Fort Belvoir, Va. –
DCAA’s Director Ms. Anita Bales was honored in a retirement ceremony conducted on January 28, 2022 hosted by the Undersecretary of Defense/Comptroller Mr. Michael McCord. Ms. Bales started as an auditor in the U.S. Army Audit Agency’s (USAAA) Midwest Region in Rock Island, Ill. In 1988, she was sent overseas as an auditor in the European Region in Frankfurt, Germany. Ms. Bales returned to the United States in 1992 as an audit supervisor in St. Louis, home of the Central Region.
Ms. Bales took time away from her job beginning in 1996 to work on a master’s degree at Syracuse University. She earned an MBA in 1998 and returned to work as an audit manager in Force Management Audits in Fort Belvoir, Va. In 2001, Ms. Bales was made program director for Financial Management Audits in Alexandria, Va. She remained in that office until 2006 when she was named deputy auditor general in Forces and Financial Audits. In 2011, Ms. Bales was made deputy director of DCAA, a post she held until being elevated to the Director in 2014.
Ms. Bales has been with DCAA for the last 11 years, three as the Deputy Director and seven as the Director. During her time with the agency, she was a powerful agent for change leading the reorganization of the Agency from six Regions to the current structure of three Regions, four Corporate Audit Directorates, and a Field Detachment. She also successfully guided the Agency as it eliminated the Incurred Cost Audit backlog a year ahead of schedule. Her focus on communication, workforce development, and increasing effectiveness and efficiency will be one of her legacies positions the agency for a successful future.
In his remarks, the Honorable McCord highlighted one of Ms. Bales’ most significant accomplishments, the development of the Director’s Development Program in Leadership. This program is an 18-month, executive-level program that helps senior-level, career employees prepare for critical leadership positions in the federal government. Since beginning in 2017, the program has continued to expand with participation from more DoD agencies and more students. Ms. Bales guided the program's development and then shaped the program based on student feedback to increase its effectiveness.
Ms. Bales graduated from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting (Magna Cum Laude). She graduated at the top of her class from Syracuse University, New York with a Master’s degree in Business Administration. Ms. Bales has the following professional certifications: Certified Public Accountant, Certified Information Systems Auditor, and Certified Government Financial Manager. She is a member of the American Society of Military Comptroller and serves on the Professional Advisory Board at Drake University, School of Accounting.