training and the provision of ethics opinions for elected officials, public employees, lobbyists, and local government attorneys, as well as the enforcement of the Miami-Dade Ethics Code, which covers all public servants in Miami-Dade County government as well as all municipalities within the County. Prior to his County service, he spent twenty-five years as an Assistant State Attorney at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. His service in that office included sixteen years as the Chief of the Public Corruption Unit, where he supervised, investigated, and prosecuted major corruption cases involving elected and appointed public officials and public employees. Centorino began his career in Massachusetts as an aide to U.S. Representative Michael J. Harrington, and later worked in private law practice and as an Assistant District Attorney in Essex County. He also served for eight years as an elected city councilman in his hometown of Salem, MA. Centorino holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from Tufts University in Political Science a Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School, and is a member of the Florida Bar, as well as the Bars of Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has served as an instructor of Professionalism and Ethics at Florida International University, and is a frequent lecturer, speaker and panelist on corruption and ethics-related topics. He was the recipient of the Lawyers in Leadership Award from the Center for Ethics and Public Service at the University of Miami School of Law in 2011, and has served on the Florida Bar Professional Ethics Committee.
Robert Cerasoli Inspector General (Retired)
Robert Cerasoli Inspector General (Retired) Robert Angelo Cerasoli has a 48-year record of outstanding public service. He has provided major contributions to responsible professional ethical conduct in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of New Orleans, Louisiana, the national Inspectors General community, and for the U. S. Department of State in twelve foreign nations. He is a native of Quincy, Massachusetts, and received his Bachelor of Arts in Government and Public Administration in 1969 from The American University. In 1988, he received a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University. In 2015 he received a Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation and an Ed.S. degree in Organizational Leadership in 2022, both from Abilene Christian University. He is a Certified Inspector General (CIG), Certified Inspector General Investigator (CIGI), Certified Inspector General Auditor (CIGA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM). He possesses over three decades of teaching experience in ethics, auditing, oversight, financial management, and anti-corruption practices. He taught courses at Bridgewater State University, Eastern Nazarene College, Newbury College, Quincy College, New Hampshire Community Technical College, and for the Association of Inspectors General at American University in Washington, D. C., and John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. He combines teaching experience with decades of practical experience in the field. He served as a Representative in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1975 to 1991. He served as the second Inspector General for the State of Massachusetts for two five-year terms, the maximum allowed by law, from 1991 to 2001. The Massachusetts Inspector General was the first statewide Inspector General position created in the U.S. and the first Inspector General position created outside of the federal system. He also served as the first Inspector General of New Orleans, Louisiana from 2007 to 2009, where he created the office from the ground up after Hurricane Katrina. As one of the original founders and charter members of the Association of Inspectors General (AIG), he literally wrote the book—by proposing, developing, and co-authoring the Certified Inspector General (CIG) concept and the creation of the Principles and Standards for Offices of Inspectors General, called the Green Book. This book was used as a basis for the creation of the Inspector General office in New Orleans.
Stephen Croley Inspector General at Bureau of Navy Personnel
Stephen Croley Inspector General at Bureau of Navy Personnel Mr. Croley is a retired, career Army officer with over 35 years of combined military and civilian service. Mr. Croley has over 15 years of experience within the Department of Defense Inspector General community, including senior leader positions within the Naval Inspector General and Department of the Army Inspector General Agency. Mr. Croley assumed duties as the Inspector General, Bureau of Naval Personnel, in January 2019. In this role Mr. Croley provides independent oversight of the US Navy’s Human Capital enterprise, including oversight responsibilities for the Navy’s Corrections Program and Consolidated BRIG System. Mr. Croley has leadership experience ranging from platoon through Department of the Army level and commanded Soldiers in combat during five deployments to the US Central Command area of responsibility. Mr. Croley is honored and humbled to carry the title of Veteran.
Isabel Cumming Inspector General at MD Baltimore City OIG
Isabel Cumming Inspector General at MD Baltimore City OIG Isabel Mercedes Cumming is the Inspector General of Baltimore City, she is the first woman and Latina to ever be named to the post in January of 2018. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has flourished under her leadership having quadrupled the number of hotline complaints, achieving independence for the office and successfully growing the office from six to fourteen employees in just sixteen months. The OIG has had numerous high-profile cases and the OIG was able to achieve over a million dollars of documented savings for the citizens of Baltimore in the first year. For six years prior, she was the Assistant Inspector General of Investigations for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority system overseeing 200 reports of investigation and a team of fourteen. Previously she was the Chief of the Economic Crimes/Special Prosecutions Unit of the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for over seven years. She started one of the first mortgage fraud units in the nation. Prior she was with the Economic Crimes Unit of Baltimore City for over four years handling hundreds of white-collar crime cases including identity theft, embezzlement and arson. For over six years she was an Assistant State Prosecutor with the Maryland State Prosecutor's Office handling high profile cases of elected officials throughout Maryland. Ms. Cumming began her legal career at the United States Attorney’s Office as a law clerk where she specialized in investigating white-collar crimes. Prior she was the Director of Internal Audit for American National Bank in Baltimore for over seven years. She began her career with KPMG Peat Marwick in Baltimore as an auditor in 1984. Ms. Cumming was named the Certified Fraud Fighter of the Year in 2006 and the first Top Fraud Fighter in Maryland in 2004 by the ACFE. She was named a Top 100 Women in Maryland three times by the Daily Record and recently a “Leader in Law”. She traveled to Amman, Jordan where she taught White Collar Prosecution to fifty judges and lawyers for the Rule of Law program. She is a both a Certified Inspector General and Certified Fraud Examiner. In 2019, she was elected to the Board of Directors of the Association of Inspector Generals. She previously taught Principles of Fraud Examination at the University of Baltimore and continues to serve on the Dean’s Advisory Committee for the Law School. She earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from James Madison University, a master’s degree in Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate (law) degree with honors from the University of Baltimore.
Glenn Cunha Inspector General (Retired) at MA OIG
Glenn Cunha Inspector General (Retired) at MA OIG Glenn A. Cunha is the retired Massachusetts Inspector General. In 2012, he was appointed to his first five-year term and completed his second term in August 2022. During his tenure, the office doubled in size and fulfilled legislative mandates to create specialized units charged with overseeing areas of state government including transportation funding, benefit programs in health and human services, and overtime at the State Police. For over 35 years, Cunha has worked in the public and private sectors, building complex investigations, prosecuting cases in court and preventing and detecting fraud in many areas, including insurance, public benefits, charities and fraud by public officials. Prior to his appointment as IG, Cunha worked in the Attorney General’s office, where he served as the Managing Attorney of the Criminal Bureau overseeing eight divisions and supervising investigations and prosecutions relative to financial fraud, probation, lottery, fraudulently produced MBTA passes, human trafficking, child pornography and a case of complex fraud by a charity. Prior to this, Cunha worked in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney. He prosecuted serious cases, trying numerous Superior Court jury trials, from violent assaults involving children to firearm possession and drug distribution. Cunha’s experience also includes serving as the Deputy Chief of the Child Abuse Unit and as an Assistant District Attorney in Norfolk County. Cunha holds a B.A. in Economics from Boston College, an M.B.A. from Bentley University Graduate School of Management and a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School. Cunha earned his Certified Inspector General (CIG) credential from the Association of Inspectors General in 2016. He became a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) in 2018.
John Curry Managing Director of Guidepost Solutions, LLC.
John Curry Managing Director of Guidepost Solutions, LLC. John A. Curry is the Managing Director in Guidepost Solutions Monitoring and Investigations practice. Most recently he served as the Assistant Commissioner for Legal Affairs and Deputy General Counsel at the New York City Business Integrity Commission (BIC). Mr. Curry conducted investigations and depositions; designed and oversaw monitorships of companies licensed by the BIC; and drafted advisory opinions for the Commission. He acted as a liaison with local, city, state and federal regulatory and law enforcement agencies investigating the New York City Public Wholesale Markets as well as companies and principals involved in the trade waste industries regulated by BIC. He coordinated and assisted investigators and members of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) assigned to the Organized Crime Investigation Division in developing strategies for criminal investigations. Mr. Curry also supervised and conducted internal investigations relating to allegations of misconduct and/or violations of the BIC Code of Conduct. During his tenure, he also served as acting General Counsel and Director of BIC’s Background Investigations Unit. Prior to joining BIC, Mr. Curry was the regional counsel for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) where he provided legal guidance in creating and drafting enforcement strategies for combating the manufacturing, distribution and sale of counterfeit and piratical music in multiple states; testified at federal, state and local legal proceedings on behalf of the RIAA; trained law enforcement personnel on how to identify counterfeit/piratical music and conduct successful criminal investigations; and assisted prosecutors in preparing and presenting piracy cases to grand juries and trial juries. Mr. Curry also served as an Administrative Law Judge for the New York State Liquor Authority (NYSLA) where he conducted hearings. Mr. Curry began his career serving 20 years with the NYPD. He was assigned to the Intelligence Division and retired as Sergeant/Executive Officer of the NYPD Legal Bureau’s Civil Enforcement Unit.
The Honorable Rae Oliver Davis Inspector General at US Dept of Housing & Urban Development OIG
The Honorable Rae Oliver Davis Inspector General at US Dept of Housing & Urban Development OIG General for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on January 23, 2019. As Inspector General, Ms. Oliver Davis is the senior official responsible for audits, evaluations, investigations, and oversight efforts relating to HUD's programs and operations to ensure integrity, economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in these programs. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) at HUD is one of the original 12 Inspectors general authorized under the IG Act of 1978. Prior to her position as Inspector General, Ms. Oliver Davis was appointed as the Acting Assistant Inspector General in February 2017. In that capacity, she was responsible for the oversight of the Office of Special Inquiry (OSI) within the OIG. OSI conducts sensitive investigations regarding waste, fraud, and abuse of HUD programs and the conduct of its employees. She has served nearly a decade in the Inspector General community. Before joining the Office of Inspector General for HUD, she served as chief investigative counsel for the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP). SIGTARP is an independent federal law enforcement agency under the U.S Department of Treasury that targets financial institution crime. She also served in the Office of the General Counsel for the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Postal Service. Ms. Oliver Davis served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee from 2002 to 2007. She also served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Tennessee from 1999 to 2002. Earlier in her career, Ms. Oliver Davis served on the then U.S. Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and the U.S. House Government Reform and Oversight Committee. Ms. Oliver Davis received a J.D. from the University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Murray State University.
Ken Dieffenbach Deputy Assistant IG for Investigations at U.S. Department of Energy
Ken Dieffenbach Deputy Assistant IG for Investigations at U.S. Department of Energy Ken Dieffenbach has served as the Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations at the Department of Energy OIG since July 2021. Ken began his federal law enforcement career in 1996 when he was credentialed as a special agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI). During his over six years with AFOSI, he conducted numerous general crime, major procurement fraud, and counterintelligence investigations and protective services operations related to U.S. Air Force personnel and resources. In 2003, Ken joined the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General’s Fraud Detection Office where he served as a special agent, senior special agent, assistant special agent in charge, and special agent in charge as well as the deputy director of the OIG’s Office of Data Analytics. While with the Department of Justice, Ken led and oversaw hundreds of complex and sensitive investigations including procurement and grant fraud, ethics violations by senior DOJ employees, classified programs, and public corruption related to the Department of Justice’s over 115,000 employees and worldwide operations. For approximately ten years he has served as an adjunct instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's Grant Fraud Investigations Training Program and is a sought after public speaker. For almost ten years Ken coordinated DOJ's Grant Fraud Working Group where he grew participation from a dozen individuals to over 500 from dozens of federal agencies. In 2017, his work related to the racketeering conspiracy trial convictions of U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah and others was recognized with the Attorney General's Distinguished Service Award. Ken has been a Certified Fraud Examiner since 1999 and in 2019, he was elected as a Regent for the 85,000+ member Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. In 2020 he was elected as Regent Chair. Ken is a graduate of the Citadel in Charleston South Carolina and holds a graduate degree in criminal justice from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Warren Eller, PhD Professor and Department Chair at John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Warren Eller, PhD Professor and Department Chair at John Jay College of Criminal Justice Dr. Eller is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Management and holds an MPA from West Virginia University, and PhD from Texas A&M University. Before arriving to John Jay College, Dr. Eller was faculty at the Bush School of Public Service at Texas A&M, served as the Associate Director of the Stephenson Disaster Management Institute at LSU, as the Department Chair and MPA Director at the University of North Carolina Pembroke, and most recently as faculty at the School of Public Health at WVU. Throughout his career, Dr. Eller has served as Editor of the Policy Studies Journal and Risk, Hazards, and Crisis in Public Policy. His work has been funded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Education (DoEd), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the MacArthur Foundation, and various non-profit and public agencies. Currently, his research focuses on emergency management and recovery with special interest in vulnerable populations.
Samantha Feinstein Director/Staff Attorney of Government Accountability Project
Samantha Feinstein Director/Staff Attorney of Government Accountability Project Samantha Feinstein is a Staff Attorney and Director of the International Program at Government Accountability Project. She develops and advances private sector whistleblower-rights legislation; represents public, private, and international whistleblower clients; and conducts research, training, advocacy, and public education for the international program. She has 22 years of experience including extensive work in international law and development on anti-corruption, international access to justice, good governance, human rights, immigration, and humanitarian aid. Before joining Government Accountability Project, she worked at the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of International Law and the ABA Rule of Law Initiative. Ms. Feinstein also worked at International Rescue Committee, Banyan Global, and was Middle East Policy Advisor for Nirj Deva, UK Member of European Parliament. Ms. Feinstein authored the April 2022 report The Critical Role that Whistleblowers Play in Countering COVID-19 Disinformation, and co-authored the Government Accountability Project and International Bar Association joint report, Are Whistleblower Laws Working? A Global Study of Whistleblower Protection Litigation, published in March 2021. Feinstein authored the Government Accountability Project report, Whistleblowing at International Financial Institutions: An Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Regional Development Banks’ Whistleblower Policies, published in September 2019. She co-authored a forthcoming Springer International chapter: Whistleblowing is the Best Antidote for COVID-19: U.S. Case Studies. She also authored various blogs and OpEds, including A Comparative Analysis of U.S. v E.U. Whistleblower Law and The World Abandoned COVID-19’s Best Antidote: Whistleblowers. Ms. Feinstein holds an M.A. in International Relations and a J.D. She is admitted to practice law in Washington, DC.
Michel Forget Deputy Inspector General at City of Montreal OIG
Michel Forget Deputy Inspector General at City of Montreal OIG Graduate of the FBI national academy as well as from UQTR, Michel has been a senior manager with different organizations since 2007 in different fields such as; Fraud, corruption, organized crime, intelligence, communication director and as a Deputy IG for the City of Montreal. Michele has had the opportunity to develop new means of doing business which led to various success. Involved with many agencies throughout Canada in many years.
Ron Frazier CohnReznick at CohnReznick LLP
Ron Frazier CohnReznick at CohnReznick LLP Ronald Frazier is a Senior Manager in CohnReznick’s Government and Public Sector practice and has more than 15 years’ experience providing project management and advisory expertise with a focus on program compliance and integrity monitoring. He has performed due diligence, valuation, purchase price allocation and expert testimony preparation over the course of many engagements, including projects at FCC, DOJ, GNMA, and HUD. Currently, Ron is primarily focused on CARES and ARPA programs for the state of New Jersey where he is lead for integrity oversight monitoring for several agencies COVID-19 recovery programs.
Daniel Glad Director, Procurement Collusion Strike Force of Department of Justice
Daniel Glad Director, Procurement Collusion Strike Force of Department of Justice Daniel Glad is the Director of the Procurement Collusion Strike Force at the Antitrust Division. Previously, as Assistant Chief in the Division’s Chicago Office, Mr. Glad supervised the investigation and prosecution of conspiracies and schemes that undermine and distort competition, including domestic and international cartels involving, bid rigging, price fixing, and market allocation, and related federal offenses like fraud and money laundering. Mr. Glad received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.
Katrina Goodman Deputy Inspector General - Chief of Investigation at Office of the State Inspector General - Commonwealth of Virginia
Katrina Goodman Deputy Inspector General - Chief of Investigation at Office of the State Inspector General - Commonwealth of Virginia Katrina Goodman is the Deputy Inspector General of Investigations (Chief) at the Office of the State Inspector General (OSIG) in Richmond, Virginia where she leads a Supervisory Special Agent, four special agents (certified/sworn law enforcement professionals), a forensic analyst, an accreditation manager and oversees the State Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline team consisting of the Hotline manager and four senior investigators. Chief Goodman is a veteran law enforcement officer with over 24 years of service with state and local agencies. Prior to assuming her current position, she served two years as Special Agent with OSIG, four years as a Special Agent and Senior Special Agent with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Bureau of Law Enforcement and 14 years as a patrol officer and Detective with the Roanoke County, Virginia Police Department. Chief Goodman began her career as a patrol officer spending a year and a half with the City of Lynchburg, Virginia Police Department. Chief Goodman possesses extensive investigative experience conducting and managing complex criminal investigations such as undercover operations, homicides, physical and sexual abuse cases and narcotics trafficking. She is also a seasoned regulatory investigator having investigated internal policy, procedure and code violations as well as employment and financial compliance matters. Chief Goodman holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Longwood University. She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice and Pre-Law with a Minor in Spanish, also from Longwood. She is a Certified Forensic Interviewer, Certified Fraud Examiner, has received the Association of Inspectors General Institute for Investigators Certification and is a General Instructor for law enforcement training. Chief Goodman is an FBI-LEEDA trilogy award recipient and will be attending the 51st session of the Virginia Chiefs of Police Association’s Professional Executive Leadership School (PELS) this fall.
Sheryl Goodman President at Procurement Integrity Consulting Services
Sheryl Goodman President at Procurement Integrity Consulting Services Recognized as a national expert in establishing and re-engineering city/county/state government operations, Sheryl has built her career on creating and improving government programs that directly impact the public and private sectors. Sheryl’s earlier career included working as a certified reserve police officer for the Tallahassee Police Department; Performance Auditor and subsequently Senior Investigator for the Florida Auditor General’s office; and Director of the Pinellas County Department of Consumer Protection responsible for mediating consumer–business disputes, licensing, and investigating all aspects of economic crimes for criminal prosecution. While Inspector General for the Florida Department of Children and Families, Sheryl’s office became the first Office of Inspector General (OIG) to receive the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc.’s Inspector General Accreditation. Taking on an extraordinary challenge of her career, in 2010, Sheryl became the first Inspector General for Palm Beach County; a county commonly referred to by the nation as “Corruption County”. Creating the office from scratch, in the most difficult of circumstances, Sheryl and her team, within the first four years, questioned, identified, and cost avoided over $20 million; covering 41 separate jurisdictions. In 2014, Sheryl became an Inspector General Advisor with the City of Jacksonville where she built the foundation of the Office and help hire the initial staff to include the Inspector General. She recently returned in (November 2021-March 2022) as the Interim Inspector General to assist the city in enhancing the office’s functions and responsibilities. Established by U.S. Congress in March 2020 to provide oversight for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery asked Sheryl to build and manage the Data Analytics, Evaluations & Special Projects section as an Assistant Inspector General, along with being the Whistleblower Protection Coordinator. Sheryl co-founded an international anti-corruption consulting firm named Procurement Integrity Consulting Services (PICS). Their clients include the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Law Institute and various government anti-corruption authorities in East Africa, Southeast Asia, and the United Kingdom. Domestically, PICS has assisted government and private entities in designing complaint intake processes, developing risk assessments, establishing procurement anti-fraud protocols, and designing data analytic scenarios to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and/or abuse. Sheryl is a Certified Inspector General, Certified Inspector General Investigator, and former Vice President and Secretary of the Association of Inspectors General Board.
Patrick Gookin Hotline Director of DOD
Patrick Gookin Hotline Director of DOD Mr. Gookin became the Director of the DoD Hotline in March 2013. In this role, he oversees a staff of more than 50 professional investigators who are responsible for receiving, evaluating and investigating reports of fraud, waste, and abuse regarding programs and personnel under the purview of the DoD. In August 2013, Mr. Gookin was appointed as the Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman for the DoD. In this role, Mr. Gookin educated DoD employees about prohibitions on retaliation for protected disclosures; and educated employees who have made or contemplate making a protected disclosure, about the rights and remedies against retaliation. Prior to joining the Office of the Inspector General, Mr. Gookin served in various roles with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Office of Inspector General from 2005 to 2013, starting as a supervisory special agent and ending as the Acting Assistant Deputy Inspector General for Investigations. Mr. Gookin began Federal service in 1984 when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) as a military policeman. He was a commissioned police officer in the states of Arizona and Hawaii and became an accredited criminal
The Honorable Mark Lee Greenblatt Inspector General at US Dept of Interior
The Honorable Mark Lee Greenblatt Inspector General at US Dept of Interior Mark Lee Greenblatt is the seventh Inspector General for the U.S. Department of the Interior. As the Inspector General, Mr. Greenblatt leads a nationwide workforce of investigators, auditors, evaluators, attorneys, and support staff whose mission is to provide independent oversight and promote excellence, integrity, and accountability within the programs and operations of the Department of the Interior. Mr. Greenblatt is the senior official responsible for providing oversight of more than 60,000 Department employees and assessing the Department’s diverse programs, which includes millions of acres of public lands throughout the country, billions of dollars in acquisitions and royalty collection, and energy production, in addition to its important obligations to American Indians and Alaska Natives. In January 2021, Mr. Greenblatt was appointed as the Vice-Chair of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), leading the Inspector General community’s mission to combat fraud, waste, and mismanagement. Mr. Greenblatt has been in the Federal oversight community since 2003 as part of the legislative and executive branches. Prior to becoming the DOI Inspector General, he served as CIGIE’s Executive Director. He previously served in leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Mr. Greenblatt also served as an investigative counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice OIG. Over the course of his Federal career, he has received several awards, including a CIGIE award for excellence, Department of Commerce gold medal and bronze medals, and a Department of Justice OIG distinguished service award. Mr. Greenblatt graduated from Columbia University School of Law, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and received his undergraduate degree from Duke University. He also completed a Senior Manager in Government Fellowship at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.
Gregory Hill Executive Director of Association of Inspectors General Mr. Hill has served as the executive director and deputy executive director at Arizona State University College of Law’s Indian Legal Program and Stetson University College of Law’s National Clearinghouse of Science, Technology and Law, respectively. As the Chief Assistant Regional Counsel of Florida’s Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, First DCA, he oversaw the daily operations of 16 regional offices and more than 130 attorneys and staff with an annual budget of $11 million. He has previously served as a contract auditor (legal compliance) for the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs auditing forensic science grants. His 25 years of legal practice has focused on criminal justice, including death penalty litigation in Florida. In what he describes as his “prior life” Greg served as a City of Tampa police officer for nearly ten years. Greg earned his Juris Doctorate from SUNY at Buffalo School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Criminology, from Saint Leo University.
The Honorable Michael Horowitz Chair, CIGIE Pandemic Response Accountability Committee and Inspector General at US DOJ OIG
The Honorable Michael Horowitz Chair, CIGIE Pandemic Response Accountability Committee and Inspector General at US DOJ OIG Michael E. Horowitz was sworn in as the Inspector General of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on April 16, 2012, following his confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Mr. Horowitz was previously confirmed by the Senate in 2003 to serve a six-year term as a Commissioner on the U.S. Sentencing Commission. As Inspector General, Mr. Horowitz oversees a nationwide workforce of more than 500 special agents, auditors, inspectors, attorneys, and support staff whose mission is to detect and deter waste, fraud, abuse, and misconduct in DOJ programs and personnel, and to promote economy and efficiency in Department operations. Since April 2020, he has simultaneously led the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, a Committee of 22 federal Inspectors General that Congress created to oversee the over $5 trillion in federal pandemic-related emergency spending. From 2015 to 2020, Mr. Horowitz served as the Chair of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), an organization comprised of all 75 federal Inspectors General. Mr. Horowitz worked from 2002 to 2012 as a partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham, & Taft LLP, where he focused his practice on white collar defense, internal investigations, and regulatory compliance. He also was a board member of the Ethics Resource Center and the Society for Corporate Compliance and Ethics. Prior to working in private practice, Mr. Horowitz worked in DOJ from 1991 to 2002. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1991 to 1999, where he was the Chief of the Public Corruption Unit and a Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division. In 1995, he was awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for his work on a complex police corruption investigation. Thereafter, he worked in the DOJ Criminal Division in Washington from 1999 to 2002, first as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General and then as Chief of Staff. Mr. Horowitz began his legal career as a law clerk for Judge John G. Davies of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and as an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton. Mr. Horowitz earned his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School and his Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from Brandeis University.
Thomas Kait Jr. Deputy Inspector General for Inspections and Evaluations at US Dept of Homeland Security OIG
Thomas Kait Jr. Deputy Inspector General for Inspections and Evaluations at US Dept of Homeland Security OIG Mr. Thomas C. Kait, Jr. is the Deputy Inspector General for Inspections and Evaluations in the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, in Washington, DC. He assumed the position in September 2020 where he provides independent oversight and promote excellence, integrity, and accountability within DHS. Mr. Kait joined the senior executive service in 2020 following a 26-year career as a Surface Warfare Naval officer. While on active duty from May 1993 until his retirement in November 2019, he held a variety of worldwide leadership positions. Mr. Kait's afloat military assignments included a division officer tour onboard USS Denver (LPD 9); Landing Craft Detachment Officer in Charge at Assault Craft Unit Four; First Lieutenant onboard USS Tortuga (LSD 46); Commanding Officer onboard USS Zephyr (PC 8), USS Typhoon (PC 5), USS Squall (PC 7) and USS Hurricane (PC 3); Executive Officer onboard USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43); Commanding Officer onboard USS San Antonio (LPD 17). Ashore he served as the Future Operations officer at Commander, Surface Forces Atlantic; Officer in Charge of Fueling Detachment at Camp Cedar, Iraq; Lead Observer Trainer and Team Chief for the Joint Staff, J7 Deployable Training Team; and Chief of Staff for Expeditionary Strike Group Seven at White Beach, Okinawa. He concluded his service as the Director of Inspections, Evaluation and Intelligence Oversight at the Office of the Naval Inspector General at the Washington Navy Yard. Mr. Kait holds a Master of Business Administration degree, specializing in Transportation Management from the Naval Post Graduate School and a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy. His military awards include the Legion of Merit (two awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Army Commendation Medal and Navy Commendation Medal (three awards) and various unit and campaign awards.
Stephen Kohn Founding Director of National Whistleblower Center
Stephen Kohn Founding Director of National Whistleblower Center Stephen M. Kohn is one of the world’s leading whistleblower attorneys. A founding director of the National Whistleblower Center, he is the author of eight books on whistleblower law, including The New Whistleblower’s Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Doing What’s Right and Protecting Yourself (Lyons Press, 3rd Edition 2017). Stephen is a partner in the whistleblower law firm Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto. His primary litigation focus includes representing whistleblowers under the qui tam reward laws, the False Claims Act, and Dodd-Frank. Stephen has represented two clients who have received whistleblower rewards in excess of $100 million, and currently represents Howard Wilkinson, who exposed one of the largest money laundering schemes in history ($230 billion laundered through Danske Bank, Estonia). He was lead counsel for the whistleblower in the highly successful Second Chance Body Armor qui tam case, concerning the sale of defective bullet proof vests to the United States military and police.
Courtney LaFountain Assistant Director, Applied Research& Methods of GAO
Courtney LaFountain Assistant Director, Applied Research& Methods of GAO Courtney LaFountain is an Assistant Director in GAO’s Applied Research and Methods team with expertise in microeconomics and econometrics. She has recently led engagements on agency relocation decisions and on the economic costs of hurricanes. She is also leading a multidisciplinary team developing internal resources on methods for examining equity issues. Courtney joined GAO in 2009. She has contributed to GAO work on a variety of issues, including analysis of “too-big-to-fail” funding cost advantages for large banking organizations; access to basic banking services for low- and moderate-income households; the fiscal health of the state and local government sector; and the solvency of government trust funds. Courtney earned her doctorate in economics from Washington University in St. Louis in 2003. Prior to joining GAO, she was an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Arlington.
James Lager Chief Ethics Advisor at U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)
James Lager Chief Ethics Advisor at U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Jim Lager is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, where he teaches ethics-related courses in its undergraduate and masters programs a member of the Heterodox Academy, which advocates for viewpoint diversity and constructive disagreement in higher education, and a collaborator to Ethicalsystems.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to using behavioral science to improve ethical culture and behavior. Jim is also the Chief Ethics Advisor at the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), and advises GAO on conflicts of interest, ethics, personal and organizational independence, and manages GAO’s ethics and financial disclosure programs. Jim has substantial experience as a labor and employment lawyer, representing private and government clients in trial and appellate courts, and as an investigator in various contexts, including serving as a lead congressional investigator examining violation of federal campaign laws. Jim received a Juris Doctorate from the Washington College of Law/American University, and a Masters of Science in Organization Development from American University/NTL Institute for Applied Behavioral Science. A frequent speaker on behavioral ethics, his publications include “Toward a More Perfect Objectivity” (with Professor Tammy Waymire), Internal Auditor (2022) (paywall), "Beyond Compliance," in the Ethical Leadership: Global Challenges and Perspectives (C. Millar and E. Poole, eds. 2011), "Governments Demand Compliance, Ethics Demands Leadership," Journal of Public Affairs 10(216-224) (2010), and "Overcoming Cultures of Compliance to Reduce Corruption and Achieve Ethics in Government," 41 MCGEORGE L. REV. 63 (2009). His 2009 essay: "Have a Problem with Compliance?" was awarded the H. George Frederickson Best Article Award by the American Society for Public Administration.
The Honorable Allison Lerner Inspector General at National Science Foundation
The Honorable Allison Lerner Inspector General at National Science Foundation Allison C. Lerner assumed the duties as Inspector General of the National Science Foundation (NSF) in April 2009, reporting to the National Science Board and the Congress. As head of the Office of Inspector General, she recommends policies for promoting economy, efficiency and effectiveness of NSF programs and operations. She leads efforts to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse; improve the integrity of NSF programs and operations; and investigate allegations of misconduct in science. Ms. Lerner began her federal career in 1991, joining the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General. During her tenure at Commerce, she served as assistant counsel, special assistant to the IG, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Auditing, and Counsel to the Inspector General. Prior to joining the federal government, she was an associate at a law firm in San Antonio, Texas. In June 2011, Ms. Lerner was designated by President Obama as a member of the Government Accountability and Transparency Board. She has chaired the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency since January 2021 and served as its vice chair from January 2015 through December 2020. Ms. Lerner received her law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and a B.A. in liberal arts from the University of Texas. She is admitted to the bar in Texas and the District of Columbia.
Stephen Little Senior Manager at CohnReznick LLP
Stephen Little Senior Manager at CohnReznick LLP Stephen Little is a Senior Manager with nearly 20 years of engineering, consulting and project management experience including 10+ years of large-scale capital project management. His experience includes risk assurance, process management, relationship management, strategic management, contract negotiation, problem resolution and business development. Stephen has worked in the electrical transmission and distribution sector including smart grid and substations projects, telecommunications industry, and has extensive experience with public sector and infrastructure clients. Stephen has successfully managed multi-million dollar programs reducing energy costs to completion, and has led a multibillion dollar Integrity Monitoring engagement as part of Chicago’s $8.5B airport modernization project. His projects are consistently delivered on or ahead of schedule and under budget. Stephen holds an M.B.A. from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and B.S. degree from the University of Illinois, Material Science and Engineering.
Daniel Lucas Inspector General at Government of the District of Columbia Office of the Inspector General
Daniel Lucas Inspector General at Government of the District of Columbia Office of the Inspector General Mr. Daniel W. Lucas is the Inspector General for the District of Columbia. Mr. Lucas was nominated and confirmed as Inspector General in 2014, and has since been confirmed for a second 6-year term. As the Inspector General, Mr. Lucas provides leadership; coordinates and recommends policies for activities designed to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness and to prevent and detect corruption, fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in District government programs and operations; and provides a means for keeping the Mayor, Council, and District government agencies informed about issues and deficiencies relating to the administration of programs and operations. Mr. Lucas’ oversight of the District of Columbia Government, which operates as a state, county, city, and school district, is comprised of a $17.5 billion budget and 39,000 employees. During his tenure as the District of Columbia Inspector General, Mr. Lucas has led an agency-wide strategic transformation that adopted a performance-based culture by leveraging the Baldrige Excellence Framework, and shifted proactive oversight work towards a whole-of-government approach focused on internal control improvements across multiple District programs and operations. Mr. Lucas is a Certified Inspector General, Certified Fraud Examiner, and currently serves on the national board of the Association of Inspectors General.
Kelly Madigan Inspector General at MD Baltimore County OIG
Kelly Madigan Inspector General at MD Baltimore County OIG Kelly Madigan has served as the Inspector General for the Baltimore County Office of the Inspector General since the inception of the Office in January of 2020. A native of California, Kelly attended the University of Michigan and received her B.A. in History before moving to Maryland and attending the University of Baltimore School of Law where she graduated magna cum laude, was a member of the Heuisler Honor Society and was the recipient of the Law Faculty Award upon graduation. Kelly was a career prosecutor prior to being appointed Inspector General. She was an Assistant State’s Attorney for Baltimore City for over eleven (11) years trying homicide, complex wire-tap and other general felony cases. After leaving the State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore City, Kelly became an Assistant State Prosecutor with the Office of the State Prosecutor trying political corruption cases. Kelly was with the Office of the State Prosecutor for four (4) years where she rose to become both the Deputy State Prosecutor and then Acting State Prosecutor prior to her becoming the first Inspector General for the Office of the Inspector General. Kelly has achieved the designation of Certified Inspector General (CIG) and has enjoyed creating and growing an Inspector General’s Office from the ground up. In her free time, Kelly enjoys spending time with her husband (Pat) and their three children, Liam (12), Rory (10) and Sean (6).
David McClintock Inspector General (Retired)
David McClintock Inspector General (Retired) David McClintock serves as the Inspector General. McClintock is responsible for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of government and the detection and prevention of fraud, waste and abuse through audits, investigations, and reviews. McClintock joined the team at the clerk’s office in 2023. He previously served as the Inspector General for Baltimore City, MD and Jefferson Parish, LA. McClintock also completed a career in law enforcement with the Maryland-National Capital Park Police, retiring as an Assistant Chief. McClintock earned a B.S. in Criminology from the University of Maryland and a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. McClintock has been an active member of the National Association of Inspectors General since 2010 and is a Certified Inspector General, Certified Inspector General Evaluator, an attorney, currently serves on the national board of the Association of Inspectors General and as Chair of the Governmental Relations Committee.
Katherine McIntire Senior Assistant Legal Counsel at Broward Office of the Inspector General
Katherine McIntire Senior Assistant Legal Counsel at Broward Office of the Inspector General Ms. McIntire has been with the OIG since 2015 and is primarily responsible for conducting legal and qualitative reviews of investigations and drafting investigative reports. A former trial prosecutor, Ms. McIntire was also an Assistant Attorney General with the Florida Office of the Attorney General. For ten years there, she represented the state at the appellate level in cases including the death penalty. She has a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Miami and holds her Juris Doctor degree from American University – Washington College of Law.
Zina Merritt Chief Diversity Management Officer at GAO
Zina Merritt Chief Diversity Management Officer at GAO Zina Daché Merritt is the Chief Diversity Management Officer at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). She provides expert senior advisory services that helps GAO promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in an environment that is fair and unbiased. She also advises audit engagement teams on examinations of equity in federally administered programs. In 2022, Ms. Merritt was elected as a National Academy of Public Administration Fellow and received the Association of Government Accountants Eleanor Clark Diversity Leadership Award. She completed the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives National and International Security Program and Women and Power Program. Ms. Merritt received a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Tuskegee University and a M.S. degree in Information Systems from Texas A&M University Central TX.
Pamela Meyer Expert on Trust & Deception; Author, Liespotting; #13 Most-Watched TED Talk
Pamela Meyer Expert on Trust & Deception; Author, Liespotting; #13 Most-Watched TED Talk Pamela Meyer thinks we’re facing a pandemic of deception, and she’s arming people with tools that can help take back the truth. Author of the bestselling book Liespotting, and known as the nation's “best known expert on deception”, her TED talk, "How to Spot a Liar," has garnered over 32 million views and is one of the 12 most popular TED talks of all time. She is CEO of Calibrate, a company that trains private and public sector professionals in verbal and non-verbal cues to deception, facial micro-expression interpretation, advanced interrogation techniques, and inside threat mitigation. She holds an MBA from Harvard, an MA in Public Policy from Claremont Graduate School, and is a Certified Fraud Examiner. She was previously a media executive with over 20 years in management at Prodigy, National Geographic Television, Vestron, and Electronic Arts. She has also started several successful Internet ventures, under the Simpatico Networks banner. Meyer was recently top-ranked on Business Insider‘s list of “Smart thinkers everyone should Follow on Twitter” and has been featured in Harvard Business Review, the New York Times, CNBC, CNN, Barrons and many others.
Melinda Miguel Chief Inspector General at Executive Office of the Governor State of Florida
Melinda Miguel Chief Inspector General at Executive Office of the Governor State of Florida Melinda Miguel is the Chief Inspector General, Executive Office of the Governor, State of Florida. Miguel has over 29 years of public service and served as IG for the following state agencies: Florida State Board of Administration; Florida Attorney General’s Office; Florida Department of Education; and Florida Department of Elder Affairs. Miguel has also served as the Deputy IG for the Architect of the Capitol and IG for the U.S. Government Publishing Office, both in Washington, D.C. Miguel is the President-Elect for the Association of Government Accountants. She also serves on the AGA’s National Intergovernmental Partnership. Her service with AGA extends over twenty years in a variety of leadership roles at the national, regional, and local levels. Miguel is the immediate past National President of the Association of Inspectors General; a former member of the national Executive Committee and member of the Legislative Issues Committee, Professional Certification Board, Professional Standards Committee, and Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She is also an advisor to the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators. Miguel received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics and a Graduate Certificate in Florida Local Government Administration from Florida State University. She is a Certified Inspector General, a Certified Project Management Professional, a Certified Internal Controls Auditor, a Certified Construction Auditor, a Construction Control Professional, a Certified Business Manager, and Certified Cyber Crimes Investigator.
Flora Miller Regional Investigator / Accreditation Manager at DCF OIG Flora Miller started her career in state government in 2000 (Public Assistance Eligibility and Public Assistance Fraud Investigations), joining the Office of Inspector General in approximately 2003, serving as a Regional Investigator and Regional Investigator Supervisor. She currently serves as both a Regional Investigator (covering portions of the Central, Northeast, SunCoast, and Southeast Regions), as well as the Accreditation Manager for her agency. Mrs. Miller is a Team Leader for Inspector General Assessments for the Florida Commission for Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) and has completed over 25 assessments (mock, onsite, and technical assistance) as both Team Leader and Team Member. She has also completed approximately 20 Peer Reviews, serving as both Team Leader and Team Member for the Association of Inspectors General Peer Review Committee, and is the current Chair of the AIG's Peer Review Committee. Mrs. Miller is an instructor for the Florida Police Accreditation Coalition (FLA-PAC) and the AIG Institute. She holds certifications as a Certified Inspector General Investigator (CIGI) through the AIG and Certified Accreditation Professional (CAP) through the FLA-PAC. In her downtime, Mrs. Miller is active in the martial arts community with her husband sanctioning amateur competitive events through the Florida Boxing Commission, as well as in the Bahamas.
The Honorable Brian Miller Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
The Honorable Brian Miller Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery Brian D. Miller was confirmed by the United States Senate to be the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery on June 2, 2020. As an inspector general, Mr. Miller is known for his investigation of a lavish GSA conference in Las Vegas and his independent oversight of the GSA, documented in “Those Who Dared: 30 Officials Who Stood Up for Our Country,” a report by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
Natalie Monroe First Assistant Inspector General at Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General
Natalie Monroe First Assistant Inspector General at Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General Natalie Monroe is an attorney with over 25 years of experience practicing law in the public and private sectors. She was named the First Assistant Inspector General in 2012. Before this, Natalie served as the Chief of the Appeals Division in the Criminal Bureau at the Attorney General’s Office. There Natalie worked on a broad array of criminal and civil matters, including prosecutions and investigations involving government theft, fraud and abuse. She regularly represented the Commonwealth in state and federal court at both the trial and appellate levels. Natalie also served as an Administrative Magistrate for the Commonwealth’s Division of Administrative Law Appeals. In that role, she presided over adjudicatory hearings challenging actions taken by other state agencies and wrote numerous decisions interpreting state regulations and statutes. Before entering public service, Natalie was a partner at Sullivan & Worcester LLP, where she handled complex civil litigation, appeals in state and federal court, and white-collar criminal investigations. Natalie serves on the Comptroller’s Advisory Board and the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security’s Advisory Board. She is the Third Vice President of the Association of Inspectors General, is on the editorial board of The Massachusetts Law Review and volunteers for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (North Shore Walk). Natalie received her J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Sarah Nelson Deputy Inspector General for the Office of Innovation (OIN) at US Dept of Homeland Security OIG
Sarah Nelson Deputy Inspector General for the Office of Innovation (OIN) at US Dept of Homeland Security OIG Sarah Nelson is the Deputy Inspector General for Innovation, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG). She joined the DHS OIG in December 2021 where she provides oversight of the activities performed within the Office of the Chief Data Officer and the Policy, Strategy & Risk organization. She is also responsible for the OIG’s Information Technology Modernization Effort. Prior to joining DHS OIG, Ms. Nelson held numerous roles during her time with the Department of Energy (DOE) OIG. She began her career as an information technology auditor, later became the Director for Planning, Administration, and Quality Assurance, and in November 2015, Ms. Nelson was appointed as the Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Administration. In this role, Ms. Nelson was responsible for directing the planning, execution, and reporting for all Central region, technology, and financial audits, and oversaw the Office of Audits and Inspections administrative functions to include budget, audit and inspection quality assurance, training, and TeamMate operations. In 2018, Ms. Nelson established DOE’s OIG Office of Technology, Financial, and Analytics. The establishment of this Office initiated the use of data analytics in audits, inspections, and investigations within the DOE’s OIG. In this role she was also responsible for identifying relevant systems and data for use in meeting the DOE OIG mission. Ms. Nelson has almost 20 years of extensive experience in leadership, information technology, analytics, strategic planning, employee engagement, and auditing. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree with emphases in Accounting, Finance, and Information technology from Tennessee Wesleyan College. Ms. Nelson is a graduate of the Office of Personnel Management Federal Executive Institute and has been recognized for numerous performance and superior accomplishment awards throughout her career with the Federal Government
Winn Oo Director of CohnReznick LLP
Winn Oo Director of CohnReznick LLP Winn Oo is a Director at CohnReznick. She leads the application development team in the firm’s Global Consulting Solutions Advisory practice, specializing in data ingestion, conversion, and integration projects as well as custom application development and process automation. Winn has over 20 years of experience in the tech industry working in software development, innovation, and solution architecture.
Lisa Reijula Associate Director of Outreach and Engagement at Pandemic Response Accountability Committee
Lisa Reijula Associate Director of Outreach and Engagement at Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Lisa Reijula joined the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee as Associate Director of Outreach and Engagement in August 2020, and leads the PRAC’s stakeholder relations, press relations, Congressional relations, branding and identity, and strategic communications efforts surrounding oversight of $5 trillion in pandemic response spending and programs. She previously served at the State Department and the Government Accountability Office. Lisa also managed global trade programs for a Chicago metro area public-private partnership focused on economic development and was a consultant on the Chicago Police Accountability Task Force. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the U.S. Naval War College, and was a Fulbright scholar in Estonia.
Harriet Richardson Inspector General at BART- San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District
Harriet Richardson Inspector General at BART- San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District Harriet Richardson was appointed as the first Inspector General for the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District in June 2019. She has more than 30 years of experience conducting audits and investigations at the federal, state, and local levels of government. She is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Government Audit Professional, and Certified in Risk Management Assurance. She graduated with presidential honors from City University in Seattle with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in financial management. Harriet served for five years on the board of the Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA), including a term as president, is past chair of ALGA’s Professional Issues Committee, and served seven years on the Association of Government Accountant’s (AGA) Financial Management Standards Board. She has served on several ALGA peer review teams, written articles for ALGA’s Local Government Auditing Quarterly, and provided presentations at many conferences for organizations such as ALGA, AGA, The IIA, the International Law Enforcement Auditors’ Association, the Intergovernmental Audit Forums, and the League of California Cities. Harriet has received several of ALGA’s Knighton Awards, which recognizes the best local government audits during the award years, received the AGA’s Excellent in Government Leadership Award in 2017, and received the David M. Walker Excellence in Government Performance and Accountability Award in 2018. She served as a local government representative on the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s Government Auditing Standards Advisory Council from 2016 through 2021. In that role, she participated in development of the 2018 Government Auditing Standards and the 2021 Technical Update to the Standards. She currently serves on the Government Accounting Standards Advisory Council and represents the public sector on The Institute of Internal Auditors’ International Internal Auditing Standards Board, which is in the process of rewriting its professional auditing standards.
Ivelisse Torres Rivera Inspector General at Office of the Inspector General of Puerto Rico
Ivelisse Torres Rivera Inspector General at Office of the Inspector General of Puerto Rico Ivelisse Torres graduated Magna cum Laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from the University of Puerto Rico. She received her Master's in Business Administration, with a concentration in Accounting and a second degree in Human Resources, from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus. She is Certified Auditor in Internal Controls by The Institute for Internal Control Auditors. She is also a Specialized Auditor in the area of fraud, certified by The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and is certified as a specialist in the Area of Mortgage Loan Service by the Mortgage Bankers School of Puerto Rico. From 2007 to 2011, Ivellisse worked as a Legislative Adviser to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Transport and Infrastructure Commission where she collaborated in legislative investigations, developed bills and drafted legislative reports on impact issues for Puerto Rico. Since 2010, she has been certified as a Public Relations Professional and has worked in press and communications media in the area of press and communications in Puerto Rico. From 2011 to 2016 she was appointed Auditor of the Corporation for the Supervision and Insurance of Cooperatives of Puerto Rico and has a wide expertise in issues related to the cooperative sector. In 2016, the governor-elect, Ricardo Rosselló appointed Ivellisse as Commissioner for Cooperative Development (CDCoop) and president of the Corporation for the Supervision and Insurance of Cooperatives of Puerto Rico (Cossec), positions she held until March 2019. Among Ivellisse’s great achievements at the helm of CDCoop and Cossec is the incorporation of over 35 youth cooperatives and 15 of various types over a period of year and a half, which led to the visibility of the cooperative sector from the government sector. Ivellisse secured shares and deposits by nearly one million partners and promoted a structure of effective internal controls by implementing effective practices in public administration. In January 2019, the governor nominated her as Inspector General of Puerto Rico and was confirmed in March of the same year. She is the first woman in Puerto Rico to hold that position.
Dr. Stephen Rusiecki Dean of Academics and Deputy Commandant U.S. Army Inspector General School at Department of the Army, OIG
Dr. Stephen Rusiecki Dean of Academics and Deputy Commandant U.S. Army Inspector General School at Department of the Army, OIG After retiring as a U.S. Army infantry officer following 25 years of service, Dr. Stephen M. Rusiecki began his Civilian career on 7 September 2005 as the Dean of Academics and Deputy Commandant of the U.S. Army Inspector General School. He has held that position within the U.S. Army Inspector General Agency since 2003. Dr. Rusiecki received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Massachusetts in 1984 (cum laude) after which he entered active duty as an infantry officer, serving in numerous assignments in both Germany and in the United States. In 1990, he commanded an infantry company―Company B, 3rd Battalion, 6th Infantry, 5th Infantry Division―during Operation Just Cause in Panama. Dr. Rusiecki also served as an Assistant Professor of English at West Point; as the speechwriter to General Eric K. Shinseki, the commander of U.S. Army, Europe, and the Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina; and as an infantry battalion executive officer in the 1st Infantry Division. In July 2000, Dr. Rusiecki was assigned to the U.S. Army Inspector General Agency in the Pentagon and later to the U.S. Army Inspector General School. He retired from active duty as a lieutenant colonel in September 2005 while serving as the Dean of Academics and has remained in that same position as a Civilian to the present. Dr. Rusiecki received a Doctorate in History from George Mason University in Virginia, and he also has a Master of Arts degree in English from Rutgers University (New Jersey) and a Master of Arts degree in History from George Mason University. Dr. Rusiecki is the author of two books, The Key to the Bulge: The Battle for Losheimergraben (Praeger, 1996) and In Final Defense of the Reich: The Destruction of the 6th SS Mountain Division "Nord" (U.S. Naval Institute Press, 2010). His third book, Invasion On!: D-Day, the Press, and the Making of an American Narrative, will be published in the spring of 2023. While serving at West Point in 1996, Dr. Rusiecki received the Phi Kappa Phi Award for Academic Achievement. Dr. Rusiecki has also been inducted into the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society and the Golden Key International Honor Society. Dr. Rusiecki's military decorations include the Legion of Merit and the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and he is a 2010 recipient of the Army's highest award for an Army Civilian employee, the Civilian Award for Exceptional Service. Dr. Rusiecki is a native of Springfield, Massachusetts, and lives in Dumfries, Virginia, with his wife, Angela, and son, Jonathan.
Kenneth Sharpless Whistleblower Protection Coordinator at Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General
Kenneth Sharpless Whistleblower Protection Coordinator at Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General Mr. Sharpless currently serves as the DoD Whistleblower Protection Coordinator at the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. He initially served as a DoD OIG Whistleblower Reprisal Investigator in April 2012 and a few years later as the Whistleblower Reprisal Investigations Outreach Officer. Prior to his DoD OIG assignments, Mr. Sharpless served 29 years in the United States Air Force and was assigned to leadership and command positions that culminated as “The Inspector General” Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Air Force Materiel Command, servicing more than 23,000 military, contractor, and civilian personnel. His additional military assignments included serving as the Deputy Inspector General and Inspection Team Chief, United Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) Inspector General Team, Deputy Director of Operations for National Guard Bureau (J5) Security Cooperation State Partnership Program; Director of General Officer Matters and Chief of Housing, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington DC, and Director of Communications, Air Force Inspection Agency, Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mr. Sharpless attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and was a Distinguished ROTC Military Graduate. He is a graduate of Air War College, Air Command & Staff College, and Squadron Officer School and received numerous awards and honors throughout his career to include the Legion of Merit, and winner of the United States Air Force’s in Europe Howard W. Leaf Inspector General Award. He was recognized as the 2016 DoD OIG Administrative Investigator of the Year, lead investigator for the Whistleblower Reprisal Investigation of the Year, and a member of the Whistleblower Reprisal Investigation Team of the Year. The DoD IG selected Mr. Sharpless as a fellow for the Council of Inspector General Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) Fellowship Program in 2016 where he spent six months working with the United States Department of Interior Office of Inspector General, Administrative Remedies Division, Suspension and Debarment Program Office.
Rebecca Shea Director, Forensic Audits and Investigative Service of GAO
Rebecca Shea Director, Forensic Audits and Investigative Service of GAO Rebecca is a Director in GAO’s Forensic Audit and Investigative Service team. She led the development of GAO’s Antifraud Resource and oversees audits to identify fraud, waste, and abuse across a wide array of government programs and agencies. These reviews frequently employ data analytics to identify indicators of potential fraud and feature GAO’s Fraud Risk Framework to assess agencies’ efforts to manage fraud risk. In her 24 years with GAO and prior to her work in FAIS, Rebecca served as a methodological expert in GAO’s Applied Research and Methods team. Rebecca earned her bachelor’s from Clemson University and doctorate in Sociology from Vanderbilt University.
Erica D. Smith Deputy Inspector General of Audit & Review at LA Jefferson Parish OIG
Erica D. Smith Deputy Inspector General of Audit & Review at LA Jefferson Parish OIG Erica Smith graduated from the University of Florida with her Master of Accounting in 2005 and Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 2003. Erica Smith started her career as an auditor with KPMG, LLP in Miami, Florida. She transferred to the New Orleans office in 2008. In 2010, she joined the City of New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) and has served as the Deputy Inspector General for Audit since March 2016. During her tenure, the audit department has identified approximately $21 million in savings to the City of New Orleans. In July 2022, Erica accepted the Deputy Inspector General position with the Jefferson Parish OIG where she will supervise audits and evaluations. Erica Smith is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and a Certified Inspector General Auditor (CIGA). She is also an adjunct instructor at the University of New Orleans and University of Holy Cross in New Orleans where teaches Advanced Accounting, Auditing, and various other accounting-related courses. Erica has presented to the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), and the Association of Inspectors General (AIG) on various fraud-related topics. Erica is also active in the audit community. She is on the AIG Board of Directors and serves on the IIA Board of Governors for New Orleans.
James Smith Deputy Director, Cyber & Data Analytics of WMATA Office of Inspector General
James Smith Deputy Director, Cyber & Data Analytics of WMATA Office of Inspector General Mr. Smith is currently serving as Deputy Director, Cyber and Data, Office of Inspector General (OIG), Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). He supervises and manages the Digital Forensics, Information Technology, and Data Analytics missions by supporting OIG operations which include criminal and administrative investigations of varying levels involving fraud, waste, abuse, misconduct, and gross mismanagement involving WMATA. In January, 2020, Mr. Smith retired from federal service as a Deputy Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) Office of Inspector General (OIG). His federal service culminated 34 years working criminal and administrative investigations as a Special Agent, Special Agent in Charge, and Director for several agencies such as and U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID). He has worked in a variety of locations within the United States and worldwide, to include Germany, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Belgium, France, Bosnia, Iraq, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the South Pacific, and Korea. Mr. Smith holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy Management from Georgetown University. He is a Certified Inspector General (CIG), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Forensics Computer Examiner (CFCE). Mr. Smith is an active member of the Association of Inspectors General, International Association Chiefs of Police, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and coaches apprentice law enforcement professionals seeking Digital Forensics certification through the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists.
Stephen Street Inspector General at State of Louisiana
Stephen Street Inspector General at State of Louisiana Stephen Street has served as Louisiana's Inspector General since 2008, and was elected to a fourth term as President of the National Association of Inspectors General (AIG), an organization comprised of over 2,000 members from the Inspector General, Law Enforcement and Oversight communities of the United States, U.S. territories, and several foreign countries. The mission of the Louisiana Inspector General is to investigate white collar criminal and public corruption cases, and to root out and prevent fraud and corruption in government. Mr. Street received his law degree in 1989 from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. Most of his 30 plus years as an attorney have been spent in the field of criminal law at the state and federal levels, first as a criminal staff lawyer with the Third Circuit Court of Appeal in Lake Charles, and then later both defending and prosecuting serious criminal cases. Mr. Street has extensive experience as lead trial counsel in a wide variety of cases, from capital murder to complex white collar and economic crime. Since becoming Louisiana's Inspector General, Mr. Street has overseen the transformation of the office from an internal audit shop into a fully functioning statutorily empowered law enforcement agency. Experience has demonstrated that the most effective way to ensure integrity in government is to hold those who violate the public trust criminally accountable whenever the evidence warrants. In addition, other desired outcomes, such as improved internal controls and safeguards designed to better prevent and detect criminal fraud and corruption, are often achieved more quickly and with greater public support in the wake of successful criminal prosecutions. The Louisiana OIG therefore focuses primarily on fraud and public corruption investigations, with results that speak for themselves. Since transitioning to law enforcement, the Inspector General has experienced great success, working numerous criminal cases, both independently and with law enforcement partners. (Case highlights available at www.oig.louisiana.gov). Mr. Street is a Certified Inspector General (CIG), and regularly conducts training for law enforcement, prosecutors, inspectors general and other oversight personnel on white collar and economic crime investigation. He was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and also continues to serve as an NW3C Adjunct Instructor, teaching courses on Financial Investigation Practical Skills (FIPS) offered to law enforcement throughout the United States.
Benjamin Sutphin Audit Manager at Office of the State Inspector General - Commonwealth of Virginia
Benjamin Sutphin Audit Manager at Office of the State Inspector General - Commonwealth of Virginia Ben Sutphin has over 32 years of experience auditing for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Mr. Sutphin has worked as an auditor for the Auditor of Public Accounts, the Virginia State Police, the Division of State Internal Audit, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and, presently, for the Office of the State Inspector General. Mr. Sutphin received a BBA with a focus in Accounting from Radford University and is a Certified Inspector General Auditor, a Certified Internal Auditor, a Certified Government Auditing Professional, a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Information Systems Auditor. Mr. Sutphin is also a Past President of the Southwest Virginia Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors, a Past President of the ISACA Virginia Chapter and a former representative on the IIA North American Customer Relations Committee covering the all of Virginia, Washington DC and Baltimore, Maryland.
Pamela Van Dort Director of Grant Oversight Strategy at U.S. Dept of HUD
Pamela Van Dort Director of Grant Oversight Strategy at U.S. Dept of HUD Pamela Van Dort is a Senior Investigative Attorney at the National Science Foundation Office of Inspector General. She investigates allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse related to NSF programs and operations,and works closely with the Department of Justice on civil and criminal prosecutions and recoveries. In addition to her case work, she applies her passio n for promoting efficient and effective government through special projects, such as successfully recommending revised certification and award term and condition language in a small business program to strengthen anti-fraud, waste, and abuse measures. She regularly engages in outreach with the federal grantee community and other government agencies to share best practices and red flags related to grant fraud prevention and detection. Prior to joining NSF OIG, Pamela spent time in private practice fo cused on intellectual property and complex business litigation. She received her Juris Doctor degree from The George Washington University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hope College in Michigan. She is also a Certified Fraud Examiner.
Lori Vassar Director of Dept of Interior
Lori Vassar Director of Dept of Interior Lori Vassar is the Interagency Suspension and Debarment Committee (ISDC) Chair. Previously, she held positions as an attorney/adviser on international claims and investment disputes with the Office of Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State; the Deputy General Counsel to the Inspector General, General Services Administration; Counsel to the Inspector General, U.S. Department of the Treasury; and Director of Operations and Investigations for the Recovery Oversight Office, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of the Interior. She served as the Director of the DOI OIG Administrative Remedies Division, which is responsible for suspension, debarment, and Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act referrals. She is currently the DOI Suspending and Debarring Official. Lori graduated with distinction as an Echols Scholar from the University of Virginia and holds a juris doctor degree from the American University. She is a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional and a Certified Fraud Examiner.
Edwin Vogt Assistant Inspector General at USMC IG
Edwin Vogt Assistant Inspector General at USMC IG Mr. Vogt is currently filling the position of Assistant Inspector General, Intelligence Oversight Division. Mr. Vogt is responsible for the effective implementation of Marine Corps-wide Oversight of Intelligence, Counterintelligence and Sensitive activities to include USMC support to law enforcement agencies, special operations, security matters and special access programs. He is also responsible for ensuring their legality, propriety and regulatory compliance with appropriate DoD/DoN guidance. Mr. Vogt began his current assignment in January 2005.
Adam Wandt Assistant Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice Adam Scott Wandt is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Vice Chair for Technology of the Department of Public Management at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is a member of the graduate faculty in the Master of Public Administration program and the Master of Digital Forensics and Cyber Security program. Professor Wandt is a practicing Attorney and Counselor-at-Law (New York). He has worked on sponsored research for, or in partnership with, The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Interpol, the United Nations, Sprint, BlackBoard, Entourage, the United States Bureau of Justice Statistics, as well as law enforcement and educational institutions from around the world. His primary research and consulting interests include technology law and policy, information security, investigative/surveillance technology, OSINT, cryptocurrency, darknet, social engineering, and UCR crime data. He has over two decades of experience developing custom investigative, forensic, educational, and data management solutions for federal, state and local government agencies. Along with two co-principal investigators, he has recently been awarded a $600,000 grant from the National Institute of Justice to study fentanyl sales on the dark web.
Deborah Witzburg Inspector General at City of Chicago Office of Inspector General
Deborah Witzburg Inspector General at City of Chicago Office of Inspector General Deborah Witzburg serves as Inspector General for the City of Chicago, having been appointed to her first term in April 2022. Previously, she served as the City’s Deputy Inspector General for Public Safety, overseeing independent, objective evaluations and reviews of Chicago’s police and police accountability agencies, with the goal of enhancing public safety, protecting civil liberties and civil rights, and improving the relationship between the policy and the communities they serve. She also served as OIG’s Chief Investigator for the Public Safety section, leading efforts to screen and review closed police disciplinary cases, as well as OIG’s Associate General Counsel for Public Safety, advising on legal and constitutional matters. Witzburg first joined OIG in 2016 as an Assistant Inspector General, providing legal and strategic counsel for investigations of misconduct by City of Chicago employees. Witzburg previously worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, where she prosecuted a wide range of misdemeanor and felony cases. She served in the State’s Attorney’s Community Justice Center, focusing on the vertical prosecution of cases of greatest concern in Chicago’s 11th and 12th police districts. There she helped develop and institute crime prevention programs in partnership with schools, community groups, and neighborhood organizations. She is a Certified Inspector General by the Association of Inspectors General and a Certified Practitioner of Oversight by the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement. Witzburg earned a BA in Anthropology from Brown University and a JD from Northwestern University School of Law.
Denise Wolf Inspector General at SEPTA - Philadelphia, PA
Denise Wolf Inspector General at SEPTA - Philadelphia, PA Denise S. Wolf is the Inspector General of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). SEPTA is the sixth largest transit company in the nation with 10,000 employees and over a $1 billion operating budget. As Inspector General, she manages a team of 25+ auditors and investigators, including sworn law enforcement officers. Denise is a Certified Inspector General and a member of the Association of Inspectors General. Denise has over 20 years of experience as an executive level manager, federal prosecutor, and trial attorney. She previously served as the Chief of the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where she supervised all criminal investigations and prosecutions. She also served as the Deputy Chief of Public Corruption and the Civil Rights Coordinator. Denise has been the lead counsel on over 25 federal jury trials. During her tenure at the USAO, she prosecuted a wide variety of crimes, specializing in corruption, collar, civil rights, and economic fraud. Denise was a law clerk for the late Honorable Lowell A. Reed, U.S. district judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Denise earned her law degree at The American University, where she graduated summa cum laud and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she was in the Sphinx Senior Leadership Society and was awarded the Trustees’ Leadership Award. She has proudly commuted to Center City Philadelphai aboard the Chestnut Hill East and West lines for over two decades, and especially enjoys riding Bus 23.