Defense Enterprise Accounting and Management System deploys beta version at Scott

Published Dec. 9, 2009
By Cathy Segal
DEAMS Strategic Communications

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. -- Air Mobility Command's "Showcase Wing" is living up to its name as one of the premier units using the Air Force's new integrated system for accounting and financial management.

The Defense Enterprise Accounting and Management System deployed a Spiral 2 beta version Dec. 1, accommodating up to 300 select users at the 375th Air Mobility Wing, Air Mobility Command, U.S. Transportation Command, other Team Scott units, and regional Air National Guard units that request or process financial transactions through the Scott financial services office. Defense Finance and Accounting Service centers at Limestone, Maine; and Columbus, Ohio; that service the base also are among the first users.

DEAMS is an Air Force initiative using industry-proven Oracle® software to provide warfighters with timely, accurate and reliable financial information leading to more efficient and effective decisions. It replaces decades-old inefficient technology that no longer complies with federal law and Department of Defense regulations.

The beta version allows for familiarizing users with DEAMS and jump-starting the process for successful deployment to the customers in March. This, however, is not the first time Scott users are seeing DEAMS.

Spiral 1, the first phase of the DEAMS technology demonstration, deployed at Scott in July 2007, affecting about 700 users engaged in commitment accounting. Spiral 2, the second and final phase, will apply the full gamut of capabilities, including commitment accounting; general accounting; project accounting; revenue and billing; property, plant and equipment; and timekeeping. Spiral 2 will affect nearly 1,100 users at or associated with Scott.

Reliance on DEAMS has steadily increased since its inception more than two years ago when a total of 1,150 requisitions were processed in FY08. In FY09, improved commitment accounting capabilities in DEAMS led to $5.4 billion spent on 3,289 requisitions. Comparatively, as of Dec. 4, 1,149 requisitions have been approved so far in FY 10. "You can see how significant it is becoming," said Terri Drees, DEAMS governmental team lead for sustainment. "Expectations among users are growing just as fast and we're seeing increased satisfaction with the system as it comes of age," she said.

"I had no problems with processing documents in DEAMS at all," Rhonda Fehrmann, budget officer at the 932nd Airlift Wing at Scott, said of her FY 09 closeout experience with DEAMS. "The system worked wonderfully and fast!"

The initiative to modernize accounting and financial management began in June 2001 when then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld indicated one of his highest priorities was to have reliable, accurate, and timely financial information to make the most effective business decisions. Outdated, unreliable financial systems that were unable to share information across the enterprise were adversely affecting the ability of the Department of Defense and the Air Force to ensure basic accountability, anticipate future costs and claims on the budget, measure performance, maintain funds control, and prevent fraud.

Then-commander of U.S. Transportation Command, Gen. John Handy, wrote the DoD comptroller in 2002 outlining his frustration with "the lack of integrated financial systems," "limited visibility of financial data," and "broken audit trails." In his worldwide role with DoD transportation issues, Handy and others in the Air Force were also struggling with how to achieve and maintain efficient and effective management control over the hundreds of billions of dollars in inventory and other assets. Rumsfeld's vision and Handy's frustrations led to the development of DEAMS.

DEAMS replaces outdated stovepiped systems that are handicapped by multiple interfaces, inefficient technology, and limited functionality with a single automated, integrated system based on industry standards. It complies with all applicable laws and regulations, overcoming critical shortfalls of the old legacy systems.

More information can be found on the DEAMS Web site at http://www.transcom.mil/deams/.

(Toni Duron contributed to this article)