An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Air Force's top financial manager visits Keesler for schoolhouse opening

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Carlos Rodriguez
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AFB, Miss. --  John G. Vonglis, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, visited Keesler Oct. 29 to for the rollout of the new financial management officer schoolhouse here.
 
The event marked the official opening of the newly-renovated schoolhouse facility and the introduction of the new basic financial management and staff officer course curriculum. 

"Today is about crafting the future of the Air Force financial management career field," Mr. Vonglis said.
 
The new course represents the largest curriculum change in 20 years for the financial management career field.
 
"We revamped over 70 percent of the course material in the basic and staff level courses," Mr. Vonglis said. 

"In the past, our officer and civilian courses concentrated on how to complete the day-to-day job. The new courses prepare our officers and civilians to think ahead and problem solve, allowing them to be proactive instead of reactive." 

A major curriculum change normally takes anywhere from 18 to 24 months to conceive and implement. This change was completed in less than a year.

While this change affects the officer and civilian corps, plans to change the curriculum for the enlisted corps are in progress as well. 

"The new enlisted curriculum and facility renovations are underway," Mr. Vonglis said. "The curriculum will be rolled out in April of 2008 and the facility will be completed soon thereafter." 

The FM schoolhouse opening is not the first transformation under Mr. Vonglis. 

A new Air Force Financial Services Center at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., recently opened -- merging numerous financial transactions under one roof. 

"By consolidating military and travel pay functions in one location, the Air Force will save $210 million over 10 years," Mr. Vonglis said.
 
These Air Force financial management accomplishments are part of ongoing Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century and transformation efforts. 

"Financial Management's transformation is a great success story and it shows how the Air Force can work smarter and leaner and transform itself to meet the challenges of the 21st century," Mr. Vonglis said. "The FM transformation story also shows that the AFSO21 initiative works and provides results."