ATFM episode 34: Audit remediation, fiscal goals, and career advice
Featuring Mike Cook, G-8, Army Materiel Command
In this episode of the "All Things Financial Management" podcast, presented by the Society of Defense Financial Management and Guidehouse, Mike Cook, G-8, Army Materiel Command (AMC), sat down with host Tom Rhoads to discuss the latest ongoings in the financial management space. The pair discuss Mike’s career trajectory to his current role at AMC, the team’s recent accomplishments and fiscal goals, and advice for early careerists. Listen to this new episode to gain valuable insight.
Mike Cook's Story
Mike Cook: So I was a career soldier. I was on active duty for 28 years. I started in armor, tanks, did that for the first 11, and then the last 17-ish years, I was in Army Financial Management. I retired from the army in 2016, and my last assignment was here at Redstone. My last active duty assignment was here at Redstone Army Space and Missile Defense Command where I was the G-8. And then when I retired, I was lucky enough to be hired on as the Deputy G-8 at the same place, Space and Missile Defense Command.
And I was there for about four years from 2016 to 2020, and the position opened up down the street at Army Materiel Command. I threw my name in the hat and was lucky enough to get selected, and I've been at AMC since 2020, since May of 2020. First two years, I was the Deputy. Ms. Christina Freese, she was the 8, and then she moved across the hall to be the G-1 and then competed for and was selected to be the G-8, so I've been that for a little over two years now. And I guess the one thing I would say is, I used to think I knew a lot about money, and then I came to AMC, and every day is an adventure here.