Directorates and Offices of ASA(FM&C)

Mission:
The Army Budget Office (ABO) is responsible for budget formulation, the presentation and defense of the budget through the Congressional appropriation process, budget execution and analysis, reprogramming actions, and appropriation fund control/distribution. The personnel in the ABO work closely with the functional program/subprogram managers and sponsors who are responsible for program development and management.

Functions:

• Supervise and direct development, submission, and defense of the President’s Budget (PB)
• Transform the Program Objective Memorandum (POM) to the Budget Estimate Submission (BES) to the PB
• Allocate funds, oversee execution, and maintain Total Obligation Authority controls
• Manage the Army Working Capital Fund (AWCF) cash
• Oversee, manage, analyze, and evaluate funding available for Civilian pay and benefits through PPBE
• Initiate, coordinate, and oversee the Mid-year Review and Army input to OSD Reprogrammings
• Coordinate with Appropriations Committee, OSD and OMB, in accordance with laws and regulations and implement guidance

 
 

Major General Mark Bennett became the thirty-second Director of Army Budget in the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management and Comptroller ASA(FM&C) on 3 August 2021.

Maj. Gen. Bennett was commissioned in 1990 into the Field Artillery as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He began his operational assignments with the 6th Battalion, 37th Field Artillery in Korea and also served as the Task Force Finance Officer for 4th Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, for a Multinational Force and Observers rotation to Sinai, Egypt. He had two company command experiences with the 82nd Finance Battalion at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and the 177th Finance Battalion in Korea. Following completion of graduate school at Syracuse University, he served as the Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Resource Management, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command at Ft. Monroe, Virginia. Shortly after arriving for duty at the Pentagon, he supported the Army and Nation’s response to the 9-11 attacks before attending Command and General Staff College.

He returned to the 82nd Airborne Division as the Division Finance Support Operations Officer at Fort Bragg and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He then served as the Executive Officer to the Director of Army Budget, as a Program Examiner at the Office of Management and Budget, and as a Congressional Budget Liaison for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management & Comptroller ASA(FM&C).

Maj. Gen. Bennett commanded the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York for 31 months including a deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan. He returned to HQDA as the Executive Officer to the Military Deputy for Budget, ASA(FM&C) and Chief of the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution System Integration for the ASA(FM&C). Maj. Gen. Bennett also served as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G8, at Headquarters, I Corps, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington before deploying again to Afghanistan. He served as the Deputy Director of Resource Management with the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A) in support of the Resolute Support mission. Maj. Gen. Bennett then served as the Chief of Army Congressional Budget Liaison (SAFM-BUL), in the ASA(FM&C). He served as the Director of Resource Management (G8) for the Headquarters, Installation Management Command (IMCOM) before most recently serving as the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Financial Management Command.

A native of Ohio, Maj. Gen. Bennett holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in Accounting from John Carroll University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Syracuse University. He additionally holds a Master of Science degree in National Security and Resource Strategy from the National Defense University. His military training includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, Finance Officer Advanced Course, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (4OLC), Bronze Star Medal (1OLC), Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (1 SLC + 2 OLC), Senior Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Presidential Service Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

Holly Carey is an accomplished, innovative and visionary leader with over 29 years of professional experience of which 26 have been within the federal government. She currently serves as the Deputy Director for Army Budget supporting ASA FM&C’s mission to formulate, submit, and defense Army Budget to Congress; oversee the proper effective use of Army financial resources in execution; and provide Senior Leaders timely, accurate, and reliable data to support informed decision making. Prior to her current assignment, she served as the Director of Resource Integration, the senior advisor to the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9 for the essential functions pertaining to planning, programming, budgeting, and execution of installation management resources. Her primary responsibilities involved serving as PEG Manager for Title 10 Installations Program Evaluation Group (II PEG) which is responsible for all aspects of planning, programming, and budget formulation for an $21B annual program that includes O&M and MILCON funding; representing 7 Army Staff Functionals and 38 Commands Army wide.

She previously served as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Army National Guard (ARNG) where she was the primary advisor to the Director of the Army National Guard on all fiscal matters and was responsible for the programming, budgeting, and execution of more than $19 billion in resources annually across the 54 States, Territories, and the District of Columbia. In addition, she managed the financial statement audit and internal control reviews for the ARNG’s input in the consolidated Army Financial Statement Audit.

Prior to her time as the ARNG CFO, she served as the Division Chief within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Financial Management and Comptroller, overseeing the planning and directing of the formulation and execution of the Department of the Air Force’s $46 billion non-pay Operations and Maintenance (O&M) accounts. Ms. Carey previously applied her broad range of knowledge in accounting, audit, financial management, and budget to overseeing the daily operations and the out-year planning, programming, and budgeting for the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Management Directorate’s budget, which included the Department’s Working Capital Fund. In her role as Budget Director, Holly led the efforts to obtain the necessary resources, funding, and personnel, to achieve the goals of the Management Directorate ensuring delivery of effective and efficient business and management services and enabling the Department to achieve its mission and leading the unified national effort to secure America.

Leading up to serving as a Budget Director, Ms. Carey worked in the Office of Financial Management within the DHS Office of the Chief Financial Officer. In this role she was responsible for reviewing all DHS component financial reporting deliverables supporting the Annual Financial Report and internal control risk matrices ensuring that the Report was without material misstatement. She was instrumental in implementing standard operating procedures across the Department and in doing this, she helped lead the Department to their first clean audit opinion of the financial statements.

Before joining DHS, she worked as an associate auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she was employed in their federal audit practice. She audited federal agencies financial statements and assisted agencies in implementing A-123 internal controls.

Additionally, Holly proudly served in the United States Air Force for 8 years as a laboratory technician, where she worked in saving lives in the blood bank, Chemistry, Microbiology, and Hematology fields.

Career Chronology:

• 2024-present: Deputy Director of Army Budget, Army Budget Office, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller) (ASA(FM&C))
• 2021-2024: Chief Financial Officer, Department of Army, Army National Guard
• 2020-2021: Division Chief, Department of Air Force Operations & Maintenance, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Financial Management and Comptroller
• 2013-2021: Budget Director, Management Directorate, Chief Financial Office, Department of Homeland Security
• 2006-2013: Staff Accountant, Chief Financial Office, Department of Homeland Security
• 2003-2006: Associate Auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC
• 1995-2002: Laboratory Technician, United States Air Force

College:

• Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Dwight D. Eisenhower School, Washington D.C., 2020
• Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, University of Maryland Global Campus, Maryland, 2001

Awards and Honors:

• Assistant Secretary of the Army Financial Management and Comptroller 2023 Awards: Outstanding Financial Management Organization (Above ACOM): Army National Guard G8 Team
• Air Force Financial Management and Comptroller FY2021 Awards: Special Acts and Services Aware O&M FYDP Mitigation and Restoration Team
• Air Force Financial Management & Comptroller Award 2020 Special Acts & Services SAF/FMBO Space Team
• Air Force Financial Management & Comptroller Award 2020 General Larry O. Spencer Special Act & Services SAF/FMB COVID Response Team

Professional Memberships and Associations:

• Member, Association of the United States Army (AUSA)
• Member, American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC)
• Member, ICAF-ES Alumni Association

T. Jackson Hawse IV serves as the Director of Investment for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Budget (DASA-BU). He was assigned to this position in June 2024. In this capacity, he is the principal advisor to the Director of the Army Budget Office for Research, Development, and Acquisition (RDA) and Military Construction (MILCON) appropriations. The Investment Directorate provides guidance and issues policy on the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) of RDA and MILCON appropriations in accordance with U.S. Federal law, the DoD Financial Management Regulation, and Army Policy. He is responsible for the formulation, presentation, and defense of the annual budget request and the reporting of funds execution for 11 multi-year appropriations to ensure investments are procured and delivered to achieve Army priorities. Mr. Hawse manages over $40 billion in annually appropriated resources in the following areas: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation; Aircraft Procurement; Missile Procurement; Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicle Procurement; Ammunition Procurement; Other Procurement; Military Construction; Construction for Army Reserve; Construction for Army National Guard; Construction for Family Housing; Army Family Housing Operations.

Career Chronology:

• 2024 - present, Director of Investment, Army Budget Office, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller) (ASA(FM&C)), Pentagon
• 2021 – 2024: Chief, Budget Integration & Evaluation, Army Budget Office, ASA(FM&C), Pentagon
• 2018 – 2021: Senior Budget Analyst, Program & Budget Investment Directorate, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) (OUSD(C)), Pentagon
• 2016 – 2018: Program Analyst, G8 Program Evaluation & Analysis (PAE), US Army Europe (USAREUR), Wiesbaden, Germany
• 2013 – 2016: Budget Analyst, Army Budget Office, ASA(FM&C), Pentagon
• 2012 – 2013: Financial Management Analyst, Directorate of Management, The Joint Staff, Pentagon
• 2010 – 2012: Budget Analyst, Army Budget Office, ASA(FM&C), Pentagon
• 2009 – 2010: Student, Defense Comptroller Program, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
• 2007 – 2009: Budget Analyst, Army Budget Office, ASA(FM&C), Pentagon
• 2005 – 2007: Budget Analyst, DA Intern Program, US Army Corps of Engineers, Transatlantic Programs Center, Winchester, VA
• 2004: Congressional Intern, Office of U.S. Senator John D. Rockefeller, IV (D-WV), Office of U.S. Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Washington, DC

College:

• Executive Master of Public Administration, The Maxwell School, Syracuse University
• Master of Business Administration, The Whitman School, Syracuse University
• Bachelor of Science in Public Administration, James Madison University

Significant Training:

• Senior Executive Fellows, Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education

Certifications:

• DoD Financial Management Level III
• Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM)

Awards and Honors:

• Secretary of the Army Coin, 2023
• OSD Certificate of Appreciation, 2019
• Superior Civilian Service Award, 2016
• Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, 2015/2018
• The Joint Staff Certificate of Appreciation, 2013
• Achievement Medal for Civilian Service, 2012

Professional Memberships and Associations:

• Society of Defense Financial Management

Mission:
The Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Cost & Economics) is responsible for providing Army decision-makers with cost, performance and economic analysis in the form of expertise, models, data, estimates and analyses at all levels.

Functions:

• U.S. Army Cost and Economic Analysis Program
• Acquisition Costing and Army Cost Review Board
• Review and Validation of Business Case Analyses, Economic Analyses, and Special Cost Studies of Major Weapon and Information Systems, Force Structure, and Operating and Support Cost
• Army Cost Research Plan
• Cost Factor Development for Installation Base Operations, Civilian Personnel, and Training Operating Tempo, in support of the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution Processes
• Army Cost Management Program
• Army Financial Management Enterprise, Continuous Process Improvement Program

 

 
Mr. Loftus was selected to the Senior Executive Service in September 2019. As Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Cost and Economics, Mr. Loftus is responsible for Army policy and technical direction of all cost and economic activities. He delivers the Army's independent cost estimates for weapons & information systems; manages the development of Army cost positions on all systems reviewed by the Army Cost Review Board; and directs cost analyses dealing with force structure, personnel - military, civilian, and contract labor, base operations, and weapons & information systems operation and support. Mr. Loftus supports the Army’s Programming and Budgeting processes with cost and economic analysis. He also directs the Army’s cost management and performance management activities for internal and external reporting. He manages the Army wide cost research program to deliver cost tools, databases, and models throughout the Army.

Mr. Loftus started his career with DASA-CE in 1999 as a cost analyst serving on the Aviation Team of the Weapons System Cost Division where he developed independent cost estimates for Apache, Black Hawk, ATIRCM/CMWS, and Comanche. He then served as Cost Review Board analyst from 2003 through 2008 where he led HQDA working groups through the Cost Review Board (CRB) ACP development process and then as the Director from 2008 to 2020. Mr. Loftus has over 20 years of experience in Department of Defense cost analysis.

Mr. Loftus began his career as a Commissioned Officer in the Field Artillery in 1986 through an ROTC commission from The Citadel where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics & Computer Science. He spent ten years in the Army with assignments in Korea, Fort Carson, Germany, and Northern Virginia. He completed his Masters Degree in Cost Analysis from the Naval Post Graduate School in 2016.

Mission:
The Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Operations and Information) (DASA-FO) is responsible for policies, procedures, programs and systems pertaining to finance and accounting activities and operations, Army financial management systems and data integration activities, Army programs for internal control, internal review and audit compliance, the Army Travel Charge Card, fraud, waste and abuse, and other management evaluation activities.

Functions:

• Manage Procedures and Policies to Support Audit Compliance and Remediation
• Produce the Army's Annual Financial Statement and Financial Reports
• Develop and Implement Finance and Accounting Policies
• Implement Policies and Procedures for the Army's Management Internal Control Program (MICP)
• Manage the Army's Internal Review Program
• Develop Policies for Non Appropriated Fund (NAF) Programs

 

 
Mr. R. Wesley Robinson was appointed as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Operations and Information) in March 2024. He is responsible for oversight and integration of all Army financial operations policies, procedures, programs (to include Financial Statement Audits and internal management controls), and Financial Information systems designed to maintain and improve the Army's financial accountability and fiscal stewardship.

Career Chronology:

• 3/2024 - Present: Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Financial Operations and Information.
• 12/2021 - 3/2024: Director, Management and Control, ASA (FM&C), Deputy ASA for Budget.
• 12/2018 - 12/2021: Chief, Program and Budget Division, Headquarters, US Army Europe and Africa.
• 06/2015 - 12/2018: Director, Systems Support Operations, US Army Financial Management Command.
• 01/2011 - 06/2015: Director, Functional Sustainment for the General Fund Enterprise Business System (GFEBS), ASA (FM&C), Deputy ASA for Financial Information Management.
• 09/2008 - 01/2011: Chief, Systems Branch, Accounting and Financial. Operations, Headquarters, US Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) G8.
• 08/2007 - 09/2008: Financial Systems Analyst, DoD, Business Transformation Agency.
• 01/2007 - 08/2007: Project Manager, Perot Systems Government Services.
• 05/2006 - 01/2007: Financial Analyst, Headquarters, IMCOM G8.
• 08/2003 - 05/2006: Manager, Perot Systems Government Services.
• 05/2000 - 08/2003: Consultant, BearingPoint Inc.
• 09/1991 - 04/2000: Finance and Comptroller, US Army.

College:

• Master of Business Administration, Troy University.
• Bachelor of Science in Management, National-Louis University.

Certifications:

• Certified DoD Financial Management Professional, Level 3.

Awards and Honors:

• Meritorious Civilian Service Award, 2018
• Superior Civilian Service Award, 2018 & 2017
• Civilian Service Commendation Medal 2022
• Commanders Civilian Service Award, 2010

Professional Memberships and Associations:

• Association of the United States Army
• American Society of Military Comptrollers

 
Ms. Natasha N. Anderson has served as the Director of Financial Operations and Accounting (FOA) with the office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Operations and Information) since August 2021. In this role, she is responsible for all ongoing financial management initiatives for policies, programs, and procedures designed to establish, implement, and maintain Army’s accounting, auditing, risk management, and financial reporting activities.

Ms. Anderson was previously appointed as the Director of General Fund Audit Readiness for FOA in August 2017 where she was responsible for the execution of the Army’s General Fund financial statement audits and corrective action efforts stemming from those audits. She provided oversight of the Army financial statement audit infrastructure and implementation of the strategic plan to achieve a clean audit opinion.

Ms. Anderson has served as both contractor support and civilian personnel within FOA since January 2011. As a Manager with Kearney & Company, Ms. Anderson was responsible for establishing and executing Army’s Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness plan as a contractor with FOA before joining the government team as a Staff Accountant.

Ms. Anderson joined the Federal government as an Accountant in June 2004 at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) after graduating Cum Laude from McDaniel College. There she worked within the Accounting Branch where she was responsible for financial statement compilation and reporting. Other assignments at ATF included Agency/Organization Program Coordinator for the Integrated Charge Card Program, accounting policy, and accounting operations.

Career Chronology:

• August 2021 – Director, Financial Operations and Accounting, ASA(FM&C).
• Aug 2017 – May 2021 – Director, General Fund Audit Readiness, Financial Operations and Accounting, ASA(FM&C).
• Aug 2014 – Aug 2014 – Staff Accountant, Financial Operations and Accounting, ASA(FM&C).
• Jan 2011 – Aug 2014 – Manager, Kearney and Company.
• Jun 2004 – Aug 2014 – Accountant, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

College:

• Master of Accountancy, The George Washington University.
• Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, McDaniel College.

Certifications:

• Certified Public Accountant.
• Certified Government Financial Manager.

Professional Memberships and Associations:

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• American Society of Military Comptrollers
• Association of Government Accountants

 
Ms. Nikki Cabezas serves as the Director, Financial Information Management (FIM). She is charged with building coalitions across the Army in support of the Financial Management (FM) Campaign’s fourth line of effort to “Enhance and Embrace Essential FM Systems.” Ms. Cabezas is responsible for envisioning and delivering the future of FM capabilities through optimizing Army investments in financial information technology. She has taken on this role with a data centric lens leading digital modernization and innovation through artificial intelligence and machine learning initiatives.

Ms. Cabezas was previously appointed Chief of Staff for the Multi-Functional Capabilities Team, a cross-functional team chartered by the Undersecretary of the Army, to lead the modernization of core financial management and logistic operations through Enterprise Business Systems-Convergence. Ms. Cabezas was responsible for driving the implementation of strategy to enhance performance and show efficiency and results. The team successfully completed three Business Capability Acquisition Cycle (BCAC) Milestones in record time.

Prior, in January 2018, Ms. Cabezas was hired by the Department of Defense Chief Information Office (DOD CIO) as a Project Manager on the DOD Information Technology and Business Systems Reform Team. In support of the Deputy Secretary of Defense efficiency efforts, Ms. Cabezas led multiple enterprise-wide, transformational initiatives and teams, across a $6B IT portfolio to reduce total number of systems, implement category management best practices, and drive business process standardization. The efficiency effort captured $83 million in savings.

Before joining the DOD CIO as a government civilian, Ms. Cabezas worked for Booz Allen Hamilton supporting the Department of Interior Chief Information Office (DOI CIO). Ms. Cabezas led the DOI CIO’s Data Center Optimization strategy and cost savings team in support of a 6-year effort to consolidate and optimize 400+ data centers. Ms. Cabezas successfully led DOI CIO to report its first cost savings of $13.6 million and successfully raise their Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) scorecard rating from an “F” to a “B+”.

Ms. Cabezas graduated from the College of William & Mary with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She is a Certified Scrum Product Owner and Knowledge Manager.

Career Chronology:

• Sep 2022 – Present: Director, Financial Information Management, ASA (FM&C)
• Aug 2020 – Sep 2022: Chief of Staff, Enterprise Business Systems-Convergence, ASA (FM&C)
• Jun 2019 – Jul 2020: Transformation and Modernization Portfolio Lead, ASA (FM&C)
• Jan 2018 – Jun 2019: Project Manager, United States Department of Defense
• Feb 2015 – Jan 2018: General Management Associate, Booz Allen Hamilton

College:

• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, College of William & Mary
• Bachelor of Science in Accounting, College of William & Mary

Certifications:

• Certified Scrum Product Owner
• Certified Knowledge Manager
• Certified Change Management Professional Training
• U.S Army Executive Level Business Analytics Program

Mission The Army Congressional Budget Liaison (SAFM-BUL) Office works with Congress to resource the Army to meet current and future needs in line with the law and Army Regulations. SAFM-BUL is the primary liaison with the Appropriations Committees on all matters except civil works. It serves as the Army's single entry point for Members of Congress and their professional and personal staff on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The office advises the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Army on Congressional Appropriations, develops strategies to engage Appropriators, cultivates relationships with Appropriations Committee Members and Staff, provides a unified voice between HQDA and Appropriators, and facilitates information exchange between Army Senior Leaders/Staff and the House and Senate Defense and MILCON/VA Appropriations Subcommittees.

Vision Effectively engage Capitol Hill by working hand-in-hand with OCLL to serve the Congressional customer, share operational information, plan and execute congressional travel, and ensure timely and accurate communication of Army budget and policy matters to Congress.

Priorities Serve the Assigned Customer: SAFM-BUL's top priority is to serve the assigned customer (Congressional and Army) by providing timely and accurate information, responding to inquiries, and supporting hearings and other events. Effective Engagements: SAFM-BUL and OCLL will work together to engage Capitol Hill effectively, ensuring that Congress is well-informed and resourced to support the Army's mission. Plan and Execute Congressional Travel: SAFM-BUL provides planning and trip execution for members and staff on the Appropriations Committee to visit Army commands, installations, and world-wide locations, ensuring advance coordination and notification to avoid widely publicizing the travel.

Functions Advise and report to the Secretary of the Army on Appropriations Develop and articulate Appropriations Strategies Foster relationships with Appropriations Committee Members and Staffs Provide "One Voice" between HQDA and Appropriators Serve as the Conduit of Information Exchange Prepare Army senior leaders for hearings Gather information for Army senior leaders Organize and conduct fact-finding travel for members and staff

The Army's Connection to Congressional Appropriations Over the years, Congress repeatedly expressed its intent for a separate appropriations liaison office to interface with the Appropriations Committees. The law applies to all Services, to include the Office of the Secretary of Defense. OSD(Comptroller)-BAA (Budget and Appropriations Affairs) interfaces with the Appropriations Committees. OSD-LA (Legislative Affairs) interfaces with all Members of Congress except for those Members on the Appropriations Committees. Each of the Services mirrors this construct.

SAFM-BUL Legislative History Timeline

1934-35: The 79th Congress directed the creation of a separate appropriations liaison office within the financial management community to interface with the Appropriations Committees. 1948: Department of the Army Circular 342 further specified the budget liaison role, stating that the Chief of Legislative and Liaison Division formulates, coordinates, and accomplishes the Department of the Army legislative program, except appropriations bills. 1971: The House Appropriations Committee expressed its belief that the work of the Appropriations Committee is most effectively accomplished through the Comptroller and Budget Office organizations of the DoD and Military Services and warned against fragmenting this responsibility. 1978: Congress pointed out that the primary interface of the Appropriations Committees and DoD must be through the budget offices and comptroller organizations. 1984: The FY84 Defense Appropriations Bill warned against integrating appropriation liaison staff with less specialized and non-financially oriented legislative staff. 2002-Present: Language has appeared in each Appropriations Report from 2002 specifying that funds may not be used to plan or implement the consolidation of a budget or appropriations liaison office into a legislative affairs or legislative liaison office. This was among other directive language supporting the role and structure of SAFM-BUL. This timeline illustrates the long-standing intent of Congress for a separate appropriations liaison office and the emphasis on the importance of the budget and comptroller organizations as the primary interface with the Appropriations Committees. It also highlights the efforts made by Congress to prevent the consolidation of budget or appropriations liaison offices into legislative affairs or legislative liaison offices.

 
 

Brig. Gen. Rebecca McElwain began her career in North Dakota as a Medic in the U.S. Army Reserve, and later the Minnesota National Guard, before receiving her commission into the U.S. Army Finance and Comptroller Corps. She spent significant time serving abroad in various locations across Asia, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East – commanding at every level through field grade; leading contingency and operational banking missions - partnering with German, Macedonian, Thai, and Iraqi banks to ensure availability of cash during military operations.

Brig. Gen. McElwain commanded in the 125th Finance Battalion (FB), 25th Infantry Division Hawaii, and the 106th FB, 1st Infantry Division Germany. She deployed with her unit to Kosovo in support of TASK FORCE FALCON, paying contracts critical to key infrastructure, working with neighboring Macedonian banks, and serving as a military mentor in support of the U.S. Ambassador’s efforts to encourage Kosovar women to assume leadership positions in Kosovo’s developing government.

She later deployed with her unit to Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, disbursing cash in support of operations, and partnering with the Bank of Iraq and U.S. Department of State banking officials, Provincial Reconstruction Teams, local Iraqi economists, business owners and banks to establish electronic funds transfers across the southern region and the first Iraqi-Based Industrial Zone (IBIZ) Bank.

While serving in the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) J8, Brig. Gen. McElwain oversaw the fiscal requirements of 17 Security Cooperation Offices, managed critical contingency funding authorities, orchestrated fiscal transition for the Office of Security Cooperation Iraq (OSC-I), and served on the Operational Planning Team for Afghanistan Transition. As the 25th Infantry Division G8, she oversaw funding for rapidly deployable brigades, Joint force engagements, and Security Cooperation events with countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.

In Washington, Brig. Gen. McElwain served as a Congressional Budget Liaison for the Army, synchronizing Army engagements with U.S. House and Senate Appropriation Committees. As the XVIII Airborne Corps G8, she provided fiscal oversight in support of the Corps’ Global Contingency Mission. Brig. Gen. McElwain most recently served as the United States Army Central (USARCENT) G8 in support of USCENTCOM’s dynamic mission in the Middle East and Central and South Asia.

Brig. Gen. McElwain is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff College, joining an international cohort of students from 22 nations including China, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. She is also a U.S. Army War College Fellow alumnus of DoD’s Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, engaging on issues of national security and defense with 30 nations across the North of Africa, Middle East, Central and South Asia.

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