Comptroller general to resign

Strategic Finance, March, 2008

David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), said he will resign his position this month in order to become president and CEO of the newly established Peter G. Peterson Foundation. Gene Dodaro, GAO's chief operating officer, will be acting comptroller general.

The mission of the Peterson Foundation is "to enhance public understanding of the nature and urgency of selected key sustainability challenges that threaten America's future, to propose sensible and workable solutions to address these challenges, and to build public will to do something about them."

Walker has been comptroller general since November 1998. During his tenure, he led the GAO through a major transformation, and he has continually worked to modernize the accountability profession both domestically and internationally. Walker explained his decision: "My new position will provide me with the ability and resources to more aggressively address a range of current and emerging challenges facing our country, including advocating specific policy solutions and courses of action."