From the executive director.

On July 1, 2005, I became the executive director of the American Society of Military Comptrollers. For the past 14 years Lieutenant General (Ret.) James F. McCall served ASMC with distinction as its executive director. I know I join all of you in thanking Jim for his efforts, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation that he helped create.

It is tempting to assume that becoming the ASMC executive director is like receiving keys to the ASMC car, with authority to drive where I wish. But I know that taking this job is much more like becoming the helmsman in a rowboat. I can steer, but we will make progress only if ASMC's members provide the power. I look forward to working with all of you to ensure the future success of this fine organization.

One of my first priorities is to hear from the ASMC membership. If there are services that you would like ASMC to provide or issues you want addressed, I would appreciate knowing about them. You can reach me at [e-mail]. Comments on the usefulness of this journal would be particularly appreciated. Do you read it regularly? Is the information covered in its pages useful to you? Do you have suggestions about how this journal could better serve the ASMC community? If so, please send them to Ms. Mary Barfield, Armed Forces Comptroller production coordinator, at [e-mail].

As we begin this year's efforts to build an even stronger ASMC, there are several initiatives that we are considering. Strengthening professional development at chapter meetings and mini-Professional Development Institutes is one initiative. We are looking at such options as providing speakers through the use of CD-ROMs from the national PDI and through the use of audio teleconferencing. Providing advice and assistance to our chapters, especially those that are new or rebuilding, always constitutes a high priority. We are considering new ways to harness the knowledge and energy of ASMC veterans who know how to build and run successful chapters.

We must continue to promote and strengthen our program of professional certification--for example, by adding an acquisition module to the CDFM exam--and we must continually update and strengthen the Enhanced Defense Financial Manager Training Course.

Our signature event, the national Professional Development Institute, would benefit from new ways of selecting the best-quality presenters and assistant instructors for its workshops. Also, we need to upgrade the information technology at ASMC headquarters to maintain high levels of security while also providing capabilities such as online registration for membership and certification and online access to member and chapter information.

I hope to hear from you about these tentative initiatives and others that you believe ASMC should undertake. I very much look forward to the opportunity to lead ASMC as it provides assistance to our members. Together we can build an even better organization and continue to provide the best in professional development for our members and for the entire Defense financial management community.

Robert F. Hale, CDFM

Executive Director