Acting GAO Chief Talks Transparency

Gene L. Dodaro, the acting chief of the government's watchdog agency, tagged federal contracting as a high-risk area in the government during a recent presentation on promoting accountability and transparency in government. He was speaking at his alma mater, Williamsport, Pa.'s Lycoming College.

The immediate focus of the Government Accountability Office is assessing the stimulus package and updating the financial regulatory system, but "underlying long-term fiscal challenge still needs to be addressed," according to slides shown March 23 by GAO Acting Comptroller General Dodaro. The slide show, which outlined the agency's priorities for 2009, was released on Monday.

Dodaro earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from Lycoming in 1973. Before becoming the acting head of the agency in March 2008, the 30-year GAO veteran spent a large chunk of his career heading the unit that specializes in financial management, computer technology and budget issues. Dodaro helped architect GAO's strategy for bolstering computer security governmentwide.

He then served as chief operating officer and took on the acting chief position, when David Walker resigned after 10 years on the job. Dodaro will hold the position until President Obama picks -- and the Senate confirms -- a nominee from a list of candidates proposed by Congress.