Retired U.S. Coast Guard Veteran Brings More Than 20 Years of Financial Oversight and Operational Compliance Experience to City Hall

JACKSON, Tenn. – The City of Jackson announced today the appointment of Earnest Jackson III as its new Internal Auditor.

In this role, Jackson reports directly to the Mayor, with an oversight reporting relationship to the Audit Committee for governance purposes. He will be responsible for conducting protective and constructive audits across all municipal departments, evaluating the adequacy of accounting systems, and examining internal controls to safeguard city assets and ensure operational efficiency. The Internal Auditor will also provide ongoing support to departments including Financial Planning, Purchasing, Human Resources, Payroll, Information Technology, Risk Management, and Public Safety.

"Ensuring that our government organization remains transparent, accountable, and fiscally responsible is one of our highest obligations to our residents," said Mayor Scott Conger. "Earnest brings a wealth of leadership, discipline, and financial expertise gained from more than two decades of distinguished military service. His proven track record of managing complex budgets and strengthening internal controls makes him an exceptional fit for this position. We are proud to welcome him to our team and look forward to his leadership in protecting public resources."

Earnest joins the City of Jackson following more than 20 years of service in the United States Coast Guard, where he retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. Throughout his military career, he held key leadership roles in financial management, procurement, logistics, and internal auditing, overseeing multimillion-dollar budgets and establishing rigorous accountability procedures. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and possesses extensive experience in regulatory compliance, risk management, and process improvement.

"For more than 20 years, I had the honor of serving our nation in the United States Coast Guard, where I learned that true leadership is rooted in integrity, accountability, and service. As I begin this new chapter, I am excited to bring those same principles to the City of Jackson,” said Jackson. “Effective internal auditing is about more than identifying deficiencies—it's about building trust, strengthening processes, and helping an organization serve its community effectively. I look forward to working alongside city leadership and staff to ensure we remain responsible stewards of public resources."

In addition to scheduled on-site audits and fixed asset reviews, Jackson will develop annual audit plans, and monitor corrective action plans to ensure compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal standards.