A. Ernest Fitzgerald

Arthur Ernest "Ernie" Fitzgerald (July 31, 1926 – January 31, 2019) was an American engineer, a member of the Senior Executive Service in the United States Air Force, and a prominent U.S. government whistleblower.

Following service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Fitzgerald earned a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from the University of Alabama in 1951. He was a registered professional engineer and worked on several successful patents, including one issued in his name.

Fitzgerald was best known as a civilian member of the Senior Executive Service, a management systems deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He was responsible for the development of improved management controls generally, specifically including management information control systems, economic cost effectiveness analysis, statistical programs and analysis, cost estimating and analysis, and productivity enhancement and measurement. The latter responsibility includes supervising Air Force performance measurement activities. It was from this position that he became a whistleblower about waste in military spending. He authored ''The High Priests of Waste'' in 1972 and ''The Pentagonists'' in 1989.

On January 31, 2019, Fitzgerald died in Falls Church, Virginia, at the age of 92. Provided by Wikipedia