Do your part to conserve resources Published Jan. 26, 2007 By Col. Trent Edwards 88th Comptroller Squadron commander WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio -- As the saying goes, the only thing constant is change. Our nation certainly experienced a lot of change in the last six months: · change in our Congress with a democratic-led House and Senate; · change in our U.S. Department of Defense with Robert Gates becoming the new secretary of defense, · change in the Air Force personnel system with the implementation of the National Security Personnel System and · change to our permanent change of station policy with one-year extensions to continental U.S. tours. Swirling at the center of change is money, a significant contributing factor in our nation's policy decisions and a critical factor in our ability to transform for the 21st century. Our Air Force must transform operations to become more agile, lean and lethal. We must transform operations to meet Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley's top three Air Force priorities: to win the global war on terrorism, to develop and care for our Airmen and their families and to recapitalize and modernize aircraft and equipment. Rising personnel costs, increased costs to operate the fleet, aging aircraft inventory and a more constrained resource environment will challenge leaders at all levels to fully examine their core mission requirements and apply enough resources to sustain current and future mission capability. In an evolving and more dangerous security environment though we can all do our part to help conserve resources. Last year, Team Wright-Patt paid $230,000 in interest penalties because of late invoices or improperly certified receiving reports. Although a 57-percent decrease from 2005, which was $405,000, the amount still represents operation and maintenance money that was unavailable for deserving Team Wright-Patt mission needs. If we work together to better understand the vendor pay and contract agreement process, we can save even more money in 2007. In our work centers, if each of us took ownership and responsibility of the invoice process as though we were the president of the corporation, I'm certain we could find smart ways to streamline the process and protect our bottom-line profits. Energy conservation is an area in which we can all help reduce Team Wright-Patt costs. In fiscal year 2006, Wright-Patterson paid $60 million in utilities for heat, water and electricity. The fiscal year 2007 budget is more constrained and already short almost $2 million. Each of us can do our part to conserve energy as much as possible. It's the small things consistently practiced over time that can help reduce costs. For example, turn office lights off in the evening. For those of us living on base, manage the use of lights, heat and water as though we had to pay the utility bill. Every bit of savings helps. Over the next year, through Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century and other initiatives, we must transform the way we do business to enhance Air Force capabilities and meet the joint challenges of the 21st century. We are the world's greatest air, space and cyberspace force because we have the most talented and innovative people working as part of the total force team. And it will take a total team effort to transform operations as we prepare for the future. I know we're up to the challenge.