Hannibal Ware

Ware is originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands, and he grew up on St. Croix.[1][2] He graduated from Central High School.[1] He earned a bachelor of arts degree in accounting from the University of the Virgin Islands.[2]

As a junior in college, Ware began working as an intern auditor for the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1990. He continued working there after graduation. He was later promoted to supervisor of the office.[3]

In 2009, Gov. John de Jongh Jr. used $490,000 of government funds to build a perimeter fence, expand his driveway, build a guard house, and installed a security camera system. Ware found that de Jongh had used money designated for repairs to public roads to make the improvements to his private home, which was improper and circumvented the legislature.[4] The attorney general charged DeJongh with criminal embezzlement of public funds and neglecting to pay over public monies.[5]

Ware was later promoted to Eastern Regional Manager.[3] While he was Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Management, Ware managed the office's operating budget and logistics.[3]

Ware served as the Deputy Inspector General of the Small Business Administration from April 2016 to January 2017. When Inspector General Peggy E. Gustafson left the position to become to Inspector General of the Department of Commerce,[6] Ware served as the Acting Inspector General from January 9, 2017, until President Donald Trump appointed him, the Senate confirmed him, and he was sworn into office on May 24, 2018.[3] Ware also chairs the Audit Committee of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency.[7]

In 2017, Ware helped uncover several contractors that had received federal contracts intended for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses under false pretenses. One company attempted to qualify by hiring a disabled veteran to officially serve in that role as a figurehead while not actually controlling the company at all.[8]

In May 2020, Ware criticized the Small Business Administration's rules for the Paycheck Protection Program, saying that the Small Business Administration had set stricter rules than Congress wrote into the law created the program, which is causing an "unintended burden" on businesses.[9] Ware also said that the Small Business Administration's failure to provide guidance to financial institutions to prioritize businesses in underserved and rural markets, resulting in fewer loans to their businesses than the law intended.[10]