NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — A Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) department responsible for business and financial management was one of six DoD organizations that received an excellence award Dec. 19 at Defense Acquisition University’s Fort Belvoir, Va., campus.

NAVAIR’s Program and Business Analysis Department (AIR 7.8) received the 2013 Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Awards’ large organization Silver honor from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics.

Established in 2004, the awards acknowledge organizations that have excelled at developing their employees. AIR 7.8 develops its workforce through avenues such as the College of Business and Financial Management (CoB&FM), which provides knowledge and training in NAVAIR’s financial and business practices. The college facilitates a continuous learning environment, allowing knowledge-sharing and collaboration among workers from intern to journey level.

“This award would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of our 7.8 managers and workforce, ensuring our programs and customers receive world-class financial management services,” said Sharon Gellerson, the NAVAIR director for AIR 7.8. “We are honored to have our workforce development efforts recognized through this prestigious award."

The AIR 7.8 team meets warfighter needs by providing strategic and tactical advice in business and financial management in support of naval warfare technologies. The team contributes skilled people, processes, tools and knowledge to assist leadership in making informed decisions and lessen financial and business risks.

"The demand for superior business and financial managers (BFMs) continues to increase, driving the need for exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable BFMs who are experts in planning, programming, budgeting and execution,” Gellerson said. “Our BFMs must be able to guide and advise program managers in financial matters in this fiscally austere environment. These challenges drive the need for our 7.8 competency to focus on workforce development to create a premiere workforce deeply engaged in continuous development, learning and personal growth.”

Air 7.8 officials said they plan to continue developing the workforce through internships, mentoring, the CoB&FM and recognition awards.

"The men and women who comprise the 7.8 competency are a group of professionals who spend long hours ensuring the funds they are entrusted with are used to provide critical weapon systems and services for our men and women of the fleet,” said John Waddell, the senior career field manager for AIR 7.8. “The men and women of 7.8 take a lot of pride and respect in their jobs and they do it very well.”