Eaker Center shines at Comptroller Professional Development Institute Published July 1, 2010 By G. Dane McKenzie Ira C. Eaker College for Professional Development MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- The American Society of Military Comptrollers is the nonprofit educational and professional organization for DOD military and civilian financial management personnel. ASMC promotes the education and training of its members and supports the development and advancement of the profession. Each year, ASMC hosts a worldwide professional development conference. This year, faculty from the Defense Financial Management and Comptroller School at the Ira C. Eaker Center for Professional Development presented five of the more than 100 workshops. Those sessions included "Making Decisions in Uncertain Times - Economics You Can USE," "INSIDE Leadership: Developing the Human Competitive Edge," "Managing the Zero-Sum Game" and "Fundamentals of Decision Support - Transforming Roles of DOD Financial Managers." The workshops presented by Capt. Kelly Padden, Lt. Col. Jeff Coggin, Col. Barb Gilchrist, Lashunda Lewis and Desiree Murray reached almost 1,000 of the more than 4,000 DOD personnel attending the conference. The DFM&CS mission is to "provide world-class financial management education by delivering advanced course work in a joint learning environment." As a result, military and civilian students are drawn in from all services as well as other DOD agencies. Some of the agencies represented in most classes include the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Defense Logistics Agency and the Services' Audit Agencies. The DFM&CS staff and faculty instruct the Defense Financial Management Course, a four-week professional continuing education course covering leadership, contingency operations, the strategic environment, financial management and decision support. Additionally, the faculty developed a one-week Defense Decision Support Course, taught both in-residence and on the road. "No one has the corner on the market for good ideas," said Col. James P. Galloway, Eaker Center commander. "Providing the tools necessary to fully evaluate an issue and arrive at a decision is crucial when advising senior leaders. Without considering all aspects of an issue, it is easy to overlook the best and most efficient alternative." Two members of the DFM&CS team were recognized at the ASMC conference for their distinguished accomplishments. Lt. Col. Karl Kraus received a national-level essay contest award and Mrs. Murray was recognized as the Air Force Educator of the Year. The school has also received a national level meritorious award for the Defense Decision Support mobile training course. For more information about the school, or to request a guest speaker, visit www.au.af.mil/au/ecpd/dfmcs.