NASM @ 60: 'State of the Base'

In a pandemic-delayed celebration of the 60th anniversary of Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss., community leaders gathered Jan. 30 for a 'State of the Base' breakfast and address by Commanding Officer, Capt. Timothy Brent Moore. NASM was founded in 1961. The breakfast gave civilian leadership from Meridian and Lauderdale and Kemper counties a chance to hear what NASM had accomplished in 2022. Capt. Moore said he was proud of the partnerships between the base and the community. NASM's milestones achieved are a testament to those relationships, he said. The base, being able to train Navy/Marine Corps officers and enlist personnel, "stands on the shoulders of the military and community partners that have worked together for over 60 years,” he said. NASM trains more than 3,000 enlisted personnel at Naval Technical Training Center; an average of 150 naval aviators and 18 international students. At its Regional Counterdrug Training Academy, NASM provides counter-drug training to more than 10,000 law enforcement officers annually. In the near future, Moore said a $3M million wildlife fence, a joint project with Lauderdale County, would help improve safety for both navy personnel and local wildlife. The project, after more than five years, and was now underway. NASM has similar partnerships with City of Meridian, Kemper County and The Montgomery Institute. (Meridian Star 01/30/23) 60 years and counting: NAS Meridian success celebrated | Local News | meridianstar.com