Deputy Comptroller, Program Budget, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller John Roth (left), presents Stephen Speciale with a financial management award at the American Society of Military Comptrollers’ National Professional Development Institute on May 31.

Special to The Times

Cullman resident Stephen Speciale is the recipient of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller’s financial management award.

This prestigious award recognizes individuals who make outstanding contributions improving financial management operations within the Department of Defense.

Speciale received the award May 31 at the American Society of Military Comptrollers’ National Professional Development Institute in San Diego, California.

He is an employee with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in Huntsville, Alabama.

His efforts saved the U.S. government more than $38 million as he implemented and led a business process to save costs in support of the MDA’s work in Poland as part of the European Phased Adaptive Approach for missile defense.

Speciale’s cost savings supports the overall mission of MDA and contributes to the financial stewardship of U.S. taxpayer funds.