Former AGA National President To Succeed Ann M. Ebberts, Effective September 1, 2026
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Aug. 18, 2026) — AGA today named Mary E. Peterman, MPA, CGFM, CPA, as its next chief executive officer, effective September 1, 2026. Peterman, a former AGA national president, succeeds Ann M. Ebberts, who is retiring after successfully leading the association since 2014.
A search committee of AGA members from different sectors, career stages and regions reviewed a broad pool of candidates. AGA’s National Governing Board voted unanimously to endorse the committee’s recommendation.
“The board wanted someone who knows the profession our members work in and how this association actually runs,” said Melinda DeCorte, AGA national president. “Mary has managed federal finance organizations through hard transitions, and she has served as our national president. In this challenging time for the accountability community, Mary is the right person at the right time.”
Peterman has worked in government financial management for more than 30 years across federal and local government and the private sector, where she led major technology transformations, innovated processes and addressed complex audit and financial reporting challenges. Most recently she served as director and chief financial officer at the Farm Credit Administration, the regulator of the Farm Credit System, which held $544 billion in assets at the end of 2024. She previously held senior executive positions at the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and various local government organizations.
Her AGA service includes terms as national president, national treasurer, regional vice president, chapter president and Journal of Government Financial Management editorial board member, along with service on national committees. As national president she led AGA through a period of financial and organizational transition, expanded member engagement and took part in recruiting the association’s executive leadership. She has also contributed to AGA’s work on citizen-centric reporting, accountability and transparency programs, and leadership development, including programs supporting the advancement of women in government financial management.
“I am honored to serve as AGA’s next chief executive officer, continuing Ann’s legacy of excellence,” said Peterman. “AGA gave me a professional community, the opportunity to earn a respected credential and most of the people I have learned from over three decades. My first priority is to immerse myself in the organization’s challenges and opportunities, listen to AGA’s staff and stakeholders, and build on its strong foundation as the nation’s premier accountability organization. I look forward to working with the entire AGA community and beyond to make that vision a reality.”
Peterman holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a certified public accountant and a certified government financial manager. Her honors include AGA’s Robert W. King Memorial Award, the association’s highest leadership recognition, and the Annie D. Moore Diversity Leadership Award from FDIC.
