Robert F . Hale Robert F . Hale ( born 1947 ) is the United States Under Secretary of Defense ( Comptroller ) and former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force ( Financial Management and Comptroller ) . Hale has over thirty years of experience as a professional financial manager serving in a wide range of national defense related roles . In addition to his current position as Under Secretary of Defense and his previous appointment as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force , Hale has also served in the National Security Division of the Congressional Budget Office and as Executive Director of the American Society of Military Comptrollers . Hale is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and a former member of the Defense Business Board . Early life . Hale was born on January 21 , 1947 . He was raised in Fairfield , California , graduating from Armijo High School in 1964 . He attended Stanford University , graduating with honors and receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and statistics . He earned a Master ’ s degree in operations research from Stanford , and later a Master of Business Administration from George Washington University . Hale spent three years on active duty as an officer in the United States Navy , serving first with a Navy security group in Okinawa , Japan and then in Washington , D . C . After completing his Navy tour in 1972 , he took a civilian position at the Center for Naval Analyses , serving as an analyst and later a study director . In 1975 , Hale joined Logistics Management Institute or LMI , a not - for - profit consulting firm specializing in service to the Federal government . He was selected as a fellow of the institute , and eventually , headed LMI ’ s acquisition and grants management group . Public service . After leaving LMI , Hale took a key position at the Congressional Budget Office , non - partisan agency that supports the United States Congress . During his tenure at the Congressional Budget Office , Hale was responsible for analyzing major defense budget issues . He also frequently testified before Congressional committees regarding the results of budget studies conducted by the Congressional Budget Office . He headed the Congressional Budget Office ’ s National Security Division for twelve year before President Bill Clinton nominated Hale to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force ( Financial Management and Comptroller ) . Hale served in the Clinton Administration as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force ( Financial Management and Comptroller ) from 1994 to 2001 . As chief financial officer for the United States Air Force , Hale was responsible for annual budgets of approximately $ 70 billion . During his tenure , Hale initiated important process changes that streamlined the Air Force ’ s financial management system to bring it into compliance with the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 . When he left the Air Force , the American Society of Military Comptrollers selected Hale to be the society ' s full - time Executive Director . The society offers career development opportunities and financial management training to its 18 , 000 members . During his tenure as Executive Director , Hale was a strong advocate for the society ' s professional certification program , a challenging four part examination leading to recognition as a " Certified Defense Financial Manager " . Hale planned and conducted the society ’ s " National Professional Development Institute " , an annual conference that offers training to over 3 , 500 participants . He was also responsible for publishing the society ’ s well respected professional journal , " Armed Forces Comptroller " . Defense comptroller . President Barack Obama nominated Hale to be Under Secretary of Defense ( Comptroller ) on 9 January 2009 . During his confirmation hearing on 15 January 2009 , Hale reminded the Senate Armed Services Committee that he had over thirty years of experience in defense related financial management . The United States Senate confirmed his appointment on 9 February 2009 . As chief financial officer for the Department of Defense , Hale is the principal advisor to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta on all fiscal matters including the development and execution of the department ’ s annual budget , which at time of his appointment , was over $ 600 billion ( including war supplemental spending ) . Hale is also responsible for financial policy , accounting and financial reporting , financial management systems , and business modernization efforts within the defense department . Other accomplishments . Hale is a Certified Defense Financial Manager and a past national president of the American Society of Military Comptrollers ( 1997 – 1998 ) . He is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and a former member of the Defense Business Board , a high - level Pentagon advisory panel . Hale was a member of the Task Force on the Future of Military Healthcare , which issued a report in June 2008 on how to create a cost - effective healthcare system for military members and their families . Denied Death benefits to 5 soldiers Families killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan during the 2013 Government shutdown . Awards . Hale has received several prestigious awards for his public service . They include :