Ellsworth hosts financial management executive session

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Todd Wivell
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Financial management personnel from throughout the Air Force, including Mr. John Vonglis, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management, and Major General Frank Faykes, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, attended a three-day financial management executive session here May 1-3. 

The main purpose of the session was to address financial management issues such as system updates, budget updates, education and training, and various other topics. A secondary purpose was to tour the new Air Force Financial Services Center located here and meet with local civic leaders about the role of the center. 

"There was no better place to do this session then here at Ellsworth," said Mr. Vonglis. "Everyone throughout financial management needed to see how much progress has been made on the AFFSC." 

The mission of the AFFSC corresponds directly with Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Wynne's Air Force Smart Operations 21 initiative, which focuses on value to the customer, eliminating waste, saving money and time, and improving quality. 

"The end goal of this AFFSC is to have a consolidated operation that effectively and efficiently services the needs of the Airman and the Air Force," said Mr. Vonglis. 

"When the entire AFFSC is completed, it will save the Air Force in excess of $200 million and over 600 military FM manned positions. The goal is to give the warfighter back more punch and reduce the proverbial tale, and when asked to do our part in doing so, we have," he said. 

"This is one of the most significant initiatives undertaken by the Air Force financial management community in the history of financial management since we started in 1947," said Gen. Faykes. "It is very important to us because we consolidated all our financial activities here at Ellsworth." 

"It is critical that we get it right because we are talking about paying our people, paying people who support the Air Force and we do it exceptionally well today and as we migrate and do it here, we will do it even better." 

Initially staff personnel of the AFFSC will be predominantly military personnel with increasing civilian personnel over time. 

"Volunteers are always welcome to apply for a position at the center," said Mr. Vonglis, addressing military filling staff positions. "However, at the end of the day if you wear an Air Force uniform, it is the normal staffing process." 

Mr. Vonglis expressed the Air Force Reserve has been an active participant in the development of the AFFSC. 

In order to get the word out about the AFFSC, the Air Force will be sending traveling teams, consisting of FM personnel, out to each base worldwide. 

"The purpose of these teams is to educate people and dispel any unintentional rumors when an endeavor of this sort and magnitude is undertaken," said Mr. Vonglis. "Primarily to communicate, educate and articulate the message to FM personnel and more importantly non-FM personnel on the operations that will occur at the AFFSC." 

"As we begin this very large transition for financial management we need to get out to each base," said Gen. Faykes. "We need to tell them what is going to happen, what is going to be different, how it is going to better serve them as a customer and to give them a clear understanding of what it is we are going to accomplish here by moving all financial services transaction processes to Ellsworth. 

"There are those throughout the Air Force who may not know what is going on here; it is incumbent to us to explain it to them and tell them how we are going to do it." 

The financial management session ended Thursday with a unit mission brief given by Col. Jeffry Smith, 28th Bomb Wing commander, and concluded with coin presentations by Mr. Vonglis. 

"I would thank the base, from the wing commander on down to the most junior Airman for their tremendous partnership," said Mr. Vonglis. "Without them, this would not have been possible. A lot goes into it and a lot gets handled at the local level. I want to thank them all for that hard work. 

"I would also like to thank the local community in Rapid City and South Dakota for embracing us, for their generosity and their hospitality. They have been nothing short of great." 

Gen. Faykes was here a year ago when the AFFSC was bare bones and just beginning.
"I am pleased with the progress that has been made with the center," he said. "The Ellsworth community has given 100 percent and we couldn't have done it without the support of the people here."