// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Gene Dodaro an auditor? Does he dodge a row?
Gene Dodaro | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2025 | |
| 8th Comptroller General of the United States | |
| In office March 13, 2008 – December 30, 2025 | |
| President |
|
| Preceded by | David M. Walker |
| Succeeded by | Orice Williams Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 7, 1951 |
| Spouse | Joan McCabe |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Lycoming College (BA) |
Eugene Louis Dodaro (born May 7, 1951) is an American politician who was the comptroller general of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) from 2008 to 2025. From October 1, 2000, until March 12, 2008, he was the chief operating officer (COO) of the GAO and he held the equivalent second-in-command title before the late 2000 restructuring of the GAO, principal assistant comptroller general, a title he had held since May 1999. This change of titles is a result of the organization-wide restructuring rather than a promotion or other event in his career; from May 1999 through to March 12, 2008, Dodaro retained the position of second in command of the GAO. Dodaro announced his retirement in 2025 and retired as comptroller general on December 30.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Dodaro is the son of Jim and Betty Dodaro and grew up in the Monessen—Belle Vernon region of Pennsylvania, attending Belle Vernon Area High School, where he played basketball.[2]
Dodaro attended Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and graduated in 1973 receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting.[3][4]
Career
[edit]
Dodaro joined the GAO in 1973.[3] His first executive posting was as an associate director for management issues in the General Government Division.[5] In 1993, he was named assistant comptroller general for accounting and information management.[6] In 1999 he became the GAO's second in command.[6]
On February 15, 2008, when the seventh comptroller general of the United States, David M. Walker, announced that he was departing from his office before the end of his 15-year term to work for the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, he appointed Dodaro to replace him. On March 13, 2008, Dodaro became the acting comptroller general[7] and was eventually nominated by President Obama to fill the role permanently.[8] He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a term of fifteen years on December 22, 2010.[9] He was sworn in eight days later.[10]
Awards and honors
[edit]In 1981 Dodaro received the GAO's Meritorious Service Award.[5] In 1989 he received the Arthur S. Flemming Award for outstanding individual performance in government.[3] In 2001 he became a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and in 2003 was awarded the prestigious National Public Service Award conferred by that organization.[11] In 2009 he received the Roger W. Jones Award for Executive Leadership.[12] In 2025 he was inducted into the Government Executive's Government Hall of Fame. [13] In 2026, he was awarded the "Keeper of the Public Trust Award" during the Celebration of the American Public Servant 250 Gala.[14]
Personal life
[edit]Dodaro and his wife, Joan (née McCabe), have three children. They live in Alexandria, Virginia.[15]
References
[edit]- ↑ Newhouse, Sean Michael (December 12, 2025). "Exit interview: GAO's Gene Dodaro talks impoundments, tenure and retirement priorities". Government Executive. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
- ↑ Oliver, Jeff (March 26, 2008). "Area native appointed interim head of major U.S. government agency". The Valley Independent. Monessen, Pennsylvania: Mon Valley Newspapers, Inc. OCLC 14251439. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
- 1 2 3 "Gene L. Dodaro Biography". Government Accountability Office. December 20, 2008. Archived from the original on January 9, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
- ↑ Upcoming Speakers, Lycoming College Institute for Management Studies, archived from the original on July 16, 2009, retrieved January 5, 2009
- 1 2 "GAO Staff Changes" (PDF). The GAO Review. 20 (4). Washington, D.C.: Government Accountability Office: 39. 1985. ISSN 1045-3261.
- 1 2 "Acting Comptroller General Named" (PDF). International Journal of Government Auditing. 35 (2). Vienna: International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions: 9. April 2008. ISSN 0047-0724. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 6, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2009.
- ↑ Walker, Richard W. (February 15, 2008). "Comptroller general to leave GAO for foundation". www.fcw.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
- ↑ "Gene L. Dodaro Biography".
- ↑ "Congressional Record – Daily Digest – Wednesday, December 22, 2010". Archived from the original on October 5, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
- ↑ "Dodaro Swearing In" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: Government Accountability Office. December 30, 2010. Archived from the original on December 3, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
Dodaro took the oath of office today at GAO's headquarters in Washington, D.C. and was sworn in by Patrina Clark, Chief Human Capital Officer for GAO.
- ↑ "The National Public Service Awards – 2003 Winners". National Academy of Public Administration. Archived from the original on July 22, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
- ↑ "Past Recipients of the Roger W. Jones Award for Executive Leadership". American University. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ↑ Brown, Tanya Ballard (March 10, 2025). "Meet the 2025 Government Hall of Fame inductees". Government Executive. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
- ↑ "Government leaders reflect on past and future of public service". Federal News Network. June 23, 2026. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
- ↑ "Welcome".
External links
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