In that position, when confirmed by the U.S. Senate, she would be responsible for managing strategic planning and accountability, the annual budget, resources management and financial management functions, payroll and disbursements.
A resident of Winston-Salem, N.C., she has been the president of Combs Music International in Winston-Salem and has served on various boards since 1991.
From 1982 to 1986, and from 1987 to 1991, Combs held several federal management positions. From 1989 to 1991 she served at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, as Assistant Secretary for Management, and on the President's Council for Management Improvement. Beginning in 1990, she concurrently held the position of chief financial officer of the Department of the Treasury. From 1987 to 1989, she was associate administrator for management at the Department of Veterans Affairs. At the U.S. Department of Education, she was the executive secretary from 1982 to 1984 and the deputy undersecretary for management from 1984 to 1986.
From 1986 to 1987, Combs was an advisor to North Carolina Gov. James Martin.
Combs is a former member of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education. She holds a bachelor's and a master's degree from Appalachian State University and a doctorate degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and chairs the of Directors of the Appalachian State University Foundation. She was the recipient of the Department of Education Secretary's Citation and the Exceptional Service Awards at the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Source: EPA
