By Chicago Times Magazine –
April 27, 2026
Mayor Brandon Johnson has appointed longtime Chicago resident and veteran federal prosecutor David Glockner as the next Inspector General of the City of Chicago, selecting him from a nationwide search conducted under the Municipal Code’s formal process. Johnson praised the choice, calling Glockner “a seasoned public servant with the experience, independence, and integrity needed to serve as the City’s watchdog and strengthen accountability across our operations,” according to the announcement.
As Inspector General, Glockner will lead the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), which investigates allegations of waste, fraud, abuse, and inefficiency across City departments. The office also conducts audits and performance reviews of officials, employees, programs, contractors, and vendors. Glockner said he looks forward to “the opportunity to work constructively with Mayor Johnson, the City Council, and the OIG’s many other stakeholders to serve the City of Chicago.”
The appointment marks a return to public service for Glockner, who spent more than two decades in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago. He served 11 years as chief of the criminal division, overseeing major prosecutions involving public corruption, fraud, violent crime, and cybercrime—including cases against two Illinois governors and multiple city officials.
Glockner later became Regional Director of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Chicago office, supervising investigations across a nine‑state region and contributing to national cybersecurity policy efforts. In the private sector, he held senior compliance roles at Citadel and Exelon, where he led a redesign of the company’s compliance and ethics programs following a high‑profile bribery scandal.
He has also taught cybersecurity law at the University of Illinois College of Law for more than a decade and serves on the board of The Night Ministry, a Chicago nonprofit.
Glockner was recommended to the mayor by a four‑member Selection Committee that included Sharon Fairley, Jeff Levine, Emma Tai, and Bryan Zarou. The committee conducted a nationwide search before presenting finalists to Johnson. The Inspector General serves a four‑year term and has jurisdiction over all City employees, elected officials, and contractors.
Glockner’s appointment now moves to the Chicago City Council for approval.
