Ed. Note: Five years ago, Tom Fox looked back on 9/11 in a 20-year retrospective. This week is the 25th anniversary of that event. We will be rerunning this award-winning podcast so we never forget.
On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack, Tom Fox and guests look back on the tragic event and what it meant for them personally, as well as how it impacted the world of compliance. Today Tom’s guest is Eric Feldman. Eric is the Senior Vice President and Managing Director at Affiliated Monitors, a company that monitors large and small companies in government contracting, construction, engineering, manufacturing, and financial services. He also assesses corporate ethics and compliance programs across many countries. Eric joins Tom to discuss how the events of 9/11 changed the role of the Inspector General.
The Impact of 9/11 on the IG’s Role
Eric tells Tom that 9/11 was the most informative time of his career and of many other Inspector General’s. It was a moment of refocusing for everyone. Eric worked within the oversight function, but as part of the mission he was overseeing. “That focus on mission was it for me,” he tells Tom. Eric expresses that understanding the mission helped make him a better Inspector General. IGs worldwide became more concerned with the broader picture of how funds were used at their agencies to fight the war on terror, rather than the minutiae of time-and-attendance reporting.
The Importance of the IG Now
Tom asks Eric to elaborate on how the IG’s role rose in prominence post-9/11. Eric explains that government IGs became “part of the team” in different ways. There is more collaboration now across the agencies that IGs oversee. There is also independence: Eric expresses that there must be a balance between collaboration and independence. IGs are especially important because they ensure the dollars spent on the war and mission are spent properly.
A Wake-Up Call of Unity
Eric reflects that 9/11 was a wake-up call for the United States. The country came together, and unity, patriotism, and a sense of duty overtook politics. Eric hopes that the people can return to that unity without another catastrophe.
Resources:
Eric Feldman | LinkedIn | Twitter
