Four from Hanscom earn 2009 AFMC Comptroller Awards

  • Published
  • By Kevin Gilmartin
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Four Hanscom individuals have won Air Force Materiel Command Comptroller Awards for their efforts in 2009.

Maj. Ned L. June won the Frank R. Faykes Comptroller of the Year Award, Master Sgt. Michelle E. Colburn, a section chief in the Accounting Support Division, was named Financial Management Senior NCO of the Year, Senior Airman Maurice P. Morrell, a pay services technician, was selected as Financial Management Airman of the Year and Technical Sgt. Leonard of the 66th Security Forces Squadron was chosen as Resource Advisor of the Year.

The awards come during a year when the 66th Comptroller Squadron was a finalist in the 2009 Excellence in Government Outstanding Team Customer Service Award competition, finishing in the top five of more than 100 federal agencies.

"These awards are further proof of what I've known for a long time, that the professional men and women of our Comptroller Squadron are among the very best in the Air Force," said Col. David Orr, 66th Air Base Wing commander. "The work they do in support of Hanscom and the Electronic Systems Center mission is exceptional, helping make Hanscom a better place to live and work."

Major June
As comptroller for the 66th Comptroller Squadron, Major June was responsible for the finances of all of Electronic Systems Center's five wings, along with 15 staff agencies and eight tenant units at Hanscom. He helped execute $15 million in stimulus funds for Hanscom in 2009, leading to 41 different infrastructure improvement projects across the base. When Operational Safety and Health Administration auditors identified a safety hazard at the base bowling alley during the Voluntary Protection Program inspection, Major June secured $20,000 to eliminate the hazard, helping Hanscom become the first Air Force installation to earn Star status from OSHA.

Major June deployed to the Area of Operations in 2009, bringing his financial expertise to a number of critical issues there. In preparation for his deployment, he attended a four-week course at Fort Dix, N.J., where he was certified as a high threat driver.

In October, the major ran in 15th annual Susan B. Komen Hawaii Race for the Cure, where he and his team members finished in first place and raised $923 for breast cancer.
Sergeant Colburn
Sergeant Colburn led a 13-person accounting and finance section at Hanscom, balancing $54 million in financial support to ESC and Hanscom. She also filled in as her squadron's Superintendant for seven months in 2009. She helped manage the squadron's reorganization that required moving the customer service, budget and cashier's cage, with no mission impact, earning praise from the 66th Air Base wing commander.

While deployed as the sole financial manager in a country in the Area of Operations, Sergeant Colburn scrubbed more than 2,000 accounting lines, returning $50,000 to the Combined Air Operations Center. While there, she assisted in the recovery of a C-17 in-flight emergency, helping fix an electronics malfunction in less than three hours. She developed a cash advance process for $30,000 with U.S. Air Forces Central and the U.S. embassy, ensuring the unit's mission operations are unimpeded.

The sergeant has earned a Community College of the Air Force degree in Financial Management, and completed 21 credit hours towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management and Accounting, maintaining a 3.9 grade point average.

Airman Morell
Airman Morrell established support procedures for the 64th Air Refueling Squadron, which was activated at Pease Air National Guard Base, NH, in October. The new process corrected a myriad of pay issues, earning him praise from the commander. He computed and prepared 42 partial payments, providing members with $81,000 in emergency funds, helping alleviate hardships.

The Airman took service to the customer as part of a three-person team, in-processing 52 field grade officers at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I., saving more than 150 hours of work. During the year, Airman Morrell tackled a six-month backlog in voucher balancing, reconciling 33 payments worth $73,000, leading to a flawless transition to the Air Force Financial Services Center. He visited the AFFSC at Ellsworth AFB, S.D. prior to Hanscom transitioning services to that unit, learning processes and training nine co-workers upon his return. He also identified seven anomalies with separation and retirement actions, made corrections and returned $19,000 to members.

During Hanscom's Combat Dining In, Airman Morrell introduced a distinguished visitor, and expertly recited the Airmen's Creed from memory in front of nearly 400 attendees. He volunteers to feed hospitalized veterans and help during the Special Olympics, and, as the Air Force Sergeant's Association Legislative Trustee, led a letter writing campaign to Congress to prevent TriCare rate hikes.
Sergeant Leonard
As resource advisor for the 66th Security Forces Squadron, Sergeant Leonard managed the $1.3 million budget for the more than 150 squadron members. In all, he processed and executed more than $790,000 worth of contracts critical to the squadron's mission and base security. He diligently researched and submitted justification for more than $1 million in additional funding from the command, successfully bolstering air base defense. The sergeant also developed a new purchase procedure, providing 100 percent accurate ledgers that allow anyone to pinpoint and track all Government Purchase Card purchases.

Sergeant Leonard supervised reorganization of the squadron's $400,000 supply warehouse, ensuring accountability of millions of dollars in assets. He also managed the squadron's Defense Travel Service program, ensuring proper execution of more than 50 travel orders. He executed short-notice travel orders for pre-deployment teams, ensuring more than 20 warfighters were ready for combat operations.

Sergeant Leonard is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, and finished four classes this year. He has volunteered to support three Boston Red Sox flag details, and logged eight hours supporting Hanscom's "Troop Care Drive." He also ran in Boston's "Run to Remember," a five-mile road race for fallen law enforcement officers.