The Pentagon designated the Air Force to ensure the Defense Department gets reimbursed for expenses related to military support to Hurricane Katrina. Officials calculate the tab at about $1.6 billion. The money is to come from FEMA, Homeland Security, or whoever is going to provide those funds,” says John Vonglis, acting Air Force assistant secretary for financial management and comptroller. Vonglis considers the role an honor that reflects “superb skill in financial management, our people skills, our processes, and our systems.” No offense to the Air Force’s sharp comptroller corps, but we bet USAF got the short straw.
The $4.26 billion Small Business Innovation Research contracting program widely used by the Air Force went into hibernation as the government shut down Oct. 1, but unless lawmakers strike a deal on reforms, the program could reach an abrupt end.


