Why Government-Built Software Almost Always Fails Let’s be honest—when the government tries to build its own software, it almost never ends well. In today’s world of tight budgets, higher expectations for transparency, and the need to move fast, it just doesn’t make sense for agencies to reinvent the wheel when proven solutions already exist in…
Category: blogpost
AFI 11-253, Managing Purchases of Aviation Fuel and Ground Services The U.S. Air Force relies on timely and accurate purchases of aviation fuel and ground services to sustain flight operations and maintain mission readiness. AFI 11-253, Managing Purchases of Aviation Fuel and Ground Services, establishes the rules for how fuel is procured and how off-station services…
How FTPM Strengthens AFI 11-253 Oversight
The Fuel Transaction Processing Module (FTPM) reinforces the intent of AFI 11-253 by transforming how aviation fuel and ground service purchases are tracked, validated, and reconciled. Traditionally, these processes relied on manual data entry and spreadsheets—leaving room for error, inconsistency, and audit risk. FTPM changes that.
By automating every stage of the transaction lifecycle—from receipt through payment and audit trail—FTPM delivers end-to-end transparency and compliance. Real-time validation and automated alerts flag duplicate charges, missing documentation, or unusual quantities before they become costly errors. Standardized digital templates replace paper forms, ensuring every record aligns with Air Force policy and is tied to accountable personnel through digital signatures and secure audit logs.
Beyond individual transactions, FTPM provides enterprise-level oversight. Headquarters and command teams gain roll-up dashboards that identify trends, track exceptions, and pinpoint areas requiring attention across multiple units. This proactive visibility supports continuous improvement and stronger internal controls.
The module also accelerates onboarding and continuity through standardized workflows and training guides that retain institutional knowledge, even through personnel turnover or deployment.
Ultimately, FTPM doesn’t replace the responsibilities outlined in AFI 11-253—it amplifies them. By integrating automation, standardization, and accountability into one system, FTPM helps ensure every gallon, every receipt, and every approval contributes to the Air Force’s broader mission of accuracy, efficiency, and readiness.
Cash flow optimization is critically important, especially during periods of Continuing Resolution (CR) authority. The objective is to manage the limited funding authority available within the constraints imposed by the CR. Effective cash flow optimization involves several strategies and practices: Managing disbursement timingCoordinate with Suppliers and Service Providers: Partial funding and precisely timing payments…
For the US Air Force, AFI 11-253 – Managing Purchases of Aviation Fuel and Ground Services was published to document procedures and controls governing the “accountability requirements for purchase of aviation fuel and off-station ground services; and establishes the US Air Force Aviation Into-plane Reimbursement (AIR) Card® program, and provides procedures for its management and…
Financial Improvement and Audit Remediation—or “FIAR”—was envisioned in the early 2000s with the goal of improving the financial and business management operations within the Department of Defense (DoD), with the objective of successfully producing “auditable” financial statements. Several decades later, the DoD has made strides in the auditability of financial statements but has yet to…
Fuel Audits Simplified using CAFDEx® Fuel Transaction Program Management In the recently released report GAO-23-105531, the US. Government Accounting Office identified weaknesses and recommendations for the DoD processes for purchasing, selling, and recording fuel transactions. The CAFDEx® FTPM tools have been configured to assist with the recording and management of fuel transactions and, hence, the…
We thank our veterans with parades, ceremonies and free meals every November as a nation. And then they often dwindle from our thoughts until another celebratory holiday comes around. But the innovation and expertise veterans bring to the workforce and to civilian life impact our communities and our economy every day of the year. Approximately…
The Flying Hour Program (FHP) Suite of Tools is a powerful set of tools – offering units and commands a range of time and cost-saving features, while also improving audit readiness. Each August and September, we work closely with our government customers to close out the fiscal year effectively and efficiently. These are just a…
S is for Solution: A Dictionary for Delivering Success There are a lot of ingredients that go into building a technical solution. From a systems development perspective, the solution starts with an idea, proceeds to requirements and design, includes testing, and eventually is followed by a deployment. From an engineering perspective, you will need hardware,…