Sean O'Donnell (EPA)

O’Donnell earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Texas A&M University and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Washington. He then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a master’s degree in economics and a J.D. degree in law.[2]

After graduating from law school, O’Donnell clerked for Judge Harry Lee Hudspeth of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in Austin, Texas and for Judge Raymond Gruender of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in St. Louis, Missouri.[3] He also spent time in private practice, working on intellectual property and antitrust litigation, among other matters.[4]

Prior to becoming the Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency, O’Donnell spent 15 years at the U.S. Department of Justice, including as prosecutor in the Bank Integrity Unit of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. Over his career at the Justice Department, he handled a wide range of criminal and civil matters, such as civil rights, commercial and governmental fraud, corruption, and national security matters.[5]

O’Donnell was nominated to be the EPA Inspector General on October 15, 2019, and confirmed unanimously by the Senate on December 19, 2019.[6] Sworn in shortly thereafter, O’Donnell is responsible for promoting economy and efficiency at the EPA and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, as well as detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse related to the programs and operations of those two agencies. To this end, O’Donnell oversees a nationwide workforce of approximately 270 attorneys, auditors, special agents, and support personnel who support the Office’s mission by providing evidence-based reports to the agencies, the public, and to Congress.[7]

On April 6, 2020, O’Donnell was appointed the acting Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Defense in addition to serving as the EPA Inspector General.[8]