Linda Combs

Linda Morrison Combs (June 29, 1946 – October 19, 2023) is a former U.S. federal government official. She was the

In 2014, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory appointed her State Controller on an interim basis. He subsequently nominated Combs to continue in the position.^[2][3] She was later confirmed by the North Carolina General Assembly and took the oath of office on May 27, 2016.^[4]

OMB Service

President George W. Bush nominated her on February 28, 2005 to be the Controller of OMB. The United States Senate unanimously confirmed Combs on June 24, 2005.^[1][5]

As Controller, Combs oversaw all of Federal financial management, was the head of the Office of Federal Financial Management, and chaired the U.S. Chief Financial Officers Council.^[6] She owned three initiatives of the President's Management Agenda: improving financial performance, eliminating improper payments, and real property.^[7]

Also, Combs oversaw Government-wide financial management policies, and requirements. Specifically she focused on financial results in the largest 24 departments and agencies in the

Notably, during Combs's tenure at OMB, the Federal CFO community:

1) For the first time in history and for the second straight year successfully accelerated financial reporting so that audited financial statements were published by ever major agency within 45 days of the close of the fiscal year (a pace that significantly bettered private sector reporting and improved on past Government results when agencies had taken as long as 5 months to report);^{[citation needed]}

2) Obtained clean audit opinions in 19 of the 24 largest agencies for two straight years, and decreased the number of material weaknesses by more than 15% despite tougher audit standards (compared to achieving only one clean audit in 1990 and only six in 1996 for those same 24 agencies);^{[citation needed]}

3) Eliminated approximately $9 billion in improper payments — a 17% decrease from 2004.^{[citation needed]}

4) Developed and reported the first ever government-wide inventory of the Federal real property assets, reporting data on more than 1.2 million assets worldwide, and disposing of $3.5 billion in excess property from 2004.^{[citation needed]}

Early life and education

A native of

Prior to her appointment at DOT, Combs held a Presidential Appointment, confirmed by the Senate, at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, where she served as Chief Financial Officer from 2001–2003.^[9]

During the previous Reagan and Bush Administrations, Combs served in various oversight roles and executive level management positions at the

Prior to government service, and following a successful career of over ten years in instructional and administrative positions in the

• Combs, Linda Morrison (1994). A long good-bye : reflections on dealing with Alzheimers. Winston-Salem, N.C.: Combs Pub.
  OCLC 32435709
  .
• Combs, Linda Morrison (1999). A long good-bye and beyond : coping with Alzheimer's. Wilsonville, Or.: BooksPartners.
  OCLC 41233908
  .
• Combs, Linda Morrison (1985). Education in the year 2035 : a Delphi study to identify possible futures of the public secondary school. Thesis (Ed. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1985.
  OCLC 14231834
  .

• 1968–1979: Teacher, Coach, Reading Coordinator, Assistant Principal, Workshop Leader Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System (
  Winston-Salem, NC
  )
• 1979–1982: Operations Officer and Manager,
  Winston-Salem, NC
  )
• 1982 - 1984: The Executive Secretary,
  Washington, DC
  )
• 1984 - 1986: Deputy Under Secretary for Management,
  Washington, DC
  )
• 1986 - 1987: Education Advisor to the Governor of North Carolina (Raleigh, North Carolina)
• 1987 - 1989: Acting Associate Administrator for Management,
  Washington, DC
  )
• 1989 - 1991: Assistant Secretary for Management and
  Washington, DC
  )
• 1991 - 2001: Caregiver, Author, Consultant, Spokesperson, Entrepreneur (
  Winston-Salem, NC
  )
• 2001 - 2003:
  Washington, DC
  )
• 2003 - 2005: Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs and
  Washington, DC
  )
• 2005 - 2007: Controller,
  Washington, DC
  )
• 2014 – 2022: Controller, State of North Carolina (
  Raleigh, NC
  )

References

11. Linda Combs Obituary

• "Linda Combs is retiring as controller at the Office of Management and Budget and head of its Office of Federal Financial Management". CFO: Magazine for Senior Financial Executives. August 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-09-25. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
• Mosquera, Mary (July 12, 2007). "OMB controller Combs submits resignation". Government Leader. Retrieved 2008-07-21.

External links