Owens trades audits for retirement

North Carolina Department of Public Safety

March 2001

Owens Trades Audits for Retirement

Chief Deputy Secretary Dan Steineke and Charles Owens After 30 years in State Government, Internal Auditor Charles Owens has traded auditing books and standards for retirement, effective Jan. 31.

Owens, who spent much of his career working in the State Auditor’s Office, came to the Department of Correction in November 1996 as director of internal affairs and was named head of internal audits in 1997. He began his career in the State Auditor’s Office in 1969, left in 1970 to serve in the U.S. Army for two years, and then returned to the Auditor’s Office.

During Owens’ tenure as director of Internal Audit, the unit raised the level of work to be in accordance with professional auditing standards, increased the number and kinds of audits conducted, and focused more on central operations. Perhaps Owens’ most important legacy in DOC will be the establishment of a partnership between the internal auditing staff and managers in other parts of the department. Owens was quick to give any praise for improvement to his staff. "I had a fine audit staff and we had the support and cooperation of DOC management," he said.

Owens added he won’t miss reviewing audit reports, but he will miss the people of DOC. "The four years I spent here were the best of my career because of the professionalism and friendliness of the folks I met and worked with all across the state."

Secretary Theodis Beck presented Owens with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and other gifts during a retirement reception on Jan. 30. Secretary Beck has named Bill Tilley as interim director of Internal Audit.

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