Stephen R. Herrera, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters United States Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He oversees the budgeting, cost estimating and financial operations of more than $165 billion in annual resources that support Department of the Air Force priorities in accordance with Congressional, Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Air Force direction. Additionally, he is responsible for the professional development of more than 12,000 military and civilian members of the Air Force financial management community.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Herrera was the Deputy for Budget, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Virginia, where he was responsible for planning and directing Air and Space Force budget formulation and execution of appropriations. He led a staff of civilian and military financial managers who develop, defend and execute funding that supports military operations and Department of the Air Force priorities.
Mr. Herrera began his career with the Air Force as a Palace Acquire intern upon graduation from the University of Texas in San Antonio. He has held various positions within the Air Force in the areas of budget formulation, program integration and resource management.
EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of Business Administration, Finance, University of Texas, San Antonio
1995 Master of Science, Management, Troy State University, Ala.
1999 Air War College in Seminar, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2003 Council For Excellence in Government Fellows Program, Washington, D.C.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. January 1988–January 1990, Budget Analyst, 834th Comptroller Squadron, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2. January 1990–April 1991, Budget Analyst, Budget Policy and Control Division, Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
3. April 1991–October 1995, Budget Analyst, Budget Operations Division, Directorate of Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
4. October 1995–October 2000, Chief, Budget Support Branch, Directorate of Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
5. October 2000–August 2002, Chief, Budget Operations Division, Directorate of Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
6. August 2002–March 2004, Deputy Comptroller, Directorate of Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
7. March 2004–March 2005, Chief, Financial Analysis, Financial Management Directorate, Air Armament Center, Eglin AFB, Fla.
8. March 2005–January 2012, Deputy Director of Financial Management, Air Armament Center, Eglin AFB, Fla.
9. January 2012–January 2013, Deputy and Director for Budget Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. January 2013–October 2015, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Operations, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. November 2015–November 2018, Executive Director, Headquarters AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
12. November 2018–July 2019, Deputy Director of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
13. July 2019–December 2020, Deputy for Budget, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. December 2020–present, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
1994 Outstanding Contribution to Financial Management, Air Force Special Operations Command
2003 Outstanding Comptroller, United States Special Operations Command
2004, 2012 and 2017 Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2005 and 2009 Special Act or Service Award
2010 Air Force Materiel Command Robert D. Stuart Award Winner
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Defense Financial Management Certification, Level III
DAWIA Business, Cost Estimating and Financial Management, Level III
Senior Fellow, Council for Excellence in Government
Certified Defense Financial Manager (Acquisition)
(Current as of January 2021)