Last week, the 628th Air Base Wing at Joint Base Charleston held a change of command ceremony, recognizing the transfer of command from Col. Michael A. Freeman to Col. Jason Parker.
In his time as commander, Col. Freeman became an incredible partner to the Chamber, helping the business community gain a greater understanding of the military’s impact on our region and advocating for service members who were transitioning from their military careers to civilian careers.
In reflecting on his connection to the Chamber and the business community, Col. Freeman said, “The Charleston community and the business community specifically are incredibly supportive of the military. Most of my contact and engagement with the business community came through the metro Chamber and I appreciated their support for the military and their willingness to get involved to solve mutual issues that impact everyone in the Metro region.”
As Col. Freeman looks to the future of the relationship between Joint Base Charleston and the Chamber, he said, “The focus on education, housing, childcare and transportation is spot on and I trust the Charleston business community to work closely with all stakeholders in the region to make meaningful advances in these areas in the coming years. Thank you to everyone in the business community for your support; you are a huge part of what makes the Charleston area so special!”
Since 2001, the Chamber has served as the lead regional organization focused on the retention of existing facilities and the expansion of facilities through efforts in seeking to locate new missions to the region. During this time, the Chamber team has had the opportunity to work with many outstanding military leaders like Col. Freeman and looks forward to continuing these efforts as Col. Parker steps into his new role.
“During his time as commander of Joint Base Charleston, we have been fortunate to work with Col. Freeman and his team to identify and contribute to areas of support for our region’s military,” Bryan Derreberry, President and CEO of the Charleston Metro Chamber, said.
Derreberry continued to say, “From providing insights on JBC to serving on the Chamber’s board and sharing his leadership experience with our Leadership Discovery class, Col. Freeman has been an incredible asset in bridging the gap between the business community and our nation’s service members. We wish Col. Freeman the best in his retirement and are looking forward to experiencing his impact on our region in the next phase of his career.”
As Col. Parker begins his command at JBC, the Chamber is excited to welcome him to the region at Impact: Change of Command, held on August 14 at the South Carolina Ports Authority Headquarters. We’ll be joined by Col. Parker to hear an update on JBC and more on his vision for the military installation. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased by visiting the Impact: Change of Command event page.
