Meet the CFOs

Michael Smokovich
Smokovich joined AID in February 1999 after 30 years of service with the Treasury Department. Previously, he was executive director of the Center for Applied Financial Management, and from 1991 to 1997, was deputy commissioner and chief operating officer of the Financial Management Service at Treasury. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Duquesne University, a master's degree in financial management from the George Washington University, and is a certified government financial manager.

AGRICULTURE

Sally Thompson
Thompson oversees financial management of programs valued at more than $81 billion and manages nearly 40 percent of all debt owed the federal government. She also manages the National Finance Center, which processes payroll for 450,000 civilians, and administers the $91 billion Thrift Savings Plan. A certified public accountant, she has more than 20 years' experience in private sector financial management and holds a bachelor's degree in business, accounting and finance from the University of Colorado.

COMMERCE

Linda Bilmes
Bilmes served as deputy assistant secretary for administration before her confirmation as assistant secretary for administration last November. Before joining the federal government, she was a principal in the London office of the Boston Consulting Group. In 1995, she served as the U.S. representative to a commission examining private sector financing in Latin America. She holds a bachelor's degree in government and a master's degree in business administration, both from Harvard University.

DEFENSE

William Lynn
As undersecretary of Defense and the Pentagon's comptroller since November 1997, Lynn is the principal adviser to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary for budgetary and fiscal matters. Previously, he served as director for program analysis and evaluation, and assistant to the Secretary of Defense for budget. Before moving to DoD, Lynn was a defense adviser to the Clinton-Gore campaign. He holds a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College, a J.D. from Cornell University and a master's in public affairs from Princeton University.

EDUCATION

Tom Skelly (acting)
A federal employee for more than 20 years, Skelly has been a member of the Senior Executive Service since 1983. In January 1997, he was appointed director of the Budget Service at Education, where he directs 75 analysts and professionals responsible for the department's $34 billion budget; formerly he served as the acting chief information officer. Skelly holds a bachelor's degree in government from the College of William and Mary and a master's degree in government from the University of Virginia.

ENERGY

Michael Telson
Since his appointment as CFO in October 1997, Telson has been the principal adviser to the Energy Secretary on all financial matters. Before joining Energy in 1995, when he served as special assistant to the deputy Secretary and then the Secretary, Telson spent 20 years at the House Committee on the Budget, where he was the senior analyst for energy, science and space programs. He holds a bachelor's degree, two master's degrees, an electrical engineering degree and a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

EPA

Michael Ryan (acting)
Ryan was appointed EPA's deputy CFO in January, after serving as comptroller since 1997. As acting CFO, he is responsible for managing strategic planning, budgeting, financial management, performance measurement, analysis and accountability functions. Ryan's federal career spans more than two decades; prior to joining EPA, he held senior management positions at the departments of State and Defense. He holds a bachelor's degree from St. John's College and a Ph.D. in Near Eastern languages and civilizations from Harvard.

FEMA

Gary Johnson
Johnson spent two months restructuring FEMA's office of financial management during an agency-wide restructuring before he was appointed CFO in November 1993. He oversees the agency's $7 billion budget, as well as the Disaster Finance Center, which processes disaster relief payments and receivables. He has spent more than two decades in federal service, including positions with the Federal Insurance Administration. He holds a bachelor's degree in natural resources from Springfield College.

GSA

William Early
Before his appointment as CFO, Early had served as GSA's budget director since 1979, where he was responsible for budget formulation, resource allocation and financial control. He has served in various financial management positions at GSA since 1971. Early has also served on the board of directors of the American Association of Budget and Program Analysts. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Richmond and a master's degree in business administration from the University of South Carolina.

HHS

John Callahan
Since 1995, Callahan has served as the senior budget official and chief information officer at HHS and directs an immediate staff of more than 260 employees. In addition, he served as acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration for six months in 1997. Between 1979 and 1995, Callahan held various Senate staff positions. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Fordham University along with a master's degree in regional planning and a doctorate in social science, both from Syracuse University.

HUD

Victoria Bateman (acting)
Bateman is the principal adviser to the HUD Secretary and Deputy Secretary on all financial matters, including budget formulation and execution, and financial systems. Before her appointment as deputy CFO, she was comptroller at HUD's Federal Housing Administration. She also served in financial management positions at the Agriculture and Education departments. Bateman is a certified public accountant and a certified government financial manager.

INTERIOR

John Berry
As assistant secretary for policy, management and budget, Berry is the senior management official at Interior, responsible for the agency's $10 billion budget. Previously, he was the director of government relations for the Smithsonian Institution. He also served as deputy assistant secretary for enforcement at Treasury, and has worked in Maryland state government. Berry holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland and a master's degree in public administration from Syracuse University.

JUSTICE

Stephen Colgate
Colgate, as assistant attorney general for administration and head of the Justice Management Division, is responsible for virtually all administrative and management programs within the department, including human resources, financial management and security. He is also Justice's chief information officer, and as the department's senior career official, is its designated ethics officer. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona and a master's degree in public administration from American University.

LABOR

Kenneth Bresnahan
Confirmed as CFO last November, Bresnahan served as acting CFO since 1996. He previously held a variety of financial management positions at the Agriculture Department's Food and Nutrition Service. The Institute of Management Accountants named Bresnahan Financial Executive of the Year in 1998. He is active in the Association of Government Accountants and chairs the human resources committee for the federal CFO council. He holds a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University.

NASA

Arnold Holz
As CFO since 1994, Holz is responsible for financial management of all programs and operations, resource management and maintaining an agency budgeting and accounting system. Prior to serving at NASA, he was comptroller of the treasury for the state of Maryland, where he implemented a centralized state-wide accounting and reporting system. Before entering the public service he worked at the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche. Holz is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Baltimore.

National Science Foundation

Thomas Neil Cooley (acting)
As acting director of NSF's Office of Budget, Finance and Award Management, Cooley is responsible for budget activities, financial management, grants and contract administration. He also serves as executive secretary of the National Science Board's committee on programs and plans. Cooley has more than 20 years' experience at NSF. He holds a bachelor's degree in microbiology and a master's in plant physiology from the University of Maryland.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Jesse Funches
A career civil servant for more than 25 years, Funches was appointed CFO in 1997. He is responsible for budget formulation and execution, agency-wide financial planning and accounting, policy, operations, systems and reporting. Prior to his appointment as CFO, he served as deputy comptroller. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Jackson State University, a master's in mathematics from University of Illinois, and a second master's in business administration from Loyola College.

OPM

Kathleen McGettigan
McGettigan, who was named CFO in February, has served in several management positions at OPM since 1991, including assistant director for financial management. Prior to joining OPM, she was a senior accountant at Deloitte, Haskins & Sells, a senior examiner at the American Stock Exchange, and a vice president at an investment banking firm. She is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and a master's of business administration in taxation, both from St. John's University.

Small Business Administration

Joseph Loddo
As acting CFO from February 1999 until January of this year, when he became CFO, Loddo developed SBA's first accountability reports and was instrumental in the unqualified opinions SBA received in audits of its last two year-end financial statements. He previously served as director of the agency's Rhode Island district office and has nearly 30 years of experience in business and financial management, much of it in the private sector. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Dayton.

Social Security Administration

Yvette Jackson
As deputy commissioner for finance, assessment and management, Jackson is responsible for budget policy, formulation and execution; acquisition and grants programs; accounting policy and operations; and the agency's internal controls program. She also is deputy chief information officer. Prior to joining SSA, Jackson was administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service at the Agriculture Department. She holds a bachelor's degree in social welfare from Temple University and a master's in social work from Rutgers University.

State

Bert Edwards
Edwards oversees financial, accounting and budgetary operations for State's domestic and overseas operations, as well as overseas costs for over 35 other federal agencies. He joined State in 1998 as CFO, after retiring in 1994 as
an audit partner in accounting firm Arthur Andersen's Washington office after 33 years with the firm. Edwards holds a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University and a master's in business administration from Stanford University and is a certified public accountant.

Transportation

Peter Basso
Basso was confirmed in October 1998, after serving a year as acting assistant secretary for the Office of Budget and Programs. Prior to joining Transportation in 1995 as deputy assistant secretary for the same office, he held several financial and administrative positions at the Federal Highway Administration, including director of fiscal services. Basso also served on the President's Council on Management Improvement. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Maryland.

Treasury

Lisa Ross (acting)
From March 1998 to December 1999, when she was appointed acting assistant Secretary for management, Ross was deputy assistant Secretary for strategy and finance, where she was responsible for budget formulation and implementing the Government Performance and Results Act at Treasury. Before that she was vice president for strategic planning at Marriott International. She holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin and a master's from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Veterans Affairs

Edward Powell
As assistant secretary for financial management since October 1998, Powell oversees VA's $43 billion budget and is the department's senior procurement executive. He previously was owner and CEO of the manufacturing firm Mechanism Design; served as first vice president of investment banking for Sovran Bank, and taught business ethics and policy at the University of Richmond. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Washington and Lee University and a master's in business administration from the University of North Carolina.