The Authorizing Official (AO) is the official at the operational level who has the responsibility for the mission and the authority to obligate funds to support TDY travel for the mission. The AO authorizes only travel necessary to accomplish the mission of the Government. An AO may also be a Certifying Officer (CO). AOs must be appointed in writing as an Accountable Official and, as such, may be held financially liable for erroneous payments resulting from the negligent performance of their duties.
In general, Authorizing Officials have access to the travel authorizations and budgets associated with the travelers for which the AOs are responsible. Specific actions that AOs may take:
- AOs will review and approve or disapprove proposed trips based on trip data, estimated costs, the balance in the budgets, and exceptions to DoD travel policy
- Review and approve or disapprove expenses outside the initial approved trip
- Review exceptions to policy and input rationale if approved
- Review the status of a specified travel authorization
- Review the status of financial accounting for a specified trip
- Review and approve final settlements prior to forwarding to DADS
- Digitally sign travel authorizations and vouchers
- AO becomes CO when authorization has advance request or scheduled partial payments
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