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News ArticleCS
NEWS | Sept. 3, 2021

Host Nation Operational Planning Team Receives Financial Management Award

By U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa / U.S. Sixth Fleet Public Affairs

The Host Nation (HN) operational planning team (OPT) assigned to Commander, Naval Forces Europe and Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) received the calendar year 2020 Financial Management Award in the Team Achievement and Audit Improvement, Echelon II or Above Category, during a virtual award ceremony, September 2, 2021.

Rear Adm. Michael T. Curran, director, Readiness and Logistics, NAVEUR-NAVAF, led the OPT which was comprised of members from the N4 (Fleet Supply Ordnance and Logistics), N51 (Europe Engagement Plans), Force Judge Advocate General (JAG), Office of General Counsel (OGC), and the Force Comptroller. The OPT remediated and re-engineered the process for host nation programs to support the mission-ready posture at joint use installations, while maintaining a favorable relationship with NATO Allies.

"I am extremely proud of the tireless efforts of the Host Nation OPT and the remarkable results they have achieved. The OPT has demonstrated excellence in teamwork, collaboration, and perseverance in remediating past payments and improving the overall process,” said Curran. “The work the OPT has done solidifies a transparent and auditable process for payment of services under international agreements. Moreover, it preserves trust and goodwill between the United States its NATO allies and partner nations."

The comprehensive remediation plan examined historical actions and payments, and developed a sustainable process for the procurement of services at shared installations. The team also developed command-level policy and procedures, including the first Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) instruction and standard operating procedures (SOP).

 “I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside so many talented and energetic officers and civilians from the NAVEUR-NAVAF, Region and Installation teams,” said Capt. Douglas MacKenzie, the former Sixth Fleet N4A and Force Comptroller, who was part of the Host Nation OPT since its establishment in 2017, and is now the Commanding Officer of NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella.  “We worked extremely hard to overcome very complex and nuanced issues related to international agreements, logistics support, and fiscal law, across multiple echelons of command and with our host nation partners.  In the end, I’m confident that we’ve developed a more efficient, transparent and auditable process that will support the Navy well into the future.”

The success of this program and effective remediation was a key initiative for the Secretary of the Navy’s (SECNAV) Office of the Chief Management Officer (OCMO), and sets the precedent across the Navy and Department of Defense.

NAVEUR-NAVAF is proud of their mission and efforts to maintain strong relationships with their partners and allies, and enabling strong and deterrent force posture within their area of responsibility.

NAVEUR-NAVAF, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conduct the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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