Anthony (Tony) Cruz joined the DOE OIG Senior Executive team as the Assistant Inspector General for Inspections, Intelligence Oversight and Special Projects in April 2021.
For nearly five years, Mr. Cruz was the Chief of Staff, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Department of Defense (DoD). During his tenure, Mr. Cruz was responsible for the operational and strategic performance of over 150 federal and contractor employees working in the Office of Information Technology, Equal Employment Opportunity Office, Administrative Office and the Knowledge Management Office. During the year 2020-21, Mr. Cruz also served as DCAA’s Chief, Crisis Action Team. In this role, he led a team of senior leaders who were instrumental in the coordination and synchronization of all actions, policy and procedures related to the pandemic as it impacted thousands of DCAA employees dispersed throughout the United States and overseas.
Prior joining DCAA, Mr. Cruz served 30 years in the U.S. Army as a Military Police officer where he held numerous positions of increased responsibilities dealing with the National Military Strategy, Law Enforcement, Confinement and Criminal Investigation Operations. In 2004, Mr. Cruz led the development of the first ever DoD’s Inspection Program on all U.S. Detention facilities and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2016, Mr. Cruz culminated his active-duty service as the Director, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Task Force leading a team of over 100 Special Agents on what CBS 60 Minutes called “the largest criminal investigation in the history of the United States Army”. A national level investigation into the alleged fraud, waste, and abuse by 105,000 individuals involved in $530M bonus incentive program.
Mr. Cruz earned a Master’s in Public Administration from Troy University, Alabama and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico. Mr. Cruz is a native Spanish speaker who has received numerous military and civilian awards throughout his career.