Charlie Cook
Former Chief Financial Officer, Department of Homeland Security
Resourcing and Financial Management, Risk Management
Contact Information
Charlie Cook
Former Chief Financial Officer, Department of Homeland Security
Resourcing and Financial Management, Risk Management
Contact Information
Recognized federal civilian/contractor serving as a member of the Senior Executive Service for over 20 years in the Department of Defense (DoD). Managed the programming, budgeting, execution, and chief financial officer duties at multiple levels. Multi-disciplined financial management expertise gained from experience in senior management positions with the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), Office of the Secretary of the Navy, the Senate Appropriations Committee (Defense Subcommittee), US Navy, and the US Marine Corps. Served as Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management & Comptroller) from April through August 2013.
Leadership: Recognized as a premier financial manager within DoD for implementing President’s Management Agenda goals in four areas: improved financial performance; budget performance integration; expanded e-government; and aggressive efficiency goals in a resource-constrained environment. Led the Marine Corps to audit, including the establishment of an advanced, operational, federated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system within the Marine Corps. Stepped up to the challenge of embracing new initiatives within DoD, enabling the Marine Corps to be at the forefront of financial improvement and audit readiness and providing DoD with a “test bed” for new business ideas.
Strategic Planning: Responsible for planning for the effects of auditability on the DON and DoD business enterprise to support legislatively mandated auditability goals. Chaired the Marine Corps’ cross-functional Business Transformation Executive Steering Group (2003-2009) to approve and implement progressive changes to the business enterprise. A proven ability to translate and implement strategic plans into operational reality. Demonstrated experienced leadership at the highest levels of government during all phases of the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution System process, adjusting to strategic and political factors.
Communication: In an environment where <2% of the DoD workforce specializes in financial management expertise, I have proven effective at engaging the full spectrum of the acquisition, logistics, installations, workforce, and warfighter leadership communities to implement systems and processes to provide reliable financial and business information to these leaders that enhance their decision-making capabilities. Often asked to sit on boards or panels and make recommendations due to experience and ability to tactfully communicate ideas where effective change must occur to improve the business side of Defense in support of the warfighter.
Financial: Accountable for planning, supporting, and executing budgets approximating $160 billion annually; successfully acquiring resources to support Navy and Marine Corps mission needs to fulfill their roles in the global commons as the Nation’s expeditionary response force to crises across the range of military operations; effectively balanced resource needs, while operating during wartime; restored quality of life and re-baselined/grew the force after more than a decade of war and heightened national security operations.
Experience
2019 to Present: Deloitte Consulting, LLP: Serving as a Specialist Executive in Government/Public Sector practice (National Security and Domestic Agencies) I engage in myriad issues as they relate to mission accomplishment, business operations, financial management, and enterprise risk management. I am recognized in the firm for being an expert in Appropriated/Working Capital Fund activities for budget, execution, financial reporting, and audit remediation/response. In this capacity I have fostered changes for OSD, the Military Departments, and other Components to accelerate audit timelines and include strategic recommendations for attaining a DoD-wide audit opinion. I have advanced ideas to demonstrate how data analytics are not only critical to financial statements and process improvements but also how the data can critically support operational activities and enterprise risk management throughout the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution System (PPBES) process.
2016 – 2019: C. Cook Advisory Services, LLC: Leveraged 40+ years of financial management expertise to support clients executing Federal contracts providing expert advice and recommendations to resolve challenges in a fiscally austere environment.
2011 – 2015: Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management & Comptroller): As the senior career civilian, I was instrumental in the oversight of budget formulation, execution, financial reporting, cost analysis and auditability for the Department of the Navy’s then approximately $160B annual budget. Served as the career community lead for over 8,000 financial management professionals within the Department. Served as Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management & Comptroller) from April through August 2013.
2009 – 2011: Assistant Deputy Commandant (Programs & Resources): United States Marine Corps: Served as the senior USMC civilian overseeing the entire PPBES process, including financial reporting and audit for the Marine Corps, routinely advising the Commandant on resource matters as related to ensuring the highest level of readiness for deployed and deploying forces and supporting force quality of life and future modernization.
Awards
Presidential Distinguished Executive Rank Award, 2011.
Presidential Meritorious Executive Rank Award, 2007.
Department of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award, 2013, for resource management mitigating the impact of sequestration and supporting operational force readiness and continued business process improvements, in support of financial statement auditability.
Department of the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award, 2009, for leading significant improvements in auditability of USMC business practices, enhancing e-commerce activities, and improving financial reporting practices for the Global War on Terror.
DoD Exceptional Civilian Service Award, 2001, for service following the attacks on the Pentagon.
DoD Exceptional Civilian Service Award, 1999, for improving and streamlining Congressional budget documentation and developing innovative solutions to topline challenges in the 2000/2001 budget preparation cycle.
Education, Certifications, and Professional Leadership
Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
Bachelor of Science (Business Administration), Accounting (1978)
A wide range of Federal, DoD and private sector courses and training related to leadership, management, and accounting.
National President, American Society of Military Comptrollers (6/2009 – 6/2010)
National Vice President (Marine Corps), American Society of Military Comptrollers (9/2001 – 6/2010)