R 021543Z MAR 10 ALCOAST 097/10 COMDTNOTE 1650 SUBJ: 2009 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (CFO) AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC R301720Z NOV 09, ALCOAST 680/09 B. MEDALS AND AWARDS MANUAL, COMDTINST 1650.25(SERIES) 1. THE 2009 COAST GUARD CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (CFO) AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE RECOGNIZES THOSE PERSONNEL WHO HAVE MADE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FIELD OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND COMPTROLLERSHIP WHILE ALSO CREATING A CULTURE OF INTERNAL CONTROLS AND DEMONSTRATING STEWARDSHIP IN SUPPORT OF COAST GUARD OPERATIONS. DUE TO THE MANY STRONG ENLISTED NOMINATIONS RECEIVED, I HAVE ONCE AGAIN SELECTED TWO WINNERS FROM THAT CATEGORY TO SHARE THIS YEARS CG CFO AWARD. 2. I AM HONORED TO ANNOUNCE THE 2009 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AWARD WINNERS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CATEGORIES: A. ENLISTED PERSONNEL: SK1 BROOKE HALL, AIR STATION KODIAK, AK. SK1 HALL FLAWLESSLY MAINTAINED A WAREHOUSE OF MORE THAN 7 THOUSAND PARTS VALUED AT OVER 35 MILLION DOLLARS. HER EFFORT CONSISTENTLY EARNED THE UNIT AUDIT SCORES OF OVER 98 PERCENT ON BOTH CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT PLUS AND AVIATION MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM PROGRAMS. AS THE LEAD PROCUREMENT AGENT, SK1 HALL METICULOUSLY MANAGED 21 SERVICE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS WORTH OVER 155 THOUSAND DOLLARS AND ENABLED THE UNIT TO CLOSE OUT THE FISCAL YEAR WITH A 99.998 PERCENT SPEND DOWN RATE ON A 12.5 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET. B. ENLISTED PERSONNEL: SKC GREGORY STEARNS, DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR MISSION SUPPORT (DCMS-832), WASHINGTON DC. CHIEF STEARNS ENSURED SEAMLESS DEPOT LEVEL SUPPORT TO ALL COAST GUARD VESSELS, AIRCRAFT AND SHORE FACILITIES BY EXPERTLY ALLOCATING, RECONCILING, AND TRACKING 39 ACCOUNTS THAT HELD OVER 900 MILLION DOLLARS IN MAINTENANCE FUNDING. HE ALSO PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND ROLL-OUT OF THE MODERNIZED DCMS FINANCIAL STRUCTURE. HIS EFFORTS LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DCMS LINE OF ACCOUNTING MODERNIZATION PACKAGE THAT CONSISTED OF 165 OPERATING FACILITIES, OVER 2,600 LINES OF ACCOUNTING, 1,349 PURCHASE CARD ACCOUNTS, AND OVER 1,200 RECURRING CHARGES. C. CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE UP TO GS-8: MS. NICOLE CHANCE, BSU KODIAK, AK. MS. CHANCE MASTERED THE DUTIES OF BUDGET TECHNICIAN AND QUICKLY DEVELOPED INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO FINANCIAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT ISSUES. MS. CHANCE DILIGENTLY MONITORED BUDGET MATRIX TRACKING SCORE INFORMATION FOR 29 PROGRAM ELEMENTS AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ISC KODIAK CONSISTENTLY MAINTAINING A REGION LEADING BUDGET MATRIX TRACKING SYSTEM SCORE. IN SUPPORT OF MODERNIZATION, MS. CHANCE WAS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PREPARING 33 PROGRAM ACCOUNTS WITH 59 PROJECT ACCOUNTS FOR TRANSFORMATION AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. D. CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE GS-9 TO GS-12: MS. KRYSTAL WALKER, FINANCE CENTER, CHESAPEAKE VA. MS. WALKER IMPLEMENTED OVER 10 AUTOMATED RECONCILIATIONS THAT CHECK THE VALIDITY OF TREASURY TIE POINT RELATIONSHIPS. HER EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT AND TEST THE MAJOR 2009 CHANGES TO TREASURY UNITED STATES STANDARD GENERAL LEDGER (USSGL) REPORTING ATTRIBUTES IN DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) AND COAST GUARD SYSTEMS ENABLED DHS TO MEET THE IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINE. MS. WALKERS EFFORTS HAVE INCREASED THE TIMELINESS AND ACCURACY OF FINANCIAL REPORTING, IMPROVED THE INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER THE PROCESSES INVOLVED, AND SAVED HUNDREDS OF PERSONNEL RESOURCE HOURS THROUGH STREAMLINED OPERATIONS. E. CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE GS-13 AND ABOVE: MR. CHRISTOPHER BUCKMASTER, COMMANDANT (CG-842), WASHINGTON, DC. MR. BUCKMASTER PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN IMPROVING COAST GUARDS MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTING FOR PROPERTY THROUGH HIS INVOLVEMENT WITH CONTRACT SUPPORT SERVICES, DOCUMENTING THE COSTS OF MAJOR CAPITAL ACQUISITIONS, SUPPORTING PHYSICAL INVENTORY EFFORTS AT SFLC, AND CONTRIBUTING TO AUDIT REMEDIATION. AS THE CONTRACTING OFFICER TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE (COTR) FOR THE CAPITAL ACQUISITION OFFICE SUPPORT CONTRACT, HE REVIEWED AND APPROVED ASSET APPRAISAL REPORTS FOR 241 ASSETS WITH AN APPRAISED ASSET VALUE OF 1.5 BILLION DOLLARS. MR. BUCKMASTERS EFFORTS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED THE COAST GUARDS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. F. CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER: CWO JACKIE CORBETT, AIRSTA SITKA, AK. CWO CORBETT DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP AND MANAGERIAL SKILL IN THE EXECUTION OF A 2.8 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET WITH A SPEND DOWN OF 99.9 PERCENT OF BUDGET ALLOCATION, WELL EXCEEDING THE COMMANDANT TARGET OF 99.75 PERCENT. EXHIBITING TREMENDOUS FORESIGHT AND EXCEPTIONAL PLANNING, CWO CORBETT DEVELOPED AN EXTENSIVE, FULLY JUSTIFIED PROCUREMENT BACKLOG, THEN SECURED AND FLAWLESSLY EXECUTED 455 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN COMBINED HEADQUARTERS, PACIFIC AREA, SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT, MLC PACIFIC FALL OUT FUNDS TO SUPPORT CRITICAL UNIT NEEDS AND INITIATIVES. G. COMMISSIONED OFFICER UP TO O-3: LT JARED TRUSZ, COMMANDANT (CG-852) WASHINGTON, DC. LT TRUSZS EXEMPLARY EFFORT IN DEVELOPING SUPPORT FOR THE VALUATION OF 3.3 BILLION DOLLAR IN COAST GUARD PERSONAL PROPERTY (VESSELS, AIRCRAFT AND SMALL BOATS) WAS ESSENTIAL TO THE SERVICES ESTABLISHMENT OF GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE (GAAP) COMPLIANT INVENTORY PROCEDURES. HIS DILIGENT WORK EFFORT FACILITATED THE COAST GUARDS FIRST EVER WALL TO WALL CAPITALIZED PERSONAL PROPERTY PHYSICAL INVENTORY THAT ACHIEVED RESPONSES FROM 100 PERCENT OF ALL COAST GUARD UNITS. LT TRUSZ WORKED TIRELESSLY TO PROCESS OVER 1,000 PHYSICAL INVENTORY PACKAGES, PROVIDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE CLOSURE TO THE PROCESS NEVER BEFORE SEEN IN THE COAST GUARD. IN ADDITION, HE WORKED DIRECTLY WITH THE DEPUTY CFO IN MANAGING OVER 15 MILLION DOLLARS IN AUDIT REMEDIATION FUNDS. H. COMMISSIONED OFFICER O-4 AND ABOVE: LCDR MARC KNOWLTON, COMMAND AND CONTROL ENGINEERING CENTER (C2CEN), PORTSMOUTH VA. LCDR KNOWLTON SUCCESSFULLY COORDINATED THE FORMULATION AND EXECUTION OF A 95 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET. HE IMBEDDED FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY INTO UNIT ENGINEERING PROCESSES, IMPLEMENTING THE FIRST COAST GUARD TAILORED FISCAL TRAINING, TESTING, AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. HE IMPROVED ANNUAL BUDGET METRIC SCORES FROM 68 TO 93 PERCENT AND LEVERAGED ACCOUNT CLARITY TO CONTROL YEAR END PURCHASES, ENABLING 4 MILLION DOLLAR IN YEAR END FALLOUT FUNDS TO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE CRITICAL PURCHASE OF CUTTER INFRARED SENSORS AND NAVIGATION SYSTEMS. I. TEAM AWARD: COAST GUARD YARD FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT DESKTOP (FPD) TRANSITION TEAM, COAST GUARD YARD, BALTIMORE MD. THE COAST GUARD YARD FPD TRANSITION TEAM IS RECOGNIZED FOR PLANNING, EXECUTING, AND MONITORING THE YARDS TRANSITION OF ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSE FUNDS FROM THE NAVAL AND ELECTRONICS SUPPLY SUPPORT SYSTEM TO THE COAST GUARD FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT DESKTOP. DESPITE HAVING MINIMAL FPD EXPERIENCE OR TRAINING, THE FPD TEAM LAID OUT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND WORKED WITH THE FINANCE CENTER TO ENSURE ALL REQUIRED ACTIONS WERE INCLUDED. THEIR EFFORT FURTHERED THE COAST GUARD FINANCIAL MODERNIZATION GOAL OF ESTABLISHING A SINGLE FINANCIAL SYSTEM, AND ENHANCED COAST GUARD MODERNIZATION BY ENABLING ACCOUNT VISIBILITY FOR THE NEW COAST GUARD SURFACE FORCES LOGISTICS CENTER. 3. A NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING NOMINATIONS WERE SUBMITTED FOR THESE PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS. THE NAMES OF ALL NOMINEES ARE LISTED BELOW. A. ENLISTED SK1 DAVID BERMAN SK1 SEAN HOFFERT SKC NELSON DIAZ SKCS DONALD LOECHLER B. CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE UP TO GS-8 MS. SUSAN BRUNN MS. CELANDRA CUFFEE C. CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE GS-9 TO GS-12 MR. JAMES LASSITER MS. IVY TERAKAWA MS. PAMELA KOMER MR. JOHN KIMMEL MS. DENISE KOWALSKI MS. LOUISA COOK MS. INGA MAIK MS. LAURA THOMAS D. CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE GS-13 AND ABOVE MS. SHERYL TYREE MS. TAMMIE PERRY MR. MICHAEL DORCHAK MS. MICHELE MINER-DAVIS MR. JAMES MALENE MS. TRACY TENWALDE MS. TERRI BURDETTE MR. JOHN BEST E. CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER CWO MARK MOORE CWO EDWIN ORTIZ F. COMMISSIONED OFFICER 01 TO 03 LT AMANDA HENDERSON LT BENJAMIN KEFFER LT JOSE VARGAS G. COMMISIONED OFFICER 04 AND ABOVE CDR SAMUEL JORDAN LCDR JONATHAN HELLBERG H. TEAM AWARDS AFC-3X MANAGEMENT TEAM, COMMANDANT (CG-832) C2CEN FINANCIAL MODERNIZATION TEAM, PORTSMOUTH, VA ECONOMIC STIMULUS (ARRA) HQ TEAM, USCG HEADQUARTERS COMMERCIAL HOUSEHOLDS GOOD AUTOMATION TEAM, FINCEN, CHESAPEAKE, VA C4IT SERVICE CENTER ASSET LOGISTIC DIVISION, ALEXANDRIA, VA ACTUARIAL PENSION LIABILITY TEAM, PPC, TOPEKA, KS FBWT MILITARY PAY RECONCILIATION, PPC, TOPEKA, KS CIP TEAM, COMDT (CG-84/85) AND FINCEN FISH BARRIER SUPPLY TEAM, USCG SECTOR LAKE MICHIGAN FY-09 OPERATING EXPENSE CLOSE-OUT TEAM, USCG HEADQUARTERS SUPPLY TEAM, AIR STATION TRAVERSE CITY, MI 2009 PACIFIC UNITY LOGISTICS SERVICES SUPPORT TEAM, BSU SEATTLE, WA 4. I CONGRATULATE ALL NOMINEES AND AWARD WINNERS ON YOUR SUCCESS AND ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS OF THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE WORK YOU DO. THE INNOVATIVE AND DEDICATED EFFORTS BEING MADE EVERY DAY THROUGHOUT THE COAST GUARD TO MANAGE OUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT OUR OPERATIONAL NEEDS WAS REFLECTED IN ALL OF THE NOMINATION SUBMISSIONS. 5. THE COAST GUARD CFO AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED DURING THE COAST GUARD SERVICE DAY AT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MILITARY COMPTROLLER (ASMC) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (PDI) CONFERENCE IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE ON JUNE 2, 2010. COMDT (CG-8) WILL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR PERSONAL AWARD WINNERS AND THE TEAM LEADER OR DESIGNEE OF THE TEAM AWARD TO ATTEND. PLEASE ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING NOMINATIONS, AWARD PRESENTATIONS, ACCOMMODATIONS, TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS AND FUNDING TO LT FRANCISCO ESTEVEZ AT (202)372-3656, OR EMAIL FRANCISCO.A.ESTEVEZ(AT)COMDT.USCG.MIL. 6. RDML K. A. TAYLOR, ASSIST COMDT FOR RESOURCES/CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER SENDS. 7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.