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My Coast Guard
Commentary | Aug. 31, 2022

Best Places to Work: Pay and Personnel Center (PPC) Topeka 

By Zach Shapiro, MyCG Writer 

The Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center (PPC) celebrated its 40th anniversary this summer. Founded in 1982 and located in Topeka, Kansas, PPC oversees payroll administration for Coast Guard members across the country and around the world. With such a critical support role in the service, it’s no wonder people love working at PPC.  

MyCG spoke with PPC’s executive director, Steven Hudson, to learn more about the team and what makes their workplace so special. 
 
What we do: PPC manages many aspects of military personnel records and administers the payroll for the active duty, reserve, and retired Coast Guard members. We also fulfill similar duties for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and retired members of the U.S. Public Health Service. We even handle other lesser-known responsibilities like managing the Service Wide Exam (SWE) process and advancement of all Coast Guard enlisted members. We oversee and manage all travel claims and member separations. 
 
Why it's fulfilling: Money can be a source of stress. When Coast Guard members worry about their pay, it may be harder for them to focus on the service’s missions. Our team ensures pay is accurate and on time so they don’t have to worry. And we’re very proud to be one of the few units that gets to support every active duty, reserve, retiree, civilian, and auxiliarist in the Coast Guard.  
 
Why it's great to live where you do: There’s no hustle and bustle you find elsewhere. There’s no such thing as rush hour here in Topeka. The cost of living is low and school districts are great. And there are plenty of universities nearby offering exciting higher education opportunities. 
 
What we do for fun: Being in the middle of the country means that fun is only a short drive in any direction. We’re only hours from Omaha, which has one of the best zoos in the country. We’re close by Oklahoma City, where rodeo rules! We’ve got Kansas City and St. Louis nearby for baseball and football. We’ve got outdoor activities, history, and enough professional sports in the area to satisfy any fan! 
 
Best-kept secret: Affordable living and a friendly environment!       
 
About PPC 
Today, the Center is staffed by over 200 active duty, reserve, and civilian employees. 
 
PPC has continued to expand its responsibilities and adapt nimbly to the Coast Guard’s changing needs and goals. In the last thirty years, PPC has assumed control of retiree and reserve pay, implementing new quality assurance tools, and the E-Government Travel System (ETS), and many other programs that support the workforce and Coast Guard community every single day. 
 
PPC exemplifies the Coast Guard’s values of leadership, service, and innovation. The 200-strong Topeka team will continue to ensure each member and their family receives accurate and timely pay and excellent customer service. 
 
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