McALESTER, Okla. -- It's not often that an Army officer makes the keynote address at a Chamber of Commerce banquet, but the commander of McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, here, had an important message for the business community.
"Whether you're a large organization like MCAAP, or a small business trying to make a go of it, everyone benefits from growing this community toward a shared, long-term vision. We're in this together and everyone wins," said Col. Sean M. Herron.
Herron cited economic stimulation, higher standards of living and better community involvement as the positive outcomes.
MCAAP is the largest employer in the town of 18,000, but Herron said he believes that even after 73 years, some people in the community still don't know the plant's business.
He told them MCAAP is a factory that produces munitions from 40 mm ammunition to penetrator bombs, maintains missiles, and is a storage and distribution center similar to Amazon. He also said the demilitarization mission removes obsolete and unserviceable munitions from the inventory, creating more space for new production.
Herron explained that unlike most military organizations, MCAAP doesn't receive an appropriation.
"We're actually a business," he said. "Every dime we earn comes from the products and services we make and sell."
In fiscal year 2016, MCAAP earned a record revenue of $215 million. The bomb workload continues to grow, and defense contractors from Arizona, Texas and Florida are asking the plant to manufacture munitions for them, Herron said.
"We have the lowest rates, we have the highest quality and the commitment and dedication of our workforce is unparalleled," he said.
With an eye on the future, Herron said the plant's strategic plan, called "Over the Horizon", lays out its vision for the future. He also said it's nested with the long-term vision of the city's strategic plan and the McAlester Defense Support Association's intent to bring more defense-industry business to McAlester.
"But to be truly successful, this long-term vision must spread beyond the plant, beyond the city government and MDSA, and throughout the community," Herron said.
While the plant could immediately employ 300 additional workers, Herron said MCAAP and McAlester must grow together to attract potential employees.
"We can't do it alone," he said. "In order to grow the plant, we need to grow the community. New schools, housing, shopping, restaurants and roads are all necessary to attract the people we need on the plant and that you want in this community."
"Southeastern Oklahoma is very fortunate to work, in a concerted effort, with educational institutions, technology centers, our Chamber of Commerce and the MCAAP to grow the pool of qualified employees to meet the needs for a highly-skilled workforce for MCAAP," said Jimmy Williams, wealth manager of Compass Capital Management, LLC, in McAlester and Chamber member. "I was proud to hear Col. Herron's vision and look forward to working, as a volunteer citizen, to bring his vision for growth to reality."
In closing, Herron challenged the business leaders to seize opportunities to grow the community and make McAlester the best place in Oklahoma to live and work.
"I challenge you to turn 'looking for opportunities' into 'seizing the opportunities before you,'" he said.
"The Chamber is a great forum to bring people together. The time is right, the conditions are set and MCAAP is moving forward to achieve our vision, but we cannot do it alone. Only together will we achieve the opportunities before us," said Herron.
MCAAP is one of 14 installations of the Joint Munitions Command and one of 23 organic industrial base facilities under the U.S. Army Materiel Command.
Social Sharing