With his mother standing beside him, J. Russell George is sworn as the Corporation's new Inspector General by former Senator Robert Dole

"I am joining a most professional organization dedicated to advancing the principle of service to our nation, the greatest nation known to mankind," George said. "As we approach the first anniversary of the September 11th tragedy, serving the nation takes on an even greater meaning. I am honored by the trust placed in me by the President to assist with this most noble endeavor, and I promise to do my level best in service to the American people."

The Corporation is an independent federal agency that engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to meet community needs through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America. It is a central part of USA Freedom Corps, President Bush's Call to Service. The Inspector General conducts and supervises independent and objective audits and investigations of Corporation programs and operations and recommends policies to promote economy and efficiency and prevent fraud and abuse.

"Management has always been important for the work of the Corporation, and we've gone a long way in strengthening our management efforts," said Leslie Lenkowsky, CEO of the Corporation. "The Office of the Inspector General played a big role in that, and with its help, in the past two years we've done something that nobody really expected us to be able to do: achieve "clean" financial statements. I'm delighted Russell is coming in to help further strengthen our efforts and to lead us to a new threshold of management accountability."

Lenkowsky pointed out that George had served in the White House Office of National Service in the first Bush Administration. "It is great to bring Russell back now that we have moved further along and to underscore the bipartisan roots of national service," Lenkowsky said.

George started his career in public service at age 17 as an intern, mail clerk, and staff assistant to Sen. Robert Dole. "Russell is one of those outstanding young men who do a great job and have a great personality," Dole said. Before administering the oath, Dole commented on the range of people present from both parties: "It shows that this is a bipartisan effort. Anything that has any value real value around here, anything that is going to last over the years has bipartisan support."

Also participating in the swearing in was Rep. Stephen Horn, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Government Efficiency, Financial Management and Intergovernmental Relations, where George had been Staff Director and Chief Counsel since 1995. From 1993 to 1994, George was an Associate with the New York law firm of Kramer, Levin, Naftalis, Nessen, Kamin and Frankel. From 1990 to 1993, he was with the White House, first as Assistant General Counsel in the Office of Management and Budget and then as Associate Director for Policy where he provided legal counsel to the Office of National Service. Before joining OMB, he was an Assistant Prosecutor with the Queens County District Attorney's Office. George is a graduate of Howard University and Harvard University Law School.

For more information on the Corporation for National and Community Service and its programs, visit www.nationalservice.org. For information on the Office of Inspector General of the Corporation, visit www.cnsig.gov or call 1-800-452-8210.