Article Display

U.S. Rep. Mulvaney makes first Shaw visit

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Beth Lake
  • Third Army Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Mick Mulvaney, U.S. Congressman for South Carolina's 5th District, visited here Jan. 28, and spent an afternoon getting to know the military personnel who serve in his district. The congressman specifically made time to welcome Third Army as his new neighbors.

"This was my first chance today to not only visit the base but to meet with its leadership and with the people who work here to understand the role that Shaw plays, not only within our military, but within the larger community here (Sumter and the 5th District)," Mulvaney said. "This is also a great opportunity to meet the folks from Third Army who are in the process of moving here."

Representative Mulvaney also focused upon the 20th Fighter Wing and Ninth Air Force/AFCENT.

"It was an honor for the 20th Fighter Wing to host Representative Mulvaney," said Col. Charlie Moore, 20th FW commander. "We appreciate him taking time to visit the base and allowing us the opportunity to show off the outstanding work Team Shaw is doing in support of our country. We look forward to hosting the Congressman and other members of the South Carolina delegation in the future."

In addition to command briefings, Mulvaney toured the base and stopped by Third Army's new headquarters building currently under construction. The 321,000 square foot command and control facility is scheduled to be completed in May.

Third Army's move to Shaw began with the arrival of an advanced party of Soldiers in June 2010 and is scheduled to be completed in Sept. 2011. The move was mandated by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission's decision to close Fort McPherson, Ga.

Shaw is not only the largest employer in the congressman's district, but in the state of South Carolina. Around 7,000 people work at Shaw, and that is growing by around 1,000 more as Third Army rolls in.

The arrival of Third Army here will bring an estimated $118 million economic impact to Mulvaney's district and put the ground and air components for U.S. Central Command in the same location.

"This was a tremendous opportunity to continue to use Shaw as an economic driver for this entire part of the state," Mulvaney said. "I am glad to see that it is growing and succeeding. I don't think it's possible to overemphasize the importance of this last development to Shaw AFB which is the addition of Third Army. "