GSA gains a CFO

Michael Casella, a budget official at the U.S. Agency for International Development, will become chief financial officer at the General Services Administration, GSA's acting administrator announced Feb. 13.

Casella has been director of USAID's Office of Budget and Resource Management since 2010, when the office was created. Previously, he was acting vice president for administration and finance at the Millennium Challenge Corp.

He replaces Alison Doone, who has accepted a position as deputy CFO at the Energy Department after a six-month detail at the Partnership for Public Service. Gary Grippo has been filling in as acting CFO.

Casella’s appointment comes on the heels of Tom Sharpe being sworn in as commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service Feb. 12 and Dorothy Robyn being named commissioner of GSA’s Public Buildings Service in September 2012.

Dan Tangherlini, GSA's acting administrator, wrote on the GSA Blog that the new appointments build on the priorities the agency announced in January. "We are maintaining that momentum by bringing together a new leadership team that will help us deliver on our mission," he said.

Filling those important leadership positions shows that GSA is committed to supporting its customer agencies, Tangherlini wrote. "By having qualified, permanent individuals in place, we are making a clear statement about the importance and value of our customers, our vendors, and their needs," he added.

Agencies need to find ways to save money as the threat of sequestration looms and other budget cuts are implemented. "Other agencies are looking to us to help them find the savings and services that they need to more efficiently fulfill their responsibilities," Tangherlini wrote.