ALEXANDRIA, Va. — NCUA Chairman JoAnn Johnson has announced the selection of 15-year NCUA employee Mike J. McNeill as the agency's ombudsman beginning Jan. 1. McNeill began his career with NCUA in 1991 as a credit union examiner in Dayton, Ohio. In 1999, he was promoted to systems accountant in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer at NCUA's Alexandria, Va. headquarters. Two years later he became a budget analyst and in July 2003, McNeill was appointed deputy financial officer/director of the Division of Financial Control. He has received several awards and honors throughout his career.

Prior to NCUA, McNeill served in the U.S. Army with the 101st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, Ky. McNeill is a Certified Public Accountant in multiple states. He holds a bachelor's degree of business administration in accounting and finance from Austin Peay University in Clarksville, Tenn. The ombudsman assists in resolving problems relating to regulatory issues that cannot be resolved at the operational (regional) level by helping the complainant define options and recommending actions to the parties involved. The ombudsman cannot at any time decide on matters in dispute or advocate position of the complainant, NCUA or other parties. It will make recommendations to appropriate agency officials for systemic changes to deal with recurring problems revealed through investigations. The position reports to the NCUA Board and is independent from operational programs.

The Ombudsman does not handle any matter: