78th Comptroller Squadron earns multiple awards at AFMC Published Feb. 14, 2008 By Holly Birchfield 78th ABW/PA Robins Air Force Base, GA -- The 78th Comptroller Squadron worked hard in 2007 to raise the bar and their recent awards are proof. The squadron garnered five awards at the Air Force Material Command level for the year. Lt. Col. Kalwant Smagh, 78th CPTS commander, praised his people for the improvements made to their financial management processes across the board. "We were excited to be named best in the command," he said. "I am so proud of the hard work of each one of the folks to master their particular area, whether that was paying travel vouchers, helping customers at the counter, paying vendors, working with other wings on accounting, or providing financial analysis. This is great team recognition for a deserving group of folks who took on the challenge to make a positive difference for Robins and our warfighters." Colonel Smagh said among the squadron's most notable achievements were the deployed Airmen who earned distinction in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as in Joint Task Force Civil Support in the U.S. The colonel, who won the Robert D. Stuart Award for Excellence in Financial Management, said 78th CPTS greatly improved its performance in 2007. "Our performance measurements went from last to first in AFMC, and that is a Robins-wide kudo based on a concerted drive to be in compliance with standards," he said. "Working with all units and (Air Force Reserve Command), we were able to reduce delinquent orders from 18 to 3 percent, which freed up more than $7 million for other uses. One of our teams cleared a six-year $1 million out of balance funding condition where we were last in the Air Force, number 80 of 80, and raised ourselves into a tie for number one in the Air Force." In addition to the squadron's many other achievements, its members also trained more than 1,100 people on an invoice payment system that allows organizations to process invoices faster and reduce interest penalties. "We've built a forum with our sister wings to address Robins-wide compliance and that has helped greatly," Colonel Smagh said. A few of the unit's members were also recognized for their individual contributions. Staff Sgt. Derek Carroll, Travel Section lead in the 78th CPTS, who earned AFMC's financial management and comptroller airman of the year award, said his efforts in helping the squadron correct five years of accountability error in two months greatly helped him earn the award for his unit. Sergeant Carroll was a distinguished Airman Leadership School graduate in April of 2007, an accolade he said helped him earn his recent honor. The staff sergeant credited his management and co-workers with his being recognized. "I can definitely say that all of my accomplishments would've been unnoticed if it wasn't for my management getting together and writing the packages," he said. Cheryl McNeil-Jordan, Financial Services Flight chief in the 78th CPTS, earned AFMC's financial services civilian of the year (GS-11 and above, below major command level) award, for her efforts in leading her work area in leaning processes and leading others in taking care of a host of systems her section is charged with overseeing. Ms. McNeil-Jordan said she attributes her recent honor to those who helped her get it, her workers. "It is an honor and it is a team award," she said. "I certainly attribute (this award) to my entire team, all of the individuals who work in the Financial Services Flight because everybody played a part in this." Colonel Smagh said he's proud of Robins' recent honor. "My hat's off to the folks in the squadron, and our sister wing financial organizations for pulling together and seeking excellence." Other AFMC winners included Capt. Gena Tuttle, who earned the reservist of the year award, and Troy Hubbard, who earned the financial analyst of the year award (NAF).