Meet the OIG’s New Deputy Inspector General, Gale Stallworth Stone

The OIG has a new Deputy Inspector General.

Gale Stallworth Stone was appointed to the position in February. Ms. Stone has more than 27 years of Federal service, and she has been a part of the Social Security Administration’s OIG since the organization’s inception in 1995. She most recently served as a Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audit, with primary responsibility for financial and IT audit work.

In her new role, Ms. Stone will work closely with Inspector General Patrick P. O’Carroll, providing leadership and guidance in the planning, policy and program development and management of the OIG.

“Gale brings a wealth of experience to her new role,” Inspector General O’Carroll said. “I look forward to hearing her ideas and perspectives on the wider organization.”

Before she even finished unpacking boxes, we put our new Deputy Inspector General to work answering some questions for you:

In what areas do you think the OIG is succeeding?

I believe the area where OIG is most successful is with its people. It’s often said that an organization’s biggest asset is its people, and that is definitely the case in OIG. At every level, you will find very talented individuals with a strong commitment to the organization’s mission. 

What can the OIG do to improve SSA’s programs going forward?

We should continue to follow the Inspector General’s commitment to open communications with program managers and the people on the front line. The OIG and the Social Security Administration have a fiduciary responsibility to protect SSA programs, and they both have a common goal of making the programs efficient and effective. We need the unique perspectives of both offices to achieve optimal success in improving SSA programs.  

What are you looking forward to accomplishing in your new role? 

In 1997 when I completed my Masters work at Johns Hopkins University, I had a vision of an “enterprise-wide” data-analysis strategy that would not only inform our investigations and audits, but would help target our work toward high-risk areas. 

The Inspector General and the previous Deputy Inspector General laid the groundwork for this vision becoming a reality when they established the OIG’s Electronic Intelligence Workgroup. I look forward to working with the Assistant Inspectors General to create an office culture that sees data as an organization-wide asset, used to inform all OIG components.

Ms. Stone succeeds Jim Kissko, who had served as the OIG’s Deputy Inspector General since 2005. Mr. Kissko now serves as Chief of Staff to the Commissioner of Social Security.

“Jim’s leadership and vision are unparalleled in government service.  He encourages thoughtful risk-taking and innovative solutions to promote the mission of the OIG and the Agency,” O’Carroll said.

“I will miss our daily discussions about ways to improve the Office of the Inspector General and wish him much success in his new position as Chief of Staff.”