[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17792]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MR. ERNEST J. GREGORY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 7, 2004

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention 
that Mr. Ernest J. Gregory is retiring after 37 years of exemplary 
Federal service, initially with the United States Air Force and then as 
a career civil servant in the Department of Defense (DoD). Mr. Gregory 
is a gifted leader and manager, and has served his country with 
dignity, honor and integrity.
  Ernest Gregory, a native of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a 
1967 graduate of the University of Scranton in Scranton, Pennsylvania, 
and holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from that institution. He 
began his service to the Nation in 1968, when he entered the U.S. Air 
Force as an aircraft maintenance officer at the Strategic Air Command, 
Loring Air Force Base, Maine.
  Upon completing his military term in 1972, Mr. Gregory was hired as a 
staff auditor for the U.S. Army Audit Agency in Philadelphia. He proved 
to be quite skilled and soon was promoted to auditor-in-charge. Mr. 
Gregory continued his illustrious civilian career at the U.S. Army 
Security Center with various assignments, including: chief, internal 
review (1976-1979), financial systems analyst (1979-1980), deputy 
comptroller (1980-1981) and senior financial systems analyst (1981-
1982). During his time at the Army Security Center, Mr. Gregory played 
a key role in developing and implementing financial management 
performance objectives. He simultaneously earned a Masters of Business 
Administration in 1979 from Syracuse University.
  In 1982, Mr. Gregory was selected to join the Army secretariat staff 
as assistant comptroller for internal review, office of the comptroller 
of the Army. He was a relentless master in reviewing financial 
management systems and integrating measures to address shortcomings 
uncovered during the process. In recognition of his talent and 
dedication, Mr. Gregory was promoted in 1987 to director, internal 
review, office of the assistant secretary of the Army (financial 
operations). He again challenged the financial management community and 
was a model civil servant, embracing opportunities and creating new 
methodologies in an environment of continual development. Additionally, 
in 1988, he attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
  In January 1993, the Army acknowledged Mr. Gregory's abilities and 
leadership, elevating him to the Senior Executive Service and the 
position of deputy assistant secretary of the Army for financial 
operations. As deputy assistant secretary, he was responsible for all 
Army policy, programs, systems and procedures associated with the 
service's accounting and finance operations, financial systems and 
internal review and controls. He took charge of combating fraud, waste 
and abuse. He also was the primary ambassador on financial management 
issues to external stakeholders. Mr. Gregory's efforts to integrate 
financial requirements and responsiveness with emerging functional 
systems, such as the Single Stock Fund and the Defense Integrated 
Military Human Resource System, were successful and greatly improved 
Army financial management.
  Mr. Gregory was again promoted in February 2002, when Ms. Sandra 
Pack, then assistant secretary of the Army (financial management and 
comptroller), chose him as her principal deputy. (When she departed the 
Army in December 2003, he succeeded Ms. Pack as acting assistant 
secretary and served in that role for eight months.) During his tenure 
as principal deputy, Mr. Gregory shared responsibility for the 
development, formulation and advocation of policies and programs to 
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of U.S. Army resource 
management. He took bold and decisive measures to improve business 
procedures, and tirelessly pursued financial system integration and 
streamlining of Army processes. For instance, Mr. Gregory led the Army-
wide effort to eliminate the Installation Supply Buffer and associated 
annual maintenance costs, while integrating supply management and 
financial processes. These changes reduced processing cycle time from 
four days to one, improving the flow of spare parts to tactical units 
and saving taxpayers $9 million. Mr. Gregory also helped to steer the 
Army's transformational business initiatives program and the Army 
Business Initiative Council, through which the Army has gleaned more 
than $1 billion in monetary benefits. He administered implementation of 
Army Budget and Performance Initiatives, as well, including designing 
and deploying a training package and reviewing metrics for the fiscal 
year 2005 budget.
  Mr. Speaker, in this final position Mr. Gregory also had a 
significant impact on the House Government Reform Committee. His 
forthright information and proactive attitude assisted our committee in 
addressing the financial management challenges of mobilized Army 
National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve soldiers. He identified the 
problem--processing limitations caused by separate pay and personnel 
systems--and played a significant role in crafting a solution. His 
commitment to solving pay issues for all soldiers, whether active or 
reserve component, exemplifies his devotion to our men and women in 
uniform.
  On every day of his service to our country, Mr. Gregory demonstrated 
honor, integrity and personal courage. He projected the values and the 
broad perspective of the government, and provided the solid executive 
skills demanded by the American public. He helped to ensure that the 
Army was of the highest quality and was responsive to the needs, 
policies and goals of the Nation.
  Mr. Gregory's leadership and attention to people were truly 
outstanding. He actively participated in the personal and professional 
development of both military and civilian subordinates and peers. He 
was a premier team builder within the office of the assistant secretary 
of the Army (financial management and comptroller) and a truly 
exemplary leader, empowering those with whom he worked and motivating 
them to achieve at higher levels than they thought possible.
  Mr. Gregory's character and accomplishments have earned him numerous 
awards. He was the first civilian to be honored with the Finance Corps 
Regiment Award. He also has received two Meritorious Presidential Rank 
Awards, the Executive Excellence Award for Executive Achievement, the 
Special Act Award--Kuwait Reconstruction Program, the Leonard H. Kerman 
Memorial Award, the Meritorious Civilian Award, the Superior Civilian 
Service Award, multiple Outstanding Performance Awards and several 
Significant Accomplishment Awards.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ernest J. Gregory, a resident of the Commonwealth of 
Virginia, retires after 37 years of Federal service to the United 
States of America on the 2nd day of October, 2004. He, his lovely wife, 
Johanna, and their children, Maura, Ernie and Jason, deserve the thanks 
and praise of this grateful Nation, which he has faithfully served for 
so long. I know the members of the U.S. House of Representatives will 
join me in wishing him and his family all the best in the years ahead.

                          ____________________