Recent Press Releases

Thune to Host Ellsworth Financial Services Center Forum with Air Force Officials

Public Invited to Learn about the Center's Mission and Job Opportunities

May 25, 2006

Washington, DC —  Senator John Thune will host a public forum with Air Force officials to update the community and answer questions about this new mission and the potential job opportunities at the Air Force Financial Services Center (AFFSC) at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

Senator Thune has invited a panel of Air Force officials to be available to provide the Rapid City and Black Hills community with a briefing on the AFFSC mission, status and timeline, and job opportunities and employment procedures.

"Since first making the announcement in April that Ellsworth AFB had been selected as the site for the AFFSC, there have been many questions from the local community about the center on a variety of issues like timing, local contracting needs and employment opportunities," said Thune. "This will be the first opportunity for interested members of the community and media to talk directly to the experts and officials responsible for bringing this new mission into operation."

The forum will be held at the Rushmore Civic Center on June 18th, 2006 at 6:30 P.M. The general public and media are welcome. Following opening comments, the floor will be open for questions.

The featured speaker from the Air Force will be Mr. John Vonglis, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and the Comptroller. Mr. Vonglis is the principal adviser to the Secretary of the Air Force for budgetary and fiscal matters and oversees a budget at more than $124 billion. As part of the Air Force Financial Management transformation, most functions from financial services offices from across the Air Force will be consolidated at Ellsworth AFB and will ultimately meet the financial needs of the majority of Air Force members. Mr. Vonglis has overall responsibility for the center that will employ up to 775 military and civilian personnel when it becomes fully operational in October 2008. A small advance team of employees (50-100) is expected to be in place by April 2007.

In addition to Senator Thune, other officials expected to be present and available to answer questions will include senior members of Mr. Vonglis' Financial Transformation staff; Air Force employment specialists; Colonel Jeff Smith, Commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, with a representative from the Ellsworth AFB Civilian Personnel office; and representatives from the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce.

What: Public forum to answer questions about the Air Force Financial Services Center at Ellsworth Air Force Base
When: June 18th, 2006 6:30 pm
Where: Rushmore Civic Center
Rapid City, SD
Who: Senator Thune
Mr. John Vonglis, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and the Comptroller
Colonel Jeff Smith, Commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB
Members of Rapid City Chamber of Commerce
Other Air Force Officials