AICPA Recognizes Three Exceptional CPAs for Their Outstanding Work in Government

“Vaughn, Marilyn and Maxine are among the most talented and prominent leaders in government accounting and auditing today,” said Bill Pirolli, CPA, CFF, PFS, CGMA, chair of the AICPA. “We are delighted to recognize and celebrate these outstanding individuals for their significant contributions and exception leadership to our governments and communities.”

The Outstanding CPA in Government Career Contribution Award recognizes an AICPA member’s significant contributions to the CPA profession through government service at the local, state or federal level over a candidate’s career. Award winners must have demonstrated exceptional leadership, high ethical standards and a track record of professional excellence.

Caudill graduated from Morehead State University and began his 43-year Military Financial Management career commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corp (AMEDD). He served in both the Army AMEDD and Air Force Financial Management, where he spent 15 years with the Air Force Services, and his last nine years as deputy comptroller for the 502 Comptroller Squadron, U.S. Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio, TX.

Caudill served his distinguished active military service at various Army hospitals across the U.S. and in a range of financial positions, working his way up to colonel. Caudill received an American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC) National Award for writing the AMEDD Correspondence Course “Resource Mgt for AMEDD Officers” in 60 days. Caudill was recalled from the retiree list in 2003 to be the J8 comptroller for Joint Task Force, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In 2004, he was named the Army’s Comptroller of the Year, the first reservist, retiree and AMEDD Comptroller to receive this honor. 

The Outstanding CPA in Government Impact Award recognizes the impact of recent significant contributions of CPAs to the efficiency, effectiveness or innovative service delivery of their respective local, state or federal employer organizations. Bartlett has been a CPA for 37 years and currently serves as senior policy fellow in the Healthcare Cost Hub of the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), where she supports state policy makers and regulators with strategies and solutions to lower healthcare costs.

Most recently, she developed the NASHP Hospital Cost Tool, which utilizes hospital Medicare Cost Report data to calculate various hospital metrics used to support hospital and health system financial analysis, health insurance rate review, health system consolidation impacts, and hospital pricing models. Prior to NASHP, she held various government financial management positions for the State of Montana.

Bardwell has more than twenty years of experience leading internal audit organizations in the financial services and water utility industries. She is currently the assistant inspector general for audit at the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission in Laurel, MD where she leads a team of auditors who routinely help save the agency and its customers millions of dollars each fiscal year through various audits, risk mitigation efforts and the deterrence of fraud, waste and abuse.