H. David Kotz (age 44 in 2011[1]) is the Inspector General of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) since his appointment on December 5, 2007. The duty of the Inspector General at the SEC is to conduct independent and objective audits, investigations and inspections to detect waste, fraud and abuse, and promote economy, effectiveness and efficiency.[2]
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Kotz previously worked at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where he was an Attorney Advisor in the Office of the General Counsel and later a Chief in the Office of Labor and Employee Relations. Prior to his government service, Mr. Kotz worked at three law firms: Pepper Hamilton LLP in Washington D.C.; Stults & Balber, P.C., in New York City; and Graham & James in New York City. Mr. Kotz graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1987 with a B.A. in Government and Politics, and earned his J.D. at Cornell Law School in 1990.
Kotz is investigating the failures of the SEC to detect the $19 billion Madoff fraud by internal reporting and investigations. He is also investigating the responses by the SEC to the written complaints about Madoff.
Financial analyst and whistleblower Harry Markopolos has said that Kotz "was unflagging [and h]e restored my faith," looking at Kotz's role in investigating the agency's actions in the Madoff affair in particular.[1]
Kotz investigated the controversy reported by a former SEC lawyer who claimed he was fired in order to thwart his investigation of insider trading at Pequot Capital Management. Kotz recommended that disciplinary action against Linda Chatman Thomsen be commenced. [3]