[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 20 (Tuesday, March 1, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 1, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                          TRIBUTE TO SIG GAST

                                 ______


                       HON. HELEN DELICH BENTLEY

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 1, 1994

  Mrs. BENTLEY. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Mr. Sigmund ``Sig'' Gast 
retired as defense accounting officer for Aberdeen Proving Ground 
[APG], Maryland, after 36 years 8 months of dedicated service to the 
U.S. Government. He is the recipient of 27 annual performance awards, a 
3,000-hour sick leave accumulation award and other special recognition, 
identified herein. He is also a charter member (1958) and past 
president of the Chesapeake chapter, American Society of Military 
Comptrollers.
  Mr. Gast began his Federal career in July 1957, at APG as a GS-5 
accountant. Through the early years, his outstanding professional and 
supervisory abilities led to many promotions until he reached his 
present position of accounting officer in April 1976. Since then his 
superior leadership and exemplary performance have made the Aberdeen 
Proving Ground Finance and Accounting Office one of the outstanding 
organizations of its type within Department of the Defense. Functions 
of the office include: cost accounting, appropriation and fund 
accounting, inventory accounting, systems accounting and quality 
control, civilian pay, military pay, travel pay, commercial accounts, 
and banking operations.
  Mr. Gast is a unique individual capable of assuming any and all 
responsibilities without question. With a keen analytical mind, he has 
continually, throughout his Government career provided innovative, 
technical, and systematic procedural ideas and concepts to resolve 
complex problems, enhance productivity, and reduce costs. To 
illustrate: During the 1970's, Mr. Gast was instrumental in getting 
optical character recognition [OCR], computer output microfilm [COM] 
and high-speed printers for the APG Central Computer Center. If there 
was a more cost-effective way, or a more time-saving way of doing a job 
Mr. Gast would think of it. Other innovations include introducing 
automatic teller machines at APG, sophisticated supply/accounting 
interfaces, concepts for electronic timekeeping and use of the VISA 
program and EFT for vendor payments. Today the VISA credit card payment 
program for vendors at APG is among the largest in Department of the 
Defense.
  Early in his career (1971), Mr. Gast was nominated by the U.S. Army 
Materiel Command for the William A. Jump outstanding young executive 
award. In part, he was recognized for his designing, documenting, and 
effectively implementing a highly sophisticated prototype cost 
accounting system within the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command 
[TECOM]. This cost system, TEAMUP, test evaluation analysis and 
management uniformity plan, is the hub of the entire accounting 
application and includes complex interfaces with other standard 
accounting procedures, supply and contract operations, program and 
budget, engineer and transportation systems, and the civilian pay 
application.
  Mr. Gast, again utilizing keen perceptive ability, ingenuity, total 
resourcefulness, and his vast and detailed knowledge of accounting 
applications has fine-tuned TEAM-UP throughout the years where it is 
now recognized as a leading Government system for sophisticated 
managerial cost analysis.
  As a teacher, Mr. Gast has channeled his energies toward the 
development of his employees. During the 1970's he initiated a 
comprehensive career training program within the finance and accounting 
division of the Aberdeen Proving Ground Comptroller Office. The program 
placed special emphasis on types of training which would enhance 
employee opportunities to advance in the finance and accounting career 
field. He personally presented numerous comptroller symposia to 
supervisory and senior nonsupervisory personnel on topics including 
time management, transactional analysis, effective listening, 
situational ethics, and other topics of managerial and employee 
interest.
  An award-winning accountant intern program provided special academic 
and on-the-job training for numerous accountants assigned to APG for 
initial technical development. Further, an intraorganization cross 
training development program focused on diversified on-the-job training 
for employees to become knowledgeable in several areas. For example, 
cross training in travel and commercial accounts helped employees 
become versed in all areas of voucher examination duties. Mr. Gast 
encouraged his personnel to supplement their on-the-job training with 
academic programs in accounting and data processing long before it 
became fashionable. Because of his emphasis on professional and 
technical development, many of his employees have risen through the 
ranks and gone to other organizations where they now occupy senior 
positions of responsibility and leadership.
  Throughout his years of Government service Mr. Gast has progressively 
taken on more difficult assignments. His dedication and competence were 
recognized at a special ceremony in Gettysburg, PA (April 1986). Mr. 
Gast received the Tom Gerety Award for the Most Outstanding Accountant 
for 1985 from the U.S. Army Materiel Command, the largest employer of 
accountants in the Army. Mr. Gast was commended for his many years of 
exceptional performance and outstanding accomplishments, including his 
work as an educator, systems designer, innovator, and his dynamic 
leadership abilities.
  In May 1986, Mr. Gast received an outstanding supervisor award, 
senior professional level, from the Baltimore Federal Executive Board, 
career service awards competition, for his significant accomplishments 
in the field of education and personnel/technical management.
  As evidenced from the above, education is important to Mr. Gast. He 
received his associates degree from Valley Forge Military Academy and 
College and bachelors degree from Lehigh University, both with high 
honors and both in business administration. He is a member of Phi Beta 
Kappa, Beta Gamma Sigma, and Phi Theta Kappa. His masters degree from 
George Washington University is in information management. He is also a 
distinguished graduate from the Professional Military Comptroller 
School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL.
  From September 1978 to December 1988, Mr. Gast was an assistant 
professor at the Florida Institute of Technology [FIT]. He taught 
financial management, financial accounting, managerial accounting, 
behavioral science and management, information management and 
management analysis. While affiliated with FIT he received the 
Distinguished Instructor Award. He also taught at the University of 
Maryland, and since 1987, Mr. Gast has been a lecturer at the Harford 
Community College.
  In June 1993, Mr. Gast received the Department of the Army Decoration 
For Meritorious Civilian Service. Quoting from the citation: ``Mr. Gast 
exhibits an uncompromising commitment to excellence. His conscientious 
efforts, sound leadership and indepth knowledge of the Army accounting 
system allowed him to instill a strong work ethic in the members of his 
organization and to implement numerous innovative procedures that 
allowed the successful execution of the mission despite declining 
resources. Under his stewardship, the APG finance and accounting 
division has gained worldwide recognition for its outstanding mission, 
performance, and service.''
  Mr. Gast's knowledge, managerial abilities, and sensitivity to people 
are evident in his support of quality circles and participation in the 
total army quality program. In December 1993, he received a plaque for 
outstanding support of total army quality at APG.
  Quality of life is also important for Mr. Gast. Early in his career 
he founded the APG winter sports program, still in effect today. 
Tournaments in handball, squash, and racquetball are held annually. 
During the same period he was instrumental in upgrading APG food 
service. As chairman of the Post Restaurant Council he brought in 
Slater Food Service--ARA caterers--and introduced elegant dining to the 
main cafeteria, and an upgrade to the Marylander Club and other 
locations.
  On December 8, 1993, in a special Washington, DC ceremony, Mr. Gast, 
on behalf of the APG Finance and Accounting Office, was presented with 
the Department of the Treasury Vanguard Award for 1993 for demonstrated 
superior leadership in innovative financial management programs. This 
singular accomplishment reflects the high quality of Mr. Gast's 
organization and its enthusiasm for excellence and improved 
productivity, especially in the area of dynamic cash management.
  Mr. Gast is not all work and no play. He has a spontaneous, dry sense 
of humor and is in demand as a speaker or master of ceremony at 
retirement luncheons. Outside of Government life he is very active in 
his community. He is a music enthusiast. As a young man he was a 
principal clarinetist in high school, throughout his college years and 
in various concert bands and State festivals. Since 1988, he is a 
member of the Bel Air community band and was a soloist in the December 
1990 concert. His musical talents extend to his religious life as well. 
A longtime member of the Harford Jewish Center, he has been the cantor 
and reader of the Scroll for 25 years. He was a local president of the 
international humanitarian fraternity, B'nai B'rith. During his 
leadership he and the organization received many awards, including one 
for Mr. Gast being instrumental in introducing Holocaust studies into 
the Harford County public school system. He was also a recipient in May 
1986 of the Adolf Nord Award from the Harford Jewish Center for his 
exemplary service to the Jewish community, and in March 1991 was 
recipient of a special award from the State of Israel.
  Mr. Gast's family life has been exciting and the source of much 
humorous material. Mr. Gast and his wife, Carol have been married for 
more than 30 years. They have three children--Brian, Kevin, and Tami, 
and two wonderful grandchildren--Brandon Nathaniel, and Katherine 
Victoria.
  He will be missed!