Comptroller, Contracting merger improves agility, capability

  • Published
  • By Joe B. Wiles
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The money folks joined with the contract writers July 16 to form the 71st Comptroller-Contracting Squadron here. Vance is one of five bases testing the merged comptroller and contracting squadron concept as part of an Air Force wide test. 

"We are both customer orientated and when we deploy we work hand-in-hand," said Maj. Monroe Neal Jr., commander of what was the 71st Comptroller Squadron and now commander of the new unit. "The synergy we get by working together at home base should increase our ability to support the wing and combatant commanders." 

The other test bases are Malmstrom AFB, Mont.; Columbus AFB, Miss.; Robins AFB, Ga.; and Ellsworth AFB, S.D. 

The 71st C-CS is organized into three flights: Finance, Contracting and Operations. "The operational flight will include our internal audit type functions like the non-appropriated funds analyst, government purchase card program and quality assurance monitor," said Major Neal. 

For now, the squadron will use the hyphenated version of comptroller-contracting, but a Tiger Team is in the process of developing a new name for the merged organization. Historically, the Comptroller function fell under the wing commander, and Contracting fell under the Mission Support Group commander. 

"The merged squadron will report to the wing commander; however, we'll continue to work closely with the 71st MSG commander on issues concerning our umbrella contract with CSC," said Major Neal. 

"Although the merger will not be a seamless transition, we hope the impact to our customers is minimal," said Major Neal. "Some physical changes will include moving the members of the old 'Contracting Flight' into the area currently occupied by Comptroller personnel in Bldg. 500," he said. 

"We hope to have construction in the Comptroller area finished by mid-September, prior to year-end closeout," said Major Neal. 

"The plan is to test the merger for two years, or less, and a board of governance, comprised of senior leaders in the comptroller and contracting communities, will decide whether to continue implementation of the merged concept in the states or not," said Major Neal. "If the merger is deemed a success, a decision whether to merge at overseas locations will be made." 

"The objective is to be more agile and capable," said Mr. Tom Patton, the new 71st C-CS deputy director and director of Business Operations for Contracting. "Comptroller and Contracting have a lot of things in common, so merging them should allow both to be stronger in the end."