IG Skinner to leave DHS

Homeland Security Department Inspector General Richard Skinner announced his retirement today after 42 years in federal service. The retirement is effective March 1.

The Senate confirmed Skinner in July 2005 as the first inspector general of DHS, which was formed in 2003 by consolidating 22 agencies.

“Mr. Skinner has been a valuable asset as our Committee has conducted oversight of the new department,” Sen. Sue Collins (R-Maine), chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.

“I was fortunate to work closely with him during our Committee's investigation into the response to Hurricane Katrina, which revealed failures at all levels of government,” Collins added. “It was Inspector General Skinner and his staff who uncovered outrageous fraud and improper payments.”

Skinner previously served in several capacities, including acting inspector general, at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and also has worked in management positions in inspectors general offices at USDA, Commerce, Justice, State and the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.

Skinner also was vice chairman of the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board overseeing the expenditure of funds from the economic stimulus law of 2009.