Warrior of the North Fits the Bill: AF Financial Management NCO of the Year for 2013

  • Published
  • By Story by Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  A Warrior of the North was recently named the best NCO in his Air Force career field.

Tech. Sgt. Michael Groesbeck, a financial manager from the 319th Comptroller Squadron, was named the Air Force Financial Management NCO of the Year for 2013.

The Air Force-level award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments and contributions to financial management.

"I was honestly surprised, and extremely humbled to be selected for the award," said Groesbeck, who learned about his latest career accomplishment after the 319th Air Base Wing commander, Col. Paul Bauman, delivered the news during the annual awards ceremony in early February.

"This is an accomplishment very few will achieve and speaks multitudes to Tech. Sgt. Groesbeck's professionalism, proficiency in his job, and passion for the comptroller squadron mission as well as the people around him," said Bauman.

As a financial manager, Groesbeck provided key analysis and decision support for the effective execution of the wing's $57 million operating budget. He managed, distributed and tracked funds reported for wing programs in accordance with public law and service funding guidance.

Groesbeck, a 12-year veteran from Miller, Mo., led the financial management team in overseeing $188,000 in cash operations and executing a $2 million financial plan that contributed to the wing's "excellent" rating during the 2013 readiness inspection.

Groesbeck also trained 51 new users in 15 squadrons and agencies on the Defense Enterprise and Accounting Management System, which is the future of the Air Force's accounting system. Groesbeck's proactive training was so impressive that he was coined by Michael V. Sorrento, the chief information officer, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller.

Although Groesbeck's award officially recognizes the work of an individual during Fiscal Year 2013, he was quick to give the credit to others.

"Because of the encouragement from my leadership I achieved more than I set out to attain, and without the hard work and support of my peers and subordinates, not a single one of my goals would have been realized," he said. "My wife, Technical Sergeant Christina Groesbeck, is my most important supporter. She has contributed to all the accomplishments of my Air Force career."