DFAS gets a new Shine

Defense Finance and Accounting Service Web site

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service will get an acting director this week, following the departure of Thomas Bloom to become the Federal Aviation Administration's chief financial officer.

A memo written by Dov Zakheim, the Defense Department's chief financial officer, announced that Pat Shine will become the acting director of the organization on Dec. 5. Shine is currently the director of military and civilian pay services at DFAS.

Bloom "has served the department extremely well during his tenure," Zakheim wrote. "We will miss his expertise, talent and dedication to improving financial management. Please give Mr. Shine your full support during this time of transition."

Bloom announced his impending departure to pursue "new challenges and opportunities" on Nov. 13. At the time, he did not give a specific date for his leaving.

Bloom oversaw DFAS for five years, and said he was leaving behind a leaner organization. Over the course of his tenure, he has reduced the total workforce at the agency by about 25 percent, from more than 20,000 in 1999 to slightly more than 15,000 today.

Shine joined DFAS after a career with the U.S. Army Finance Corps.

His active duty assignments included comptroller duties with the 1st Armored Division, U.S. Army Europe and the Army staff. He saw overseas duty in Vietnam, Korea and Germany.

Shine's previous DFAS assignments include director of Army Military Pay Operations, director of finance for DFAS-Indianapolis, and director of DFAS Operating Forces responsible for accounting support to Army major commands.

He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Eastern Kentucky University and an MBA from Indiana University.