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OIG Components

The OIG is composed of more than 230 staff, including auditors, accountants, criminal investigators, inspectors, attorneys, forensic specialists, financial analysts, information technology, management, and business professionals. Staff work in one of six components highlighted below. The OIG headquarters is in Washington, D.C., with regional and field offices across the country. Here are the addresses, phone numbers, and contacts for OIG regional and field offices.

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US Department of Education Org Chart Effective Jan. 24, 2024

View the accessible and clickable PDF version of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General's organizational chart. 

The Immediate Office of the Inspector General

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Staff meeting at conference table

The Immediate Office of the Inspector General is responsible for the coordination and oversight of the OIG’s mission. In addition to providing overall leadership and setting the direction of the OIG, the Immediate Office also provides internal management support; Congressional, media, and public liaison; communications services; oversight of external reporting of activities; and the organization’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts. The Immediate Office is composed of the Inspector General, the Deputy Inspector General, and their executive staff; and three direct report offices: Congressional and Communications Services, Quality and Integrity Group, and the Chief Diversity Officer.

  • Congressional and Communications Services. Congressional and Communications Services coordinates communications between the OIG and the Congress, the media, and the public. Congressional and Communications Services produces materials for external and internal audiences, manages the OIG public-facing website and social media accounts (Facebook/Meta and Twitter), and produces the OIG’s Eye on ED podcast. Congressional and Communications Services also provides editing, writing, and graphic design services to all OIG components and facilities OIG internal communications and events.
  • Quality and Integrity Group. The Quality and Integrity Group provides internal oversight of the OIG and its employees, ensuring compliance, accountability, and ongoing improvement throughout the organization. Organizationally structured within the Immediate Office, the Quality and Integrity Group is independent of other IG office components. The Quality and Integrity Group conducts internal quality assurance reviews and internal control assessments of OIG activities, conducts internal investigations into allegations of misconduct by OIG personnel, and facilitates the OIG’s enterprise risk management activities.
  • Chief Diversity Officer. The Chief Diversity Officer leads the OIG’s effort to ensure integration of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility into our business processes, building an inclusive workplace environment, and retaining, developing, advancing, and recruiting a diverse and talented OIG team.

Audit Services

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Auditors reviewing documents

Audit Services is responsible for audit-related activities aimed at improving Department programs and operations, including Federal student aid, K–12 schools, charter schools, special education, vocational education, adult education, and more. Audit Services conducts analyses, internal and external audits, inspections, reviews, and special studies designed to improve Department programs and operations. When Audit Services identifies problems, it proposes solutions to help ensure Department programs and operations run as effectively and efficiently as possible. Audit Services also recommends changes needed in Federal laws and the implementation of regulations. The work of Audit Services, often conducted at the request of the Congress, can have a significant impact on some of the most important Federal education laws in the country, including the Higher Education Act, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Investigation Services

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Investigation Services is composed of law enforcement professionals who conduct criminal and civil investigations involving Department programs, operations, and funding. Investigation Services’ special agents investigate suspected fraudulent activities by Department employees, contractors, grant recipients, school officials—in essence any entity or individual that awards, disburses, or receives Department funds or participates in its programs. Investigation Services also tackles cybercrime affecting and involving the use of Department IT systems. Investigation Services maintains the OIG Hotline, which provides an opportunity for the public to report suspected fraud, waste, and abuse involving Department programs, operations, and funding. It also operates a full-time, state-of-the-art computer laboratory for conducting and coordinating digital forensic analysis and data analysis, and it processes digital evidence. Investigation Services also conducts outreach and fraud awareness briefings with strategic partners, and it collaborates with other OIG components to develop appropriate enforcement actions and to identify programs vulnerable to fraud.

Technology Services

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Information technology staff

Technology Services leverages technology to provide products and services that enhance and advance the OIG’s mission. Technology Services conducts information technology audits and security reviews, such as the OIG’s annual Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) audit, which identify risks and offer recommendations to improve the Department’s management of its IT systems. Technology Services also provides data analytics in support of OIG audits and investigations, and it maintains the OIG’s systems, IT infrastructure, and security posture.

Legal Services

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Attorney meeting with staff member

Legal Services manages the OIG’s legal and Freedom of Information Act functions. Legal Services’ attorneys provide advice and assistance to the Inspector General and OIG staff on a full range of subjects, including Federal education law; administrative, criminal, and civil law and procedure; and the civil False Claims Act. Our attorneys represent the OIG in administrative litigation before the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. OIG attorneys review OIG audit and other reports, administrative subpoenas, memoranda, policy, contracts, agreements, and personnel actions issued or entered into by the OIG for legal sufficiency and compliance with Federal statutes and regulatory requirements. OIG attorneys also provide oral or written legal opinions and guidance to OIG staff on Department programs and OIG operations. They also administer the Federal ethics program for OIG staff and act as liaison to the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney’s Office in criminal and civil matters.

Management Services

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Staff discussing information

Management Services provides administrative and management support to the Inspector General and all OIG components. Management Services also formulates, executes, and oversees the OIG budget; develops and maintains administrative and management policy and procedures; performs human resource support activities; performs facilities and properties management duties; and fulfills the OIG’s external reporting requirements.

For more information on OIG components, contact the OIG Public Affairs Office.

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Immediate Office of the Inspector General

The Immediate Office of the Inspector General is responsible for coordinating and assuring accomplishment of the overall mission of the OIG. In addition to providing overall leadership and setting the direction of the OIG, the Immediate Office of the Inspector General also coordinates the OIG’s work with Congress, the media, and oversight of external summary reporting of activities, such as the OIG Semiannual Report to Congress and Annual Performance Results report.

The Immediate Office of the Inspector General is composed of the Inspector General, the Deputy Inspector General, their executive staff, and three direct-report units: Congressional and Communications Services, the Quality and Integrity Group, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office.

Key Personnel:
Inspector General Sandra D. Bruce
Deputy Inspector General: Vacant
(202) 245-6900

Congressional and Communications Services
Among its responsibilities, the OIG Congressional and Communications Services office coordinates communications between the OIG and Congress, the media, and the general public. Communications Services produces statutory reports such as the Semiannual Report to Congress, content on the OIG public-facing website, the OIG’s podcasts, and other audio-visual content.

Key Personnel:
Director Catherine Grant
(202) 245-7023

Quality and Integrity Services
The Quality and Integrity Services is responsible for conducting internal investigations of OIG personnel and for internal quality control reviews and vulnerability assessments of audit, investigative, inspection, and administrative activities. The Group may perform special investigations, reviews, audits, and inspections of a sensitive or complex nature and special projects not within the purview of other OIG entities.

Key Personnel:
Director Theresa Perolini
(202) 245-6900

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer

The OIG Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer is responsible for developing and guiding the OIG’s efforts to conceptualize, define, assess, promote, and cultivate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the OIG.

Key Personnel
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Gil Lang
(202) 245-6900

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Audit Services 

Audit Services is responsible for all of the OIG’s audit-related activities. Audit Services provides a full range of professional audit-related services covering all programs and operations of ED. Through its work, Audit Services seeks to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in ED programs; detect and defer fraud, waste, or abuse in ED’s activities and operations; and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

When our audit work identifies problems or weaknesses, we make recommendations on actions ED or other external entities receiving ED funds should take to correct those weaknesses or fix those problems. The goal of our work is not simply to identify problems, but also to encourage improvements and corrective actions. Based on our work, we also recommend changes needed in Federal law and regulations. 
The OIG has the authority to audit any program or entity that relates to ED programs, and operations or that receives ED funds. As such, Audit Services conducts both internal audits focused on ED and external audits that are of entities that receive funding from ED, such as States, school districts, colleges, and universities.

The OIG’s audit assignments follow the goals established in our 5-year Strategic Plan (LINK TO STRATEGIC PLAN). The OIG also produces an Annual Work Plan (LINK TO WHERE ANNUAL PLANS WILL BE) that presents the major initiatives and priorities that the OIG intends to undertake each year. The work plan incorporates suggestions from ED leaders, Congress, and issues identified in our annual Management Challenges report (LINK TO WHERE MANAGEMENT CHALLEGES REPORTS WILL BE) that identifies the most significant management challenges that ED faces.

Key Personnel:
Assistant Inspector General for Audit Services Bryon Gordon
(202) 245-6900

Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audit Services Sean Dawson
(202) 245-6900
 

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Technology Service

OIG Technology Services conducts independent audits of ED’s information technology (IT) systems and processes including the effectiveness of information security controls, specifically the annual Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) review. It also provides OIG audit and investigative staff with data analysis and retrieval capability using sophisticated research techniques in support of ongoing investigations and audits. OIG Technology Services also provides IT oversight and operational support to OIG staff, including designing, installing, testing, implementing and maintaining critical OIG databases and systems, and coordinates the purchase of OIG IT hardware, software and related items.

Key Personnel
Acting Assistant Inspector General for Technology Services Kevin Young
(202) 245-6900

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Investigation Services

OIG Investigation Services is the law enforcement arm of ED. This team of law enforcement professionals conducts criminal and civil investigations covering a wide range of wrongdoing, including Federal student aid fraud, diploma mill schemes, fraud and corruption in after school programs, and fraudulent billing of contracts. OIG special agents conduct criminal investigations of suspected fraudulent activities by ED employees, contractors, grant recipients, school officials, teachers, and students – in essence by any entity or individual that awards, disburses, or receives ED funds or participates in ED programs. Investigation Services also conducts criminal activity related to information technology, such as network intrusions, identity theft, fraud, and virtually every other type of criminal activity associated with computers.

Investigation Services operates the OIG Hotline, which provides an opportunity for the public to report suspected fraud, waste, and abuse involving ED programs, funding, or operations, coordinates with the U.S. Department of Justice as well as State and local prosecutive entities and works collaboratively with other OIG components to develop appropriate enforcement actions and to recommend fixes to aspects of ED programs vulnerable to fraud.

OIG special agents exercise full law enforcement authority – carrying firearms, applying for and executing arrest and search warrants, and taking sworn statements. Our special agents also employ the full spectrum of traditional law enforcement techniques, such as conducting surveillance and undercover operations. OIG special agents work side-by-side with their colleagues in other law enforcement agencies, as well as with Federal, State, and local prosecutors. Learn more about the OIG’s statutory law enforcement authority here.
 

Key Personnel:
Assistant Inspector General for Investigation Services
Robert Mancuso
(202) 245-6900

Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigation Services Vacant

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Legal Services

OIG Legal Services is responsible for OIG’s legal, Freedom of Information Act, and ethics functions. OIG attorneys provide legal advice and assistance to the Inspector General and OIG staff on a full range of subjects, including Federal education law; administrative, criminal, and civil procedure; and the civil False Claims Act. OIG attorneys represent OIG in administrative litigation before the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

 

Key Personnel:
Counsel to the Inspector General
Antigone Potamianos
Assistant Counsel to the Inspector General Ruby Len

Carla Assistant Counsel to the Inspector General Carla McKenzie

Assistant Counsel to the Inspector General Howard Sorensen

(202) 245-6900
OIG Freedom of Information Act webpage

management-services

Management Services

OIG Management Services provides administrative and management support to the Inspector General and all OIG components. Management Services also formulates, executes, and oversees the OIG budget, develops and maintains administrative and management policy and procedures, performs human resource support activities, facility and property management, fulfills OIG's external reporting requirements, and implements and maintains hardware, software, and telecommunications networks to support OIG’s mission.


Key Personnel:
Assistant Inspector General for Management Services
Francine Hines
(202) 245-6900

Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Management Services
Bronzwyn Palmer
 (202) 245-6900