Christopher P. Failla, CIG

Christopher P. Failla was appointed as the third Architect of the Capitol Inspector General (IG) in April 2017. He is a Certified Inspector General and member of the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) and serves on the Legislative Committee and Inspections and Evaluations Committee. His authorities stem from parts of the 1978 Inspector General Act, the 2007 Architect of the Capitol Inspector General’s Act, the 2016 Inspectors General Empowerment Act and the Legislative Branch Inspectors General Independence Act of 2019. Mr. Failla is responsible for leading a staff of 16 personnel while promoting the integrity, efficiency and effectiveness of the Architect of the Capitol’s (AOC) operations and programs. Mr. Failla and his staff conduct independent audits, evaluations, investigations, review existing and proposed legislation and regulations that may impact AOC activities, and recommend policies to detect and prevent fraud, waste and abuse.

Before joining the AOC in April 2017, Mr. Failla completed a 26-year naval aviation career retiring at the rank of Captain (O-6) for which he was award the Defense Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to the national security and defense of the United States. During his last assignment, he held three positions at the Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Inspector General (OIG) simultaneously. He was detailed as the Director for the Technical Assessment Directorate, leading 19 engineers conducting inspections and evaluations on major acquisition defense programs, military facilities and overseeing hotline complaints and congressional inquiries in accordance with the CIGIE guidelines. During his three years as Director, his directorate published 21 CIGIE Inspection and Evaluation reports on high profile DOD programs such as the Joint Strike Fighter, F-18 Super Hornet, C-5, military ejection seats, ammunition data cards, the Recovery of Chemical Weapons Program, and the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle produced by United Launch Alliance and Space X along with inspecting nearly 30 military facilities around the world for health and safety violations. He also served as the Executive Assistant for the Deputy IG for Policy and Oversight and served as the Senior Military Advisor to the DOD IG and was the Senior Military Officer in Charge, leading 38 active duty and reserve officers and one enlisted from all four services.

In 2010, Mr. Failla reported to the National Defense University, National War College in Washington, D.C. He earned a Master’s degree in National Security Strategy and Planning. Following graduation from the National War College, he reported to the Joint Staff, J8, Capability and Acquisitions Division (CAD) at the Pentagon. In 2013, he was selected for Major Command and Sea and promoted to Captain. He spent his final year at J8 as the Branch Head for the Strategic and Tactical Branch within CAD.

In 2006, Mr. Failla was assigned to the Pentagon where he became a Budget Program Analyst for the Navy’s aviation branch and earned a financial management subspecialty. It was there that he was promoted to Commander in 2007 and selected for Operational Command as the Commanding Officer of a Jacksonville, Florida, based helicopter squadron.

Mr. Failla is a 1991 graduate of the Military College of South Carolina, The Citadel. Upon graduation on May 11, 1991, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy, and earned his Naval Aviator designation in 1993. He has logged over 3,000 flight hours and hundreds of small deck landings while conducting operations in the Arabian Gulf, Mediterranean, Baltic, Atlantic, Eastern Pacific and Caribbean Seas