Happy new fiscal year

  • Published
  • By 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
  • Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Sept. 30 was a late night for personnel that stayed at work to welcome in the new fiscal year. Employees at the 412th Comptroller Squadron, 412th Civil Engineering Group, 412th Test Wing Financial Management and Air Force Test Center Contracting, spent the night executing 100 percent of the expiring funds allocated to the wing by 12 a.m., Oct. 1.

Any un-executed budget authority represents lost mission capability.

"In an environment where there are more needs than funds and where the future availability of funds is unclear, it is critical to utilize every dollar to procure the most important requirements in terms of supplies, equipment and services needed to meet our mission," said Lt. Col. Michael McPherson, 412th Comptroller Squadron commander.

As they worked late into the night, visits from base leadership offered inspiration and support to the whole end-of-year team.

According to James Judkins, 412th Civil Engineer Group director, this was the "best closeout we have seen in years."

Leading up to the closeout, there were months of planning and preparation. The 412th CPTS and Financial Management team was led by Jack Jordan, Sherry Raymundo, budget operations chief, and Marcie Franklin, accounting liaison officer. Raymundo meticulously tracked funds for several months leading up to the final night. In the final hours and minutes she ensured funds were both available and properly aligned in order to execute as fast as possible.  

Franklin, the test wing's lead accountant, "pulled off herculean efforts throughout the year" and ultimately showed her "remarkable efforts" helping the Defense Finance and Accounting Service Sept. 30.

Sandra Perry, Financial Management, and Rich Backs, Edwards Contracting, meticulously monitored all projects from concept to award.

"If end-of-year seemed easy this year it was largely due to the year-round planning, budgeting  and executing of all Research, Development, Test and Evaluation funds for the base," said McPherson.

412th CE, led by Robin Shanyfelt, successfully planned and executed over $8 Million in fall-out funds in the last few days of the fiscal year. In the final push they funded an additional 11 critical projects, the best CE execution performance in Air Force Materiel Command according to McPherson.

The 412th Communication Squadron technical experts also stayed into the final hours of the night fighting to secure $3.5 million in much needed IT equipment.

The AFTC team of contracting officers led by John Aguilar and Ty Okuhara "made the procurement process look easy, although it was anything but," McPherson said.