History

AGA Past National President June Gibbs Brown, CGFM, Retires

January 2001
After an illustrious career in federal service spent ferreting out fraud, waste and abuse, June Gibbs Brown, CGFM, has retired from the federal government. Brown, who served as the 1985-1986 AGA National President, was most recently the inspector general at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Her retirement ceremony in January was attended by more than 250 people, including the now former HHS Secretary Donna Shalala.

Brown had previously served as inspector general at the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Social Security Administration. During her eight-year tenure at HHS, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) was credited with in excess of $76 billion in savings as well as more than 4,600 criminal prosecutions and 3,600 civil actions.

In 1999, Brown was interviewed for The Government Accountants Journal with the other three women who have served as AGA National President. 

The women discussed the various issues they faced in building careers in a field dominated by men. Brown recalled graduating No. 1 in a class of 1,800 and not being able to get an interview with a public accounting firm. She said she found government to be a much more welcoming environment and by the time she was elected AGA National President, she had already served as inspector general at two federal agencies.

During her tenure as AGA National President, despite her distinctly federal career, Brown championed the cause of state and local government members, who at that time did not believe they were getting what they needed from AGA and were threatening to quit and join the Government Finance Officers Association. Brown took on this challenge by working tirelessly during her year to pass a resolution requiring that one out of every three years, the AGA National President would be from outside of Washington, D.C. This move opened the door for state and local members to become AGA leaders and that group today makes up half of our membership.

Brown plans to spend her retirement resting, enjoying her grandchildren and writing a book. On behalf of all AGA members, we wish June Gibbs Brown a happy retirement and thank her for her service to AGA—and the profession.  by Marie Sullivan Force, MA