Military Base Task Force Appoints New Executive Coordinator
The S.C. Military Base Task Force tapped Charlie Farrell as its new executive coordinator during a meeting of the group’s executive committee at the S.C. Department of Commerce, which now houses the task force.
General William “Dutch” Holland previously ran the task force as interim executive coordinator. William “Bill” Bethea Jr., recently-appointed chairman of the Military Base Task Force, recognized Gen. Holland at the meeting for his service to South Carolina.
“Dutch Holland represents exemplary service to South Carolina. He stepped into the Executive Coordinator role and helped keep the vital business of the Military Base Task Force going during a transitional time,” Bethea said. “Fortunately, Gen. Holland has agreed to continue as a part of the leadership as a key advisor to the statewide team on BRAC and related matters.”
The Task Force selected Farrell to assume the role of Executive Coordinator. “Charlie Farrell has a wealth of experience in military matters and his assistance and leadership as part of the S.C. Military Base Task Force will be a tremendous asset. With the looming defense budget cuts, the work of our group will be important as we prepare for possible base closures here, and in other states,” Bethea noted.
Farrell is a banking and finance graduate of the University of South Carolina with extensive military and professional experience. He flew more than 3,000 hours as a fighter pilot for the Marine Corps and Air National Guard before owning two commercial printing companies then moving into professional development training. Specializing in programs to develop skills in leadership, teamwork and personal productivity, Farrell has conducted over 3,000 programs for repeat clients such as General Electric, 3M, Mayo Clinic, Federal Reserve Bank, Ocean Spray Cranberry and Michelin. Having been an adjunct faculty member since 1992, Farrell served three years as director of executive education in the Darla Moore School of Business at USC.
In April 2012 Charlie Farrell was appointed director of the South Carolina Aerospace Task Force, which is also under the Department of Commerce. He continues in that role, leading the group in developing strategies for enhancing South Carolina’s aerospace industry.
The S.C. Military Base Task Force is charged with assessing the impact of possible base closures in the state and making recommendations to the U.S. Department of Defense and its Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC), a military panel that researches and makes base closure recommendations.
South Carolina is home to eight military installations, 56,000 retirees and 900 defense contractor firms. The military has a nearly $16 billion economic impact on the state, and supports more than 138,000 jobs.
PHOTO CREDIT: United States Army
