Gary K. Gualano is Director, Air Force Financial Services Center, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. He is responsible for all matters pertaining to non-Defense Travel System travel pay processing. He supports over 400,000 Active, Reserve and Department of the Air Force civilian personnel serving at 96 bases/locations and spanning nine major commands and the Air Force District of Washington.
Mr. Gualano retired from the United States Air Force in May 2012 following 27.5 years of service. He began his career in 1984, serving seven years as a medical technician before earning a commission in September of 1991 through Officer Training School. During his career, he held positions as a financial analyst wing-level; budget analyst at a major command; acquisition budget officer on Aeronautical Systems Center staff; chief financial officer on two integrated product teams; director of admissions, AFROTC; comptroller/squadron commander; deputy financial controller with the NATO AWACS program; and commander/deputy director, Air Force Financial Services Center. In January 1991, he deployed with the 33 TFW Provisional to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation DESERT STORM. He deployed again in December 2001, in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and SOUTHERN WATCH as the JTF-SWA Budget Officer. His last deployment in January 2005 was in support of the US Army Civil Military Affairs office at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.
EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor of Science in Management/Accounting, Park College
1994 Master of Science in Business Administration, Abilene Christian University
1996 Financial Management Staff Officer Course
1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2004 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2008 Air War College, by correspondence
2010 Defense Financial Management & Comptroller School
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1991 – May 1994, Financial Analysis Officer, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.
2. June 1994 – May 1996, Acquisition Budget Officer, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
3. May 1996 – June 1997, Chief Financial Officer, Special Operations Forces Aircrew Training Systems, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
4. June 1997 – June 1998, Chief Financial Officer, C-17 Aircrew Training Systems, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
5. June 1998 – June 2001, Regional Director of Admissions, AFROTC, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
6. June 2001 – June 2002, Chief, Plans and Programs, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
7. June 2002 – November 2002, Contingency Funds Analyst, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
8. November 2002 – July 2003, Investment/Procurement Funds Analyst, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
9. July 2003 – May 2006, Commander, 50th Comptroller Squadron, Schriever Air Force Base, Colo.
10. June 2006 – June 2009, Deputy Financial Controller, Budget and Finance Division, Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base, Germany
11. June 2009 – March 2011, Director, Central Processing Center, Air Force Financial Services Center, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.
12. March 2011 – Mar 2012, Commander/Deputy Director, Air Force Financial Services Center, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.
13. April 2012 – September 2012, Deputy Director, Air Force Financial Services Center, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.
14. September 2012 – Present, Director, Air Force Financial Services Center, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters, Valor
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Honor Graduate, Budget Officer School, 1992
Secretary of the Air Force/Financial Management Author of the Year, 2002
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
Member, American Society of Military Comptrollers
Certified Defense Financial Manager, 2011
Current as of January 2015