Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois’ 2014 Salute to Southwestern Illinois Awards Dinner

Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois’ 2014 Salute to Southwestern Illinois Awards Dinner

A crowd of more than 350 gathered Thursday evening, April 3, 2014, at the Leadership Council’s Salute to Southwestern Illinois Awards Dinner to honor and pay tribute to Scott Air Force Base. Those in attendance celebrated the tremendous impact Scott Air Force Base has had on our region over the past decade. The event occurred at the Four Points by Sheraton, Fairview Heights, Ill. KMOX News Anchor and Reporter Carol Daniel served as emcee for the evening, while Lindenwood University-Belleville served as the patron sponsor.

Scott Air Force Base received recognition for attracting new missions and construction dollars and strengthening its presence in Southwestern Illinois. Today, the base has become a $3.2 billion economic engine for the region. The vital role Scott plays in the nation’s defense also was showcased, as the Leadership Council honored several of the individual missions at Scott AFB and the men and women behind them.

Accepting the 2014 Salute to Southwestern Illinois Award on behalf of Scott Air Force Base was Col. Kyle Kremer, Installation Commander for the base. Specific missions honored included U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), Air Mobility Command (AMC), 18^th Air Force Headquarters, 618^th Tanker Airlift Control Center (TACC), Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), Air Force Network Integration Center (AFNIC),375^th Air Mobility Wing, 932^nd Airlift Wing, and 126^th Air Refueling Wing.

“With a workforce of 13,000, Scott Air Force Base represents the largest employer in Southwestern Illinois and the 4^th largest in the St. Louis region,” observed Dennis Wilmsmeyer, President of the Leadership Council. “In total, almost 140,000 people economically benefit from the base each year, underscoring the critical role it plays in our regional economy, while also playing a vital role in our nation’s defense. Our neighborhoods, communities and region are better because of the base and the people who work there. We are privileged to have Scott Air Force Base in our community and are delighted to honor them this evening.”

The Leadership Council’s Annual Salute to Southwestern Illinois program salutes those individuals and organizations that have displayed outstanding leadership and have positively impacted our region. For more information, visit www.leadershipcouncilswil.com.