Trading spaces: be a full-time student and finish your degree

Air Force Comptroller, Jan, 2004 by Denise Cavanaugh

It has been a banner year for career development for the Financial Management Career Program (FMCP). The Education, Training, and Development Panel, an executive panel of the FM Career Program Policy Council, developed a test program allowing individuals to complete a degree by attending college on a full-time basis. This opportunity, often dreamed of by financial managers as they juggled home, work, and school, will also provide further career development through a career broadening assignment after graduation.

In October, FMCP announced two vacancies for career broadening, requiring nominees to be within one year of a financial management related degree. Selectees will attend classes full-time for up to twelve months to complete an undergraduate or graduate degree, with FMCP picking up the tab (up to $12K). With degree in hand, these fortunate individuals will have FM senior civilian mentors, who will assist them in finding the right developmental assignments. The Education, Training, and Development Panel reviewed nomination packages and conducted interviews via VTC with a group of high caliber FMCP registrants. Mr Michael Montelongo, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management & Comptroller), notified selectees, Ms Patricia Hood and Mr Scott Gunia.

The Air Force FM Vision of Financial Management Transformation is to empower our people so they may embrace change and exceed expectations. To develop the strategic partnership envisioned, our senior leadership continues to add and improve education and development opportunities for its workforce. There have been a number of recent articles in this publication emphasizing leadership's vision for the future. As we witness FM investment in education and development, many of us are curious about these new and improved programs. In future articles, FMCP will let you know about the progress of this particular education and development program. We will check with our two selectees to see how the program is meeting their expectations and how their professional goals evolve as they trade their current FM spaces to become full-time students and FM career broadeners.

Meet Our Candidates

Mr Scott Gunia is an Air Force auditor stationed at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. A GS-12, he has been in Federal service since 1998. He has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Nebraska. He will complete a Master's in Business Administration at Bellevue University. His TDY schedule and young family (three children) make it necessary to juggle family and work. The chance to attend school full-time will make his dream of a master's degree a reality for him. Long-term, Mr Gunia would like to become a Certified Public Accountant or Internal Auditor. His audit work has given him a chance to work on a wide variety of issues in a number of functional areas. He really enjoys working with people. He is interested in expanding on his audit background with developmental experience in budget or finance at the MAJCOM level.

Ms Patricia Hood is an Air Force systems accountant stationed at Patrick AFB, Florida. A GS-12, she has been in Federal service since 1990. She has a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Wilberforce University in Ohio and is currently working on a Master's in Business Administration with a Computer Information Systems emphasis. Ms Hood has worked at various locations and levels including base, major command, and the Defense Finance and Accounting Center. Having worked at Patrick AFB, she considers a follow-on assignment at HQ AFSPC the next step on her path to more demanding FM positions. Her willingness to broaden her experience through mobility has made completing her masters challenging. This opportunity will allow her to meet her education goals and continue to pursue new and interesting positions.

Follow these fellow FMCP registrants' progress in our periodic updates. This new program could be the answer for you, too, in obtaining your degree.

Denise Cavanaugh, CDFM Financial Management Career Program AFPC/DPKCA, DSN 665-2595