Superintendent aims to cut $5.2 million from TDY budget Published Aug. 24, 2012 By Don Branum Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould has asked units on base to cut non-mission-essential travel from their Fiscal Year 2013 budgets toward a goal of reducing the Academy's Fiscal Year 2013 temporary duty travel costs by more than $5 million. Units' travel activities must be necessary for mission accomplishment, be the product of sound and comprehensive cost analysis and stand up to scrutiny, Gould wrote in a memorandum for all agencies July 27. "We must recognize that in the current fiscal environment, our budget is more constrained, and the need for heightened stewardship is even greater," Gould wrote. "Continued Congressional support for national defense priorities will be predicated not only on military necessity but also on our ability to prove we are fiscally responsible." The $5 million goal represents about 45 percent of the Academy's travel budget for Fiscal Year 2012. "Reducing travel costs will help direct scarce dollars to areas that support the USAFA's mission of developing officers of character," said Al Seto, the Financial Management and Comptroller Directorate's senior budget analyst. "Fiscal Year 2013 is going to be a tough year that will require all to scrutinize how the academy spends its money," Seto said. "We need to look at cost savings methods in accomplishing our mission. Our goal is to ensure that we smartly allocate the scarce dollars we receive to programs that have the greatest return on investment." Gould wrote that the Financial Management and Comptroller Directorate will provide additional guidance and support to ensure full accountability of Academy resources. "I am counting on everyone to curb unnecessary travel and related costs," he wrote. "The Air Force is fully committed to this effort, and it is my intention that the United States Air Force Academy will lead the way."