Edward A Powell Jr

In January 2002, Edward A. Powell became the President and CEO of the USO World Headquarters, the only global civilian organization supporting the U.S. military. President Franklin Roosevelt founded the USO in 1941. Today the USO operates more than 130 centers around the world. U.S. and overseas USO facilities from San Diego to Bagram, Afghanistan are visited more than 5 million times each year by Service members and their families. Under Ned Powell’s leadership the USO saw significant expansion. The operating budget expanded from less than $40 million a year to almost $250 million in 2008. USO’s active donor base grew from 200,000 to more than 1.5 million individuals. The organization enjoys a solid balance sheet, as well as strong relationships with Congress and the Department of Defense. Prior to joining the USO, Powell served as Assistant Secretary for Management (CFO) and Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). At the time the VA was the second largest cabinet department with a budget of more than $50 billion. During his tenure as CFO, the VA achieved its first-ever clean audit opinion. Secretary Powell oversaw the implementation of a purchase card system, the development of the department’s first budget accountability reporting (the VA was one of two federal departments to be graded “A” by the Office of Management and Budget and the Congress), and he played an instrumental role in the integration of financial, operational, and inventory management of the VA’s huge healthcare system. Through improvement in its prescription formulary and prescription mail-out program, the VA saved almost $650 million annually in drug costs, while improving patient service and safety. Additionally, he has been an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of Richmond, teaching business policy and ethics. Mr. Powell is a member and Board Member of L3; the National Guard Foundation; AnswersMedia, LLC; the National Veterans Legal Services Program; and Climate Prosperity Enterprise Solutions, LLC. Mr. Powell consults on healthcare, nonprofit management, CEO coaching, and veteran related matters.