Eaker College dedicates Kaysing Auditorium to former commandant

Mrs. Joyce Kaysing stands beside a portrait of her spouse, retired Col. Charles "Chuck" Kaysing, during a ceremony April 17 as the auditorium at the Defense Financial Management and Comptroller School was dedicated in his honor. Colonel Kaysing, who died in 2006, was a former commandant of the school. Also shown are sons Keith and Kevin Kaysing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Melanie Rodgers Cox)

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Eaker College dedicates Kaysing Auditorium to former commandant

The Ira C. Eaker College for Professional Development's Defense Financial Management and Comptroller School dedicated its auditorium April 17 in honor of retired Col. Charles "Chuck" Kaysing. Col. Barbara Gilchrist, director, DFM & CS, retired Col. Daniel Dunaway, former director of the DFM & CS and retired Col. Joseph Panza, Jr., executive director of the Air University Foundation offered remarks about Colonel Kaysing prior to the unveiling of the official portrait, biography and the auditorium name plate. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Kevin Stanley)

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Eaker College dedicates Kaysing Auditorium to former commandant

More than 30 family, friends and faculty gathered in the Ira C. Eaker College for Professional Development's Defense Financial Management & Comptroller School auditorium for a dedication ceremony held April 17 in honor of Col. Charles "Chuck" Kaysing. Colonel Kaysing served in the Air Force from June 1963 to August 1993 and held leadership positions as the commandant of the Professional Military Comptroller School, now DFM & CS, Pacific Air Forces comptroller, former president and treasurer of the Air University Foundation and president of the American Society of Military Comptrollers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Melanie Rodgers Cox)

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Eaker College dedicates Kaysing Auditorium to former commandant

Published April 24, 2009
By Senior Airman Melissa Copeland
Air University Public Affairs

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- More than 30 family members, friends and faculty gathered April 17 at the Ira C. Eaker College for Professional Development's, Defense Financial Management and Comptroller School to dedicate the DFM & CS auditorium to former commandant, retired Col. Charles "Chuck" Kaysing.

Colonel Kaysing, a St. Louis, Mo., native, served in numerous leadership positions throughout his Air Force career from June 1963 to August 1993 as a Financial Management officer and comptroller, the commandant of the Professional Military Comptroller School (now DFM & CS), and the comptroller of the Pacific Air Forces, one of the highest positions attainable for a FM officer.

Known as an avid volunteer who made numerous contributions, Colonel Kaysing also served as the Air University Foundation president and treasurer and as the president of the American Society of Military Comptrollers. In addition, Colonel Kaysing worked with the American Cancer Society to establish a support group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer, Montgomery's Man-to-Man Group.

"Colonel Kaysing represented true balance in a professional Air Force career," said retired Brig. Gen. Sandra Gregory, former director of Budget Operations and Personnel, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller. "He loved his family and knew how important it was to keep perspective of time with family and time in the office."

After an initiative enacted by former Air University commander, Gen. Stephen Lorenz, now the Air Education and Training Command commander, to name all Air University college facilities after Airmen who have made outstanding contributions, "Colonel Kaysing was the overwhelming choice," said retired Col. Daniel Dunaway, former director of DFM & CS.

The Kaysing Auditorium is the primary auditorium for DFM & CS's Defense Financial Management Course, a graduate-level course with guest lecturers, seminars and case studies and facilitated exercises in addition to the one-week Defense Decision Support Course designed for staff officers. The school also offers the Reserve Forces Comptroller Course, a two-week course tailored to meet the requirements for reservist and National Guard comptrollers.

"I watched Chuck as he put his heart and soul into this school," said retired Col. Joseph Panza, Air University Foundation executive director. "He realized that what was taught here had a profound impact not just on the Air Force, but on the sister services and other agencies within the Department of Defense."

After the unveiling of a portrait of Colonel Kaysing, funded by the AU Foundation, and the Kaysing Auditorium plaque, the dedication ceremony drew to a close.

"He loved everybody," said his wife, Joyce. "He cherished all of his friends. He cherished all his students, and he cherished his family."

Colonel Kaysing died June 20, 2006. He is survived by his wife Joyce (Dean) and two sons, Keith and Kevin.