Date Published: August 22, 2006   

Olsen honored with state award

By CRYSTAL OWENS
Item Staff Writer
cowens@theitem.com

A retired major general and Sumter civic leader was bestowed with South Carolina's highest civilian honor Monday.

Retired Maj. Gen. Tom Olsen, 71, was one of four men given the Order of the Palmetto by Gov. Mark Sanford during a presentation at the governor's office.

The award is given in honor of a lifetime of exceptional dedicated service to South Carolina.

"I was surprised and humbled," Olsen said. "It was a blessing to be recognized for something that I loved doing."

The Order of the Palmetto was created in 1971 by Gov. John West to recognize lifetime achievement and service. It was modeled on similar honors bestowed in other states, such as the Kentucky colonel and North Carolina's Order of the Longleaf Pine.

Olsen, along with the three other retired military honorees — Vice Adm. Al Baciocco, Brig. Gen. James Shufelt and Maj. Gen. James Gardner — all served on the governor's Base Realignment and Closure Advisory Committee.

The committee, established in 2003, helped South Carolina navigate the most recent BRAC process that led to a net military job gain for the state.

"The governor thought all of these individuals were deserving of this award," said Sanford's spokesman Joel Sawyer. "They essentially came out of retirement and re-enlisted to go to bat for South Carolina one last time in the BRAC process. It's a true testament to all the work that they put into this, and South Carolina actually gained jobs during this process, especially in Fort Jackson and Shaw Air Force Base."

Olsen, executive director of the Sumter Base Defense Committee, retired in 1991 as vice commander of the Shaw-headquartered 9th Air Force and deputy commander of U. S. Central Command Air Force. He served in the Air Force for 34 years and participated in the Persian Gulf War.

The retired major general was instrumental in helping to secure Shaw Air Force Base's future in Sumter.

It was announced in May 2005 that the base not only missed the BRAC axe, but would gain about 817 positions, including the 3rd Army Headquarters.

In June, those numbers rose to slightly more than 1,600 active-duty military, civilian and reserve personnel that are expected to be reassigned to Shaw by 2009.

"It was a big step for the entire community," Olsen said.

But, he said, there's still work to be done.

"It's a challenge now to do everything we can to make ready for the 3rd Army and their families," Olsen said.

The biggest preparation issue Sumter faces now, he said, is employment for the military personal's spouses and families.

"The city and county are focused on that," he said. "It's going to take a lot of work. But we've got three years to work on the issue."



Contact Staff Writer Crystal Owens at cowens@theitem.com or (803) 774-1270.