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U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY AIRMAN 1ST CLASS GREG NASH
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Justin Roberts, 71st Rescue Squadron crew chief, marshals an HC-130J Combat King II before take off at Moody AFB.
Nick Lacey
Berrien County SGMAC Representative
A Community United
What some have described as Valdosta’s “darkest hour” became a victory when Moody was removed from the 1991 BRAC list. However, it was also a wake-up call. Community leaders continue to be united in their e orts to protect one of South Georgia’s largest economic assets.
South Georgia leaders know that another BRAC is possible. The U.S. Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Report states the department is requesting Congress to authorize a new BRAC round in 2019.
Because of Moody’s important economic place within South Georgia,
local chamber leaders formed the South Georgia Military A airs Council (SGMAC) to prepare for a possible future BRAC.
SGMAC is composed of chamber members from the four counties that are most impacted by Moody— Berrien, Cook, Lanier, and Lowndes.
Nick Lacey, who is the SGMAC representative from the Berrien County Chamber of Commerce, stated that SGMAC is “dedicated to supporting Moody and to every extent possible immunizing it against BRAC.”
Lacey explained that SGMAC is part of a network that is actively working to ensure Moody remains an integral part of South Georgia.
14 SG MAGAZINE | SPRING 2017
PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED