Gov. Phil Bryant Tuesday re-established and appointed a Columbus man to the Mississippi Military Communities Council, which was formed to help promote and protect the state’s military interests. The council also will advise the governor on issues impacting Mississippi’s nine military bases.
Bryant appointed former Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard Bill Freeman as chairman of the council and former Golden Triangle Regional Airport executive director and chairman of the Columbus Air Force Base 2020 committee, retired Col. Nick Ardillo, as a member of the council.
Supporters said the council only can be beneficial to CAFB.
“Columbus Air Force Base is extremely important to Columbus, the state and the nation,” said Bryant spokesman Mick Bullock. “Missions at this base are critical to training the pilots and airmen who defend our nation and the base’s economic impact on the surrounding community is incredible. Further, Gov. Bryant’s appointment of retired Col. Nick Ardillo to the Mississippi Military Communities Council speaks volumes about the significance of Columbus Air Force Base.”
“It’s certainly an honor,” Ardillo said of his appointment to the council. “But it comes with great responsibility in reporting to the governor and keeping up with the state’s nine bases and 30,000 employees. (CAFB) is a great facility and we are very proud of it. Someone once said it’s like running a political campaign (and) you want to do it unopposed.”
With base closings always a possibility, Base Community Council President Kevin Stafford praised Bryant for his action.
“I’m glad (Gov. Phil Bryant) re-established this council,” Stafford said. “A committee of this nature is a step in the right direction for our state to be better prepared to support our military communities, especially with future rounds of (Base Realignment And Closure) happening. This will also help better inform the communities about what is going on. For (Base Community Council), it will allow us to plug into what insight the committee will have, and we can help from a local level.”
The council was formed in the early 1990s by then Gov. Kirk Fordice. Each military community in Mississippi appoints members to its own group and designates a senior member to work closely with the state-level designation. Senior members of the legislature also serve on the council.
Mississippi is home to four federal bases, including CAFB, as well as two Army National Guard installations and three Air National Guard bases. The combined bases contribute an estimated $2.5 billion in annual economic impact.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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