Gail S. Ennis Sworn In as Inspector General for the Social Security Administration
January 28, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 29, 2019
BALTIMORE – Gail S. Ennis, of Maryland, was sworn in as the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration (SSA) by Acting Commissioner of Social Security Nancy A. Berryhill at a ceremony today. President Donald Trump nominated Ms. Ennis for the position, and the Senate confirmed her nomination on January 2, 2019.
Ms. Ennis will direct the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at SSA, which is charged with overseeing SSA’s programs and operations and detecting and preventing Social Security fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement. The Inspector General is independent from SSA and is responsible for keeping Congress informed about the effectiveness and efficiency of SSA programs and operations. Ms. Ennis will oversee a nationwide OIG workforce of more than 500 investigators, auditors, attorneys, and support staff.
Ms. Ennis began her legal career in 1998 as an associate at WilmerHale in the firm’s Securities Department. In 2007, Ms. Ennis became a Partner in the firm’s Securities Litigation and Enforcement practice and later also joined the firm’s Bank Regulation and Enforcement practice. Ms. Ennis’ practice focused on advising companies, boards of directors, audit committees, and special committees of large, multi-national corporations or financial institutions in connection with government and independent investigations related to the federal securities laws, as well as consumer protection laws. She led large teams of lawyers, forensic accountants, IT and discovery professionals, and support staff investigating issues including financial statement reporting and disclosure errors, accounting irregularities, and misconduct by current or former officers or employees. Ms. Ennis also advised clients on improving processes, procedures, and internal controls to avoid future violations or to comply with settlement terms or changes in laws or regulations. Ms. Ennis appeared before the SEC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Ms. Ennis holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School.
Ms. Ennis becomes the fourth Senate-confirmed Inspector General for SSA. Deputy Inspector General Gale Stallworth Stone has served as the Acting Inspector General since Patrick P. O’Carroll, Jr., retired in May 2016.
The SSA OIG, established in 1995, is directly responsible for meeting the statutory mission of promoting economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in SSA programs and operations. To accomplish this mission, the OIG directs, conducts, and supervises a comprehensive program of audits, evaluations, and investigations.
For media inquiries, please contact Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director, at 410-965-2671.