Joseph Wholey

Joseph Wholey is Professor of Public Administration at the University of Southern California, where his work focuses on the use of strategic planning, performance measurement, and program evaluation to improve government performance and accountability.

Previously, he served as senior advisor for performance and accountability at the U.S. General Accounting Office, and as senior advisor to the deputy director for Management at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. He is senior author or editor of eight books, including Evaluation and Effective Public Management, Performance and Credibility, Improving Government Performance, and the Handbook of Practical Program Evaluation.

Dr. Wholey served as deputy assistant secretary for planning and evaluation at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and as director of program evaluation studies at the Urban Institute. He held elective office for eight years as a member of the Arlington (Virginia) County Board, serving as chairman for three years. He was chairman of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, chairman of the Virginia Board of Social Services, president of Hospice of Northern Virginia, and chairman of the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing. Dr. Wholey is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. He holds a B.A. in mathematics from Catholic University, and an M.A. in mathematics and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Harvard University.