The city of McAlester, the McAlester Defense Support Association (MDSA) and the McAlester Chamber of Commerce proudly announced that the 5th Annual McAlester Stampede week in the nation’s capital was a tremendous success for participants and the community. The reception on Capitol Hill in the Hart Senate Office Building of the United States Capitol was the highlight of the three-day visit to Washington D.C., but numerous other engagements during the visit are without question equally as significant. The event is the local fly-in to Washington D.C. to inform and be informed of the defense happenings and future for defense employment and contracts. The sponsors of the event have determined that face-to-face community support encounters with decision makers is critical for maintaining a healthy and growing defense employment sector in the area.

After arrivals on Tuesday and prior to actual meetings, the McAlester delegation received a full briefing on the planned events and talking points. The briefing was given by representatives MDSA, McAlester Army Ammunition Plant (McAAP), city of McAlester and The Spectrum Group, McAlester/MDSA Contractors for the event and for Defense Sector Planning. Everyone received this briefing resource including the complete and timed agenda in printed format. No spare time is allocated in the three days on the Hill, beginning with private group dinners with Sen. James Inhofe, Sen. James Lankford and Congressman Markwayne Mullin on Tuesday night.

On Wednesday evening, Sep. 21, the McAlester Stampede VIP reception was held with Sen. Inhofe speaking and serving as the event host.  The reception attracted the largest group to date with 83 people attending the reception including Sen. Lankford and other members of the Oklahoma Congressional delegation including McAlester Mayor John Browne; McAAP Commander Col. Sean Herron; Pete Stasiak, the McAlester city manager; state Sen. Larry Boggs and McAlester Defense Support Association Chairman Mark Jordan as well as the leaders in the McAAP Federal Manager Association. The meeting was attended by numerous persons impacting the current and future success of the McAAP and defense employers in the area.

Notably several representatives of the Department of Defense and Pentagon attendees included Robert Speer, assistant secretary of the Army, financial management and comptroller; general officers including General (4 Star) Dennis Via, Commanding General, Army Materiel Command; Lt. Gen. Lee Levy, AFSC commander, Tinker; Lt. Gen. Gary Cheek, director of Army staff, Office of the Under Secretary of the Army; Maj. Gen. Laura Richardson, chief, Army Legislative Liaison, Pentagon; Rhonda VanDeCasteel, deputy to the commander, Joint Munitions Command and sergeant major of the Army, SMA Daniel A. Dailey. Also in attendance were representatives of McAAP partner contractors, headquartered in D.C.; Senate Armed Services and House Armed Services Committee professional staff and members and staff leaders for the Chickasaw Nation.

Attending from the community were Mayor Browne; City Manager Stasiak; Warmuth, president and chief executive officer of the McAlester Chamber of Commerce; Col. Heron McAAP commander and wife Christy; Ron DeGiacomo, bid assistance coordinator Kiamichi Technology and wife Mary; Jordan, chairman MDSA; John Ross, director of Ammunition Operations for McAAP and MDSA/FMA member; Kevin Priddle, executive vice president, The Bank NA and wife Michelle; Brad Rutledge, McAAP chief Depot Shipping and Storage, MDSA Executive Committee and FMA president; Leroy Alsup, McAlester director community and economic development and MDSA Executive Committee; Kirk Ridenour, McAlester development manager; State Sen. Boggs; Steve Cox, McAAP director of engineering and public works and MDSA/FMA member.

Wednesday day time was set aside for meetings in the Pentagon and with partner defense contractors. At the Pentagon the group met with directors and assistant secretaries of the Army for installations, energy and environment; acquisition, logistics and technology; Army materiel command, joint munitions command; directorate of Army staff; and program executive officer, ammunition. Contractor visits searching for additional contractor work for McAAP were held with Textron, Boeing, Raytheon and General Dynamics.

Thursday was set aside for open forum discussions with the Oklahoma congressional delegation. Local participant business leaders from McAlester met and discussed a broad range of issues with each of the congressional members. Senator and house member and staff meetings were conducted in the Capitol Visitor Center. Thursday concluded in the evening with a more casual staff reception to wind down for the active week.

The overarching themes of the week were tremendous accolades from both the Oklahoma Congressional delegation and senior Army leadership to the community of McAlester for their dedication and genuine support for the critical defense mission accomplished at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in McAlester.

For more information, contact H. Gene Walker, MDSA vice chairman, at 918-424-1486.