OIG Senior Executive Team

OFFICE OF AUDIT

LAURA B. NICOLOSI, ASSISTANT INSPECTOR GENERAL

Laura B. Nicolosi was appointed as Assistant Inspector General for Audit, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, on January 5, 2025, and is responsible for providing overall leadership to the Office of Audit. Prior to holding this position, she served as Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audit within the organization for over 5 years and has served as a senior executive since July 2018.

Ms. Nicolosi has worked in the Federal Inspector General community for more than 24 years and has served in a leadership capacity for most of her career. Throughout her experience in the Inspector General community, she has been involved in or responsible for nationwide, complex performance audits of agency programs and operations as well as information technology and financial audit work. She began her career with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General as an auditor in 2000, and later joined the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General as an auditor in the Chicago Regional Audit Office. During this time, she participated in the organization’s competitive Leadership Development Program. She later became an Assistant Regional Audit Manager in the U.S. Department of Justice, San Francisco Regional Audit Office. In 2009, Ms. Nicolosi transitioned to the role of Mission Support Director for the Office of Audits, Office of Inspector General, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). She also gained valuable experience serving as the Principal Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audit with the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Inspector General.

Ms. Nicolosi is a native of New Hampshire. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting from Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts. She is also a graduate of the Harvard University Senior Executive Fellows Program. Formal recognition of her achievements includes the Department of Labor Inspector General’s Leadership Award, NASA Inspector General’s Exceptional Service Award, the Department of Justice Inspector General’s Award of Merit, Awards of Excellence from CIGIE and the former PCIE/ECIE, as well as Exceptional Achievement, Superior Service, and Honor awards from NASA, the Department of Justice, and HHS.

OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS – LABOR RACKETEERING & FRAUD

JASON A. ABEND, ASSISTANT INSPECTOR GENERAL

Jason Abend was appointed as Assistant Inspector General for the Office of Investigations–Labor Racketeering and Fraud in April 2026. He leads a nationwide team of sworn special agents and civilian staff in conducting criminal, civil, and administrative investigations into labor racketeering, organized crime, and complex fraud schemes affecting DOL programs, operations and federal grantees.

Prior to his current position, Abend served as the Assistant Inspector General for Investigations at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG). In this role, he directed investigations into fraud, waste, and abuse within the EPA's $35 billion annual budget and oversaw the agency's law enforcement and critical infrastructure protection efforts.

Abend also served in roles in several federal agencies, including the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, Federal Housing Finance Agency OIG, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development OIG, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Throughout his career, Abend directed efforts to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse by leading investigations into financial crimes, cybercrime, and matters involving senior government officials. Abend began his career with the U.S. Secret Service, where he conducted investigations and provided executive protection for domestic and foreign government officials.

Abend holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government and a Master of Science in Justice from American University. He also earned a Master of Arts in Science, Technology, and Public Policy from George Washington University. He is a Certified Fraud Examiner and a Certified Inspector General.

CHRISTOPHER T. COOPER, DEPUTY ASSISTANT INSPECTOR GENERAL

Christopher T. Cooper, a member of the Senior Executive Service, was sworn in as the Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor (DOL-OIG), on April 25, 2023, and is responsible for directing the Office of Investigations-Labor Racketeering and Fraud’s headquarters operations. This includes executive oversight of administration, digital forensics, data analytics, and investigative analysis. Prior to joining the OIG’s executive team, Mr. Cooper served as the Special Agent-in-Charge of the OIG’s Division of Advanced Technology and Analytics. In that capacity, Mr. Cooper oversaw the data, investigative, and forensic analyses that supported the entire OIG.

Mr. Cooper began his career as a legal specialist in the U.S. Army in 1988. He worked his way up to a noncommissioned officer and held various positions and military assignments worldwide in the areas of Judge Advocate General operations.

Mr. Cooper has more than 20 years of Federal law enforcement experience, which began with the U.S. Department of Education OIG (ED-OIG) in 2000. In 2005, he transferred to Washington, DC, to help start up ED-OIG’s Office of Information Technology Audits and Computer Crime Investigations. In 2008, Mr. Cooper became the first Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge of the Technical Crimes Division. For 15 years, he conducted and supervised large-scale investigations focused on educational programmatic fraud and cyber-crimes.

In 2015, Mr. Cooper became the Special Agent-in-Charge of the Electronic Crimes Unit at DOL-OIG Headquarters in Washington, D.C. In this capacity, he oversaw the reorganization of the digital forensics and investigative analysis of the OIG. Mr. Cooper also developed the Office of Investigation’s first branch of data science.

Mr. Cooper earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration, and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia College. He continues to maintain his international certifications as a Certified Fraud Examiner and Certified Computer Examiner. He is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute’s “Leadership for a Democratic Society” program and a graduate of the Partnership of Public Service’s Excellence in Government Fellows program. Mr. Cooper has received recognition throughout his federal career. Formal recognition of his achievements includes the Gears of Government Award, and numerous Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, Inspector General, and Secretaries of Labor and Education Special Achievement, Innovation, and Exceptional Achievement awards.

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND POLICY

SCOTT EWALT, ASSISTANT INSPECTOR GENERAL

Scott Ewalt serves as the Assistant Inspector General for the Office of Management and Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL OIG). He is responsible for the management and administration of key support services across the organization to deliver the mission goals of the OIG. Mr. Ewalt provides the overarching direction and planning of human resource management, information technology, budget, and procurement responsibilities to enable the national mission.

Prior to joining the OIG, Mr. Ewalt was an executive at the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) where he had several leadership positions. He was most recently the Director of the Records Program Office within the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. He was responsible for ensuring the agency continues to execute mandates promulgated by the National Archives and Records Administration and Office of Management and Budget. He provided enhanced accountability for crosscutting issues affecting other organizations directly involved in the delivery of key public services, such as providing patent and trademark assignment services and critical documentation to stakeholders.

Mr. Ewalt also served as the Interim Chief Public Engagement Officer at USPTO. He was responsible for directing USPTO's nationwide partnerships, outreach, education, and customer experience. He provided executive leadership for implementing strategic initiatives designed to foster innovation expansion and engagement; strengthening relationships between USPTO, inventors, entrepreneurs, students and other communities in the innovation ecosystem; and improving the USPTO customer experience.

p>Before being nominated as the Interim Chief Public Engagement Officer, Mr. Ewalt was the Deputy Chief Policy Officer for Operations in USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA). He directed the implementation of OPIA’s strategic goals, programs and initiatives. He oversaw OPIA’s Global Intellectual Property Academy, the IP Attaché Program, the Patent Policy team, and the administrative team. He also provided leadership for OPIA operations, including its budget, facilities, procurement, human capital, and information management.

Mr. Ewalt also served as the Director of Budget Execution in the Office of Planning and Budget for USPTO’s Chief Financial Officer. He was responsible for developing and executing operational spending plans based on resource needs, strategic priorities, and anticipated income. He conducted assessments and evaluations of budgetary and financial resources, and managed regulatory and stakeholder budget controls and reporting requirements for USPTO.

Mr. Ewalt has served in many leadership roles throughout his career. He was the Acting Executive Director of the Business Management Office for the Chief Information Officer of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Prior to that, he served as the Acting Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for the International Trade Administration at DOC.

Mr. Ewalt holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from George Mason University.

OFFICE PERFORMANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT

JESSICA SOUTHWELL, CHIEF PERFORMANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT OFFICER

Jessica Southwell, a member of the Senior Executive Service, was sworn in as Chief Performance and Risk Management Officer, U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of the Inspector General (OIG), in May 2016. She is responsible for leading organizational performance and risk management activities across the OIG, working closely with senior leadership to enhance organizational performance and manage risks to the OIG mission. Prior to joining DOL OIG, Ms. Southwell served at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as Director of Agency Councils under the Office of the Administrator, and as Branch Chief of Strategic Planning and Performance Management under the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

Ms. Southwell also served at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as Branch Chief of Strategy and Performance Management, Verification Division, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and as a risk expert within the National Protection and Programs Directorate where she was responsible for facilitating DHS’s implementation of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards regulation. Prior to DHS, Mr. Southwell served at the Department of Health and Human Services, where she managed an array of all-hazard preparedness programs both in the U.S. and abroad.

Ms. Southwell earned a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from the American University, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the George Washington University.