Dodaro Secures GAO Comptroller General Nod

Gene Dodaro, who has filled the post of acting comptroller general of the Government Accountability Office for two-and-a-half years, has been nominated by President Obama as the official comptroller general.

Dodaro, the GAO’s former chief operating officer, took the role of leading the office when David Walker stepped down in early 2008 to lead the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and its efforts to rein in the federal budget deficit (see GAO Head Leaves for New Foundation). Walker is a CPA, but Dodaro is not, and the American Institute of CPAs has lobbied for a bill in Congress to require the next comptroller general to be a CPA (see Bill Would Require Comptroller General to Be a CPA). However, the AICPA seemed resigned to the inevitable when it reacted to the nomination on Thursday.

“We have a long working history with Gene in his role as acting comptroller general and chief operating officer at the GAO,” said AICPA president and CEO Barry Melancon. “As a 37-year veteran of the GAO, his leadership is needed as our nation wrestles with massive and unsustainable budget deficits. While we believe the comptroller general should be a certified public accountant, if a non-CPA is to have this role, Gene's background and experience makes us comfortable going forward.”