Changes Under Way @ DFAS.

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) is getting a makeover to help it better meet its customers' needs--who include almost everybody receiving a check from the Defense Department--according to the organization's director, Thomas Bloom.

First off, Bloom told a recent gathering of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, DFAS--which annually pays out $288 billion to 5.4 million military personnel, Defense Department civilian employees, retirees and contractors--has changed its slogan to "your financial partner @ work." This reflects DFAS's commitment to e-commerce and e-business, said Bloom. Note the "@" symbol, used in e-mail addresses.

Next, the service is working to make its vision of becoming a "world-class provider with a corporate identity" a reality. "We're nor world-class," said Bloom. "We need to get there." One step that DFAS is taking is to establish an advisory board, including four members from the commercial sector, said Bloom. The new board, he explained, is intended to help both public and private sectors understand how each side works.

Bloom said he hopes this "DFAS business evolution" will strengthen the organization's relationships with its customers, provide high-quality products and lower the costs of financial services.