Senior Executive Director for Corporate Support Eric Coard   Eric Coard was appointed to the new position of Senior Executive Director for Corporate Support in September 1998. Prior to that, he served since March 1998 as the MPDC's chief financial officer, where he oversaw reforms in the Department's procurement and financial management practices. Before joining the Police Department, Executive Director Coard accumulated more than 15 years of financial management experience with the District of Columbia government. As associate treasurer in the Office of Finance and Treasury, he managed the Vendor Payment Center and served as project director for the Electronic Benefits Transfer System allowing food stamp recipients to receive benefits via a debit card. Prior to that assignment, he spent eight years with the Office of the People's Counsel, an independent government agency where he served as chief financial officer and controller. He also served as a budget analyst in the DC Controller's Office for three years. Executive Director Coard received his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He has also completed some graduate-level studies at The George Washington University.