Prior to my campaign for the Virginia House of Delegates, I spent my 32 year career working for the federal government to improve government operations and accountability. For over 16 of those years, I was an assistant inspector general for two bank regulatory agencies— an experience that broadened my understanding of the nation’s financial system and what is needed to achieve economic success for our families, communities, state, and nation.

Before that, I spent over 15 years as an auditor with the Government Accountability Office, commonly known as the “investigative arm of Congress” or the “congressional watchdog.” While there, I examined how taxpayer dollars were spent and advised lawmakers and agency heads on ways to make government work better. I also played a key role in advising Congress to establish Offices of Inspector General in every major federal agency and department to improve their accountability and combat fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement.

Throughout my government career, from which I retired on January 3, 2007, I worked with politicians from both political parties to find common sense approaches for making government work better.

I stay current with best practices in government accountability and financial management through my membership in the Association of Government Accountants and as a Certified Government Financial Manager.

I was born in 1951 and grew up in Columbia, North Carolina—a small town near the Outer Banks. My desire for public service began as a young boy by helping my Dad campaign for election to the local Board of Education and later observing his service on the town’s Board of Aldermen. After graduating at the top of my high school class, I attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science. I moved to Washington, DC in 1973 to attend graduate school at The American University where I earned a master’s degree in public administration. I later continued my education in government service at the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, Virginia.