Comptroller of the United States Army


The Comptroller of the United States Army was a US Army senior management position. The incumbent had general staff responsibility for:
  • the independent review and analysis of Army programs, and analysis of major Army commands;
  • finance and accounting, fiscal, audit, budgetary, progress and statistical reporting, reports control, cost analysis, and management analysis activities of the Army;
  • legislative policies and programs pertaining to appropriation acts;
  • management systems of the Army;
  • overall management improvement; and
  • analysis of Army organization, functions, and procedures.
The Comptroller of the Army was under the direction and supervision of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management) with concurrent responsibility to the Chief of Staff. The position was equivalent to a Deputy Chief of Staff. The Comptroller of the Army exercised general staff supervision over the Chief, United States Army Audit Agency.
The last person to hold the position of Comptroller was Lt. Gen. Merle Freitag until his retirement in 1994. After his retirement, the office was abolished and the position was combined with the Assistant Secretary of the Army. The position was later renamed the Assistant Secretary of the Army.

List of comptrollers and acting comptrollers of the United States Army

This is an incomplete list. Please help to complete it.
HolderStart of termTerm end
Maj. Gen. George J. RichardsJanuary 2, 1948July 15, 1948
Maj. Gen. Edmond H. LeaveyJuly 16, 1948June 30, 1949
Lt. Gen. Raymond S. McLainAugust 1, 1949April 30, 1952
Maj. Gen. William H. Arnold April 1950August 1950
Maj. Gen. George H. DeckerMay 1, 1950January 6, 1955
Lt. Gen. Laurin L. Williams19551957
Maj. Gen. William S. LawtonJuly 1, 1957May 31, 1960
Lt. Gen. David W. Traub19601962
Lt. Gen. Charles B. Duff19621963
Lt. Gen. Robert Hackett19631966
Lt. Gen. Frank J. Sackton19661970
Lt. Gen. John M. Wright19701972
TBC19721973
Lt. Gen. Edward M. Flanagan Jr.19731974
Lt. Gen. John A. Kjellstrom19741977
Lt. Gen. Richard L. West19771981
Lt. Gen. Ernest D. Peixotto19811984
Lt. Gen. Max W. Noah19841988
Lt. Gen. James F. McCall19881991
Lt. Gen. Merle Freitag19911994