Comptroller flight ranks in top 20 nationally Published Nov. 3, 2010 By Tech. Sgt. Stacy Gault 171st Air Refueling Wing PITTSBURGH -- In the 2009 fiscal year, the 171st Comptroller Flight managed a budget more than $57 million, processed 7,800 travel vouchers and created nearly 15,000 military orders. The flight, formerly known as the finance office, ranks 14 out of 91 guard units nationally for efficiency. The ranking is determined by military pay timeliness, interest and payment penalties on base contracts, indebtedness or overpaying a unit member, overdue travel orders and unit members' government credit card balances past due. In addition to making sure 171st members receive their paycheck for their hard work, the comptroller flight also works closely with the contracting office and oversees the resource advisor program, which provides unit members with supplies and the means to do their job. Fifteen full-time and traditional guardsmen comprise the flight which is divided into the budget and accounting department and customer service. "The most challenging part of the job is keeping up with all of the information because it's constantly changing," said Capt. Scott Colussy, the comptroller flight budget officer. Colussy said the flight is able to handle challenges and adversity because of the team members' knowledge and leadership throughout the finance community. "National Guard Bureau is actively recruiting Pittsburgh members for training teams," Colussy said, adding that the "staff take calls and e-mails from all over the country requesting information about their area of expertise. But as long as the 171st is flying tankers, people are working which means people are earning a paycheck." The high daily ops tempo keeps the comptroller flight busy, but deployments and Air Expeditionary Force rotations increase its workload leaving little downtime. Despite a big workload, the flight doesn't let their busy schedule get in the way of helping people. "Their dedication, willingness and ability to provide good customer service makes them so successful," Colussy said.