Mike Wetklow

Mike Wetklow is a CPA with over 30 years of public service experience, including 17 years as a federal senior executive. His career has focused on financial management and auditing, with roles at the GAO, KPMG, and the Maryland Legislative Auditor's Office. This experience provided a foundation for his later work in modernizing policies and building control environments.

At the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Mike led DHS in establishing internal controls for the newly formed agency following 9/11, helping to resolve material weaknesses and contribute to the department's first clean audit opinion. He also worked on government-wide financial policy at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and helped establish the federal government's first Enterprise Risk Management framework.  Later, at the National Science Foundation (NSF), he was involved in fintech initiatives, including the use of robotic process automation and the exploration of blockchain technology. He also co-authored a governmentwide CFO Council strategy for workforce modernization. As Chief Risk Officer at the IRS, he oversaw the agency's risk portfolio, supporting its AI initiatives and helping to ensure positive audit outcomes.

He is now dedicated to training the next generation of accounting professionals as a Faculty Instructor at George Mason University, a role that builds on his prior experience as an adjunct professor since 2023 and reflects his ongoing commitment to public service and education.

Education

• Master of Science, Data Science, University of Virginia
• Master of Public Administration, Financial Management, University of Maryland
• Bachelor of Science, Accounting, University of Maryland

Awards

• Association of Government Accountant’s (AGA) Elmer Staats Award, Feb 2025
• AGA Montgomery/Prince George's County Chapter Distinguished Leadership Award, 2024
• Advanced Technology Academic Research Center (ATARC) 2022 Emerging Technology Team Award for Workforce Innovation
• AGA 2021 Innovation Challenge Winner
• AGA 2020 Innovation Challenge Winner
• AGA 2016 National President’s Award
• AGA’s National and DC Chapter’s 2015 Achievement of the Year Awards
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) CFO’s 2011 Partnership Award for Extraordinary Mission Contribution
• DHS Secretary’s 2008 Individual and Team Awards for Excellence
• DHS CFO’s 2008 Individual Award for Exceptional Service         

Publications

• “Accounting and the Need for STEAM”, 2023, AGA Journal of Government Financial Management.
• “Internal Control Over Blockchain: How It Can Reduce the Burden of Financial Audits and Reporting”, with C. Fisher, C. Hebbale, and J. Poll, 2021, AGA Journal of Government Financial Management.
• “The Benefits of Blockchain to Tokenize Grants Payments”, with C. Fisher and J. Poll, 2020, AGA Journal of Government Financial Management.
• “Planning a Strategic Approach to Shape the Workforce”, with S. Kunze and E. Farley, 2019, AGA Journal of Government Financial Management.
• “The ABCDs of Technology Impacts on Federal Financial Management: A CFO Community Perspective”, with D. Glenn and J. Hill, 2018, AGA Journal of Government Financial Management.
• “How Going Back to the Future with OMB A-123 Can Restore Trust in Government”, 2018, AGA Journal of Government Financial Management.