USCP OIG Senior Leadership
Jacob Powell currently serves as the Deputy Inspector General of the (USCP) Office of Inspector General (OIG) where he oversees the OIG’s audit, inspection and evaluation, investigative, and data analytics efforts. Mr. Powell joined the United States Capitol Police OIG in 2014 and has held various other positions within the office including Assistant Inspector General for Audits, IT Audit Manager, Senior Auditor, and Criminal Investigator.
In the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, Mr. Powell led a team of auditors that delivered high-impact flash reports which helped to ensure the protection of the U.S. Capitol from future attacks. Prior to joining USCP OIG he worked for an independent public accounting firm providing audit services to OIGs throughout the federal government.
Mr. Powell is a CPA, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Information Systems Auditor, and Certified Inspector General. He is an active member of the American Institute for Certified Public Accountants, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the Information Security Audit and Control Association, and the Association of Inspectors General.
Jim M. Kirdar has served as the (USCP) Assistant Inspector General for Investigations (AIGI) since April 7, 2025.
Mr. Kirdar retired in 2021 from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Inspector General (OIG) as a Special Agent in Charge, concluding a distinguished 32-year federal career. In that role, he provided oversight and leadership to 24 field offices across eight regional locations, managing approximately 625 criminal and administrative investigations. His work spanned a wide range of cases, including criminal conduct, public corruption, money laundering, financial fraud, theft, and insider threats.
Following his federal retirement, Mr. Kirdar transitioned to the private sector as Vice President and Fraud Risk and Investigations Manager at Atlantic Union Bank (AUB). There, he led a team of seasoned investigators responsible for executing end-to-end suspicious activity investigations. His team ensured timely monitoring, identification, and, when warranted, reporting of suspicious financial and fraudulent activity (SARs), including potential money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud, or other financial crimes, to safeguard the financial well-being of AUB customers and assets.
Prior to joining the USCP OIG, Mr. Kirdar served with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) as a rehired annuitant, where he managed a cadre of investigators conducting sexual harassment investigations affecting U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel. This mission directly supported the Secretary of Defense and the Presidential Executive Order classifying sexual harassment as a felony under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Mr. Kirdar began his law enforcement career in 1995 with the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), serving both as a military and civilian Special Agent where he conducted counterintelligence investigations of transnational and indigenous terrorist organizations targeting Department of Defense personnel and resources overseas, as well as procurement fraud investigations involving major weapons systems. He is a U.S. Air Force veteran with over 11 years of military service.
Mr. Kirdar holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Studies from Roger Williams University in Rhode Island and completed American University’s Key Executive Leadership Program. Mr. Kirdar is also a Certified Protection Professional and a Certified Inspector General Investigator.
Helen Wasserman joined the (USCP), Office of Inspector General in September 2019. She was selected as the Assistant Inspector General for Audits in 2025.
Ms. Wasserman brings extensive experience performing federal financial statement audits for a Big Four accounting firm. Her clients included U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Secret Service, Transportation Security Administration, and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Ms. Wasserman later worked for a local accounting firm where her clients were in the banking, automotive, and not-for-profit industries.
Ms. Wasserman worked for Discovery Communications for eight years, where she stood up joint venture accounting systems for Discovery’s joint venture networks with BBC America, Oprah Winfrey, and Hasbro. She worked on complex accounting transactions, wrote technical accounting memoranda, and developed and provided training to budget managers.
Ms. Wasserman has over 20 years of audit and accounting experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from University of Maryland and CPA license. Ms. Wasserman serves as a volunteer on a Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency working group.
Phillip A. Ropella brings a wealth of legal and investigative experience to his role as Counsel to the Inspector General at the (USCP) OIG. He earned his B.S. in Criminal Justice cum laude from Radford University in 1999, followed by a J.D. from the Appalachian School of Law in 2003.
Mr. Ropella began his career in private practice in Alabama, where he worked until 2007. He then transitioned to public service, joining the State Department OIG's Security and Intelligence group. During his tenure, he played a key role in high-profile investigations, including those related to Benghazi, the "underwear bomber" incident, and Secretary Clinton's emails.
Joining the USCP OIG in 2019, Mr. Ropella initially served as an attorney advisor and auditor, providing crucial legal and audit support. His contributions and leadership quickly led to his promotion to Counsel to the Inspector General, where he continues to leverage his extensive expertise to uphold accountability and integrity within the USCP.