Zakel will lead the independent oversight of all agency programs and operations
WASHINGTON – U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is pleased to welcome Anthony Zakel to serve as the agency’s first dedicated Inspector General. In this role, Zakel will lead the independent oversight of DFC to support the effectiveness and efficiency of the agency’s global programs and operations.
“DFC was created to advance development and U.S. foreign policy interests around the globe. Our Inspector General is fundamental to ensuring that we effectively execute on our mission,” said DFC Chief Executive Officer Adam Boehler. “Tony’s significant experience in government oversight, including overseeing large federal investments, prepares him well for this essential role.”
“Inspectors General play an important role in upholding the integrity of federal programs, including those providing assistance overseas,” said Zakel. “I look forward to working with Adam and DFC, the Board, and Congress to protect the integrity of U.S. foreign assistance programs and ensure that the funds supporting them are well managed and used effectively.”
A dedicated DFC Inspector General was established by the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development (BUILD) Act of 2018, which created DFC. DFC’s predecessor agency previously fell under the jurisdiction of the Inspector General of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). As Inspector General, Zakel will conduct regular reviews of DFC activities while working to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. He was approved by and will report to DFC’s Board of Directors.
Zakel brings years of experience in government oversight to DFC. Most recently, he served as Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Aviation Audits at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). In this role, he was responsible for managing reviews of a wide range of Federal Aviation Administration programs and projects with a budget of over $19 billion.
Prior to this position, Zakel was a program director in DOT’s Office of Surface Transportation Audits, managing audits of the Federal Transit Administration and Federal Highway Administration, which provides more than $50 billion each year for building and maintaining roads, bridges, tunnels, and tracks. As a program director, he led financial and engineering oversight of multibillion-dollar investments in transportation infrastructure.
Before his federal service, Zakel worked for 15 years as an engineer and program manager at Morrison Knudsen, Booz Allen & Hamilton, and Parsons Transportation Group on transportation and infrastructure projects in the United States and United Kingdom. He graduated from Saint Bonaventure University with a bachelor’s degree in physics and has master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Binghamton University and business administration from Loyola University of Maryland.
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U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is America’s development bank. DFC partners with the private sector to finance solutions to the most critical challenges facing the developing world today. We invest across sectors including energy, healthcare, critical infrastructure, and technology. DFC also provides financing for small businesses and women entrepreneurs in order to create jobs in emerging markets. DFC investments adhere to high standards and respect the environment, human rights, and worker rights.