Senate confirms new DOD comptroller

On July 22, the Senate confirmed Tina Westby Jonas as undersecretary of Defense for financial management.

During an April hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jonas said that as DOD comptroller she would first investigate why some deployed National Guard troops received late and inaccurate paychecks. She also said she would continue efforts to update the department's business systems, according to an April 29 military press service story.

The same day, Congress also approved the fiscal 2005 Defense Appropriations Act. The $416.2 billion budget cut DOD's business management modernization program by $97.2 million.

President Bush nominated Jonas in March to take over for Dov Zakheim, who retired in April. She most recently held the position of chief financial officer and assistant director of the FBI's finance division. Previously, she was deputy undersecretary of Defense for financial management.