Clinton picks woman for inspector general at State Department

Jet, April 10, 1995

A brilliant Syracuse University graduate who has earned numerous awards and bonuses at the General Accounting Office (GAO) is set to become the first Black and the first woman inspector general of the U.S. State Department.

At her Senate confirmation hearing, Ms. Jacquelyn L. Williams-Bridgers was praised for an outstanding record at GAO which she joined in 1978 as a management analyst. For the past two years, she served as GAO's associate director for housing and community development. She has also worked in the transportation section, and with the HUD fraud control division.

With the budgetary emphasis on Capitol Hill, Ms. Williams-Bridgers is considered among a new breed of federal employees. She holds the Arthur S. Flemming Award, a meritorious service citation, three "top bonus" awards and four "outstanding achievement" awards.

A Washingtonian, she received both bachelor's and master's degrees at Syracuse. She is married to Daniel Bridgers and has two children. Said a friend, "This is one nomination of President Clinton that won't be stopped in Congress."