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Cathlynn B. Sparks:Military Branch:United States Airforce | |
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Cathlynn B. Sparks, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is Deputy Auditor General and Director of Operations, Air Force Audit Agency, Washington, D.C. Ms. Sparks serves as the principal assistant and as the second senior agency civilian executive, and oversees the planning and execution of all aspects of internal auditing in the Air Force. This includes assuring all audits meet established standards; conducting the operational reviews of internal operations; ensuring the quality of all agency products; developing and defending resource requirements; and training and maintaining a professional workforce. Ms. Sparks entered government service with the Air Force in 1975 as a management intern in the comptroller career field. Prior to her current assignment, she was the Deputy Director of Resources, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations and Logistics, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, where she managed budget programs totaling more than $30 billion annually for Air Force aircraft, missiles, munitions, communications and vehicles. Ms. Sparks has held several other senior positions in the Air Force, and has broad experience as well in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and in Air Force field activities. She is a recognized authority of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and of the Air Forces acquisition, operation, maintenance and business operating fund programs. Ms. Sparks was selected for the Senior Executive Service in 1989. EDUCATION 1975 Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and education, James Madison College, Harrisonburg, Va. 1978 Master of Business Administration degree in management and supervision, Central Michigan University 1981 Professional Military Comptrollers Course 1986 Federal Executive Institute 1991 Senior Managers in Government Course, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. 1994 Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. 1995 Developing the Strategic Leader Course, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo. 2004 Program for Executives in Logistics and Technology, Center of Excellence in Logistics and Technology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill CAREER CHRONOLOGY 1. 1975 - 1979, management intern, Directorate of Budget, Budget Management Division, Comptroller of the Air Force, Washington, D.C. 2. 1979 - 1982, budget analyst, strategic, tactical and airlift forces, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 3. 1982 - 1983, Special Assistant to the Director of Budget Operations, Department of Defense Comptroller for the Economics and Efficiencies Program, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 4. 1983 - 1989, budget analyst, Air Force logistics and depot maintenance programs; Air Force and Navy industrial funds; and U.S. Special Operations Forces, Department of Defense (Comptroller), the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 5. 1989 - 1991, Deputy Director of Budget Operations, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 6. 1991 - 1993, Director of Air Force Budget Operations, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 7. 1993 - 1998, Director of Budget Investment, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Budget, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Washington, D.C. 8. 1998 - 2001, Assistant Auditor General for Field Activities, Air Force Audit Agency, Arlington, Va. 9. 2001 - 2002, special adviser for financial management studies (senior faculty), Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Va. 10. 2002 - 2004, Deputy Director of Resources, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations and Logistics, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. 11. 2004 - present, Deputy Auditor General and Director of Operations, Air Force Audit Agency, Washington, D.C. AWARDS AND HONORS Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service Meritorious Civilian Service Awards (2) Performance awards Medal of Merit, Air Force Association PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS American Society of Military Comptrollers Life member, Air Force Association Chair, Civilian Advisory Council, AFA Chair, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records Air Force Financial Management Career Program Policy Council |
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