Army Comptrollership Program graduates first class with dual master’s and M.B.A. degrees

Army Comptrollership Program graduates first class with dual master’s and M.B.A. degreesAugust 13, 2003Cynthia J. Moritzcjmoritz@syr.edu

In an Aug. 8 ceremony at Syracuse University’s Hendricks Chapel, the Martin J. Whitman School of Management’s Army Comptrollership Program (ACP) honored its first class to ever earn concurrent M.B.A. degrees and master’s degrees in public administration. Students completed coursework for both degrees in 14 months.

“The new program has made a major improvement in the skill set of ACP graduates,” says retired Col. David B. Berg, director of Army programs and executive education at the Whitman School. “The M.B.A. has provided, and continues to provide, students with the skills needed to understand and operate in financial management in the private and public sectors. The M.A. in public administration has provided students with an understanding of the broad policy implications of financial decisions. The combination provides an ideal match for their work in Department of Defense financial and resource management.”

Sandra Pack, assistant secretary of the Army (Financial Management & Comptroller), was the graduation speaker. Two outstanding ACP alumni were also honored: Anita Bales from the Army Audit Agency and retired Col. Paul Terry from the US House of Representatives Appropriations Committee staff.

The average GPA for the 25 members of the class was 3.7. The Neuman Award for the highest GPA was presented to Steven March. Five students – March, Marcus Seitz, Julio Arana, Andrew Hyatt and James Fasano – were inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the national business honor society. The Laychak/Rasmussen Award for Selfless Service was presented to Denise Saenz. Global Entrepreneurial Management Outstanding Project Awards were presented to Patrick Lamb, Gerald Skaw and John Chverchko. The class received the Chancellor’s Award for Public Service in recognition of its community service.

Berg lauds the quality of the work performed by students “In spite of taking classes over the Christmas holiday break, doing 24 hours of community service, 12 credits each summer and 18 credits in the spring semester, they maintained a positive attitude and did excellent academic work,” he says. “They have an unbelievable work ethic.”

The ACP was inaugurated in 1952 in response to financial problems identified during World War II. More than 1,300 military and civilian personnel have gone through the 14-month program, preparing them to financially manage military conflicts and fluctuations in the Defense Department’s budget.

Under the newly updated program, students take 42 credits in the Whitman School and 18 in the Maxwell School, and each student must complete 24 hours of community service, a requirement that has been in place since 1997.