Michael McCord

Guest Author

Mike McCord is the Director, Civil-Military Programs at the Stennis Center for Public Service Leadership and an Adjunct Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses.  In addition, Mr. McCord is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and was a member of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy for the United States, which released its report Providing for the Common Defense in November 2018.

Previously, he served for eight years at the Department of Defense as the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer and before that as the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) from January 2009 through January 2017.  In these roles he advised Secretaries of Defense Gates, Panetta, Hagel and Carter on all budgetary and financial matters.

Prior to his service at the Department of Defense, Mr. McCord served for 24 years in the legislative branch, including 21 years as a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee for former Senators and Chairmen Sam Nunn and Carl Levin.  As a member of the Senate staff his primary focus was on budget, fiscal policy, and military installation issues.  He also served on the staff of the House Budget Committee, and began his career as a cost analyst at the Congressional Budget Office.