STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1075

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 503

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 503, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Director of the Department of Accounting and General Services

 

G.M. No. 503

DOUGLAS MURDOCK,

for a term to expire 12-3-2018,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal statement, resume, and work experiences of the nominee and finds Douglas Murdock to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated as the Director of the Department of Accounting and General Services.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Douglas Murdock from Governor David Y. Ige; Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Transportation; State Procurement Office; Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Human Resources Development; Department of Taxation; Office of Information Management and Technology; Campaign Spending Commission; Stadium Authority; Hawaii Procurement Institute; Hawaii Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust; General Contractors Association of Hawaii; Subcontractors Association of Hawaii; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Building Industry Association Hawaii; Hawaii Construction Alliance; RMA Sales; Graham Builders; Kukulu, LLC; Kyo-ya Management Company, Ltd.; and thirteen individuals.

 

     Prior to beginning work as Comptroller, Douglas Murdock was Vice President of Administrative and Fiscal Affairs for the Hawaii Tourism Authority.  Previously, he served as Of Counsel with the law firm of Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing from August 2010 to July 2012.  Mr. Murdock spent over twenty-five years in military service with the United States Air Force.  He rose to the rank of Colonel during his tenure with the Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps, and was responsible for multi-billion dollar acquisitions, advising base leadership on government ethics and procurement integrity, leading a forty-five member legal office, and supervising general court-martial jurisdiction.  Mr. Murdock was a member of the Hawaii Procurement Policy Board from 2011 to 2012, and is a former president of the National Contract Management Association, Aloha Chapter.

 

     Your Committee believes that the nominee possesses the qualifications to serve as the Comptroller and lead the Department of Accounting and General Services.  Mr. Murdock has demonstrated his commitment to public service through his military career and work with the Hawaii Tourism Authority.  His expertise in managing government contracts and emphasis on professional ethics are invaluable qualities for a Comptroller to possess.  Testifiers commented that the nominee is a valuable mentor who approaches his work with a sense of mission.  Other testimony highlights that Mr. Murdock provides meaningful and clear guidance to those he supervises, and has a leadership style that is encouraging and inspires creative thinking.  These qualities will support morale within the Department and create a climate for team work and innovative problem solving.

 

     Your Committee notes from the nominee's personal statement that he sees updated and more efficient systems as the key for innovation and improvement in the Department.  He acknowledges that the Department is made up of dedicated, hardworking professionals who manage to make things work despite force reductions and diminished resources.  By improving systems, personnel time previously consumed by inefficiencies will be reallocated to more productive purposes.  Mr. Murdock also sees improvements to procurement as a priority and procurement training essential to improved acquisitions.  He plans to work closely in support of the State Procurement Office Administrator and other department heads to improve the State's ability to procure and manage the provision of goods, services, and infrastructure.  Over the course of his term, Mr. Murdock plans to retain, grow, and develop the Department's talented workforce; improve systems and business processes; and seek opportunities to reduce the long-term costs of operating state infrastructure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

 

 

 

____________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair