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About the Office of Inspector General

Mission
The Inspector General is committed to fulfilling its statutory mission and assisting Members of Congress, the Secretary, and senior department officials in achieving a safe, efficient, and effective transportation system that meets vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today, and into the future.


The Office of Inspector General works within the Department of Transportation to promote effectiveness and head off, or stop, waste, fraud and abuse in departmental programs. We do this through audits and investigations. OIG also consults with the Congress about programs in progress and proposed new laws and regulations.

The Inspector General Act of 1978 gives the Office of Inspector General autonomy to do its work without interference. The Inspector General is chosen by the President -- not based on political affiliation but rather on integrity and ability. IG candidates can show accomplishment in several fields, including accounting, auditing, law, financial or management analysis, public administration or investigations. Inspector General appointees are subject to Senate confirmation. Only the President has the power to remove an inspector general before the IG's regular term of office ends, and the reasons for doing so must be communicated to Congress.

The Inspector General Act of 1978 prevents officials in the scrutinized agency from interfering with audits or investigations; it also requires the IG to keep the Secretary of Transportation and Congress informed of findings. However, much of OIG's most significant work is accomplished with the cooperation of the officials whose programs are being reviewed.

Strategic and Historic Documentation

  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  • The Inspectors General Story (video)
    		•
    The Inspector General

    Calvin Scovel

    Calvin L. Scovel III Inspector General
    United States Department of Transportation

    Mr. Scovel was nominated by President Bush on July 13, 2006, confirmed by the Senate on September 29, 2006, and sworn in on October 27, 2006.

    Mr. Scovel joined DOT after 29 years of active service in the U.S. Marine Corps, from which he retired as a Brigadier General. His last military assignment was as a senior judge on the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals. He previously served as Assistant Judge Advocate General of the Navy for Military Justice, the principal advisor to the Secretary of the Navy and the Judge Advocate General on all criminal justice policy matters. Mr. Scovel also commanded a military police battalion, which provided all security and law enforcement services for Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia.

    Mr. Scovel served as senior legal advisor for the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, which included all Marine amphibious forces in Operation Desert Storm and, in a NATO exercise in Norway. He had previously served as legal advisor for a Marine amphibious unit deployed to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, where it conducted exercises in Japan, the Philippines, Kenya, and Australia.

    He was prosecutor or defense counsel in 250 courts-martial that included charges of murder, rape, child sexual assault, and drug trafficking.

    As an adjunct faculty member for the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies, Mr. Scovel led instruction teams in the rule of law and civilian control of the military for senior civilian and military officials in Honduras, Mauritius, Albania, and Serbia. Mr. Scovel, who was in the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, has received military awards including the Legion of Merit (four awards) and the Combat Action Ribbon.

    Mr. Scovel received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Juris Doctor degree from Duke University. He also received a Master’s degree from the Naval War College.

    Mr. Scovel is married and has two sons.

    Mr. Scovel is the sixth person to serve as DOT Inspector General. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) was established by law in 1978 to provide the Secretary and Congress with objective and independent reviews of the efficiency and effectiveness of DOT operations and activities.

    The OIG carries out its mission by issuing audit reports, evaluations, and management advisories with findings and recommendations to improve program delivery and performance. In Fiscal Year 2007, OIG issued 81 audit reports, which identified more than $900 million in financial recommendations.

    By statute, the Inspector General also conducts investigations into whether Federal laws and regulations were followed and must report suspected civil and criminal violations to the Attorney General. In Fiscal Year 2007, OIG investigative efforts resulted in 112 indictments, 142 convictions and, $183.6 million in fines and recoveries.