The South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center (SCTAC), formerly known as The Donaldson Center, has named Phil Southerland 2009 chairman of The Donaldson Development Commission.
The purpose of the commission is to control, protect and promote development of SCTAC, the largest GA airport in the state. Allen Inglesby has been named vice chair and John Hopkins has been named secretary.
“It is a very exciting time to be leading this commission,” Southerland said. “With our new name and re-branding efforts, we are on the forefront of economic development for leading international and high-tech companies. We have renewed energy and leadership and I’m excited to help SCTAC and Greenville grow and succeed in today’s global economy.”
The South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center is the largest general aviation airport in the state, with more than 50,000 flights annually. No other business facility in the state has a fully-operational general aviation airport, a state-of-the-art control tower, an 8,000 foot runway capable of handling large aircraft, and a second 5,500 foot runway that is already built and can be activated, officials note.
The center opened in 1942 as Greenville Army Air Base. When the Air Force decided to close the base in 1962, the city and county of Greenville purchased the property and named it after Greenville native, Captain John O. Donaldson, a World War I flying ace, and it became known as Donaldson Center Industrial Air Park. It changed its name to the South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center in 2008 and currently employs more than 4,000 people from more than 80 local and international companies and organizations, including 3M, Lockheed-Martin and Michelin.
For more information: SC-TAC.com.
