SSC would like to extend our appreciation to retiring GMU Airport Director Joe Brasher, who was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, the highest honor awarded by the state of South Carolina, at a ceremony Sept. 15 at the Greenville Convention Center.

Frasher is a 1975 graduate of Greenville High School and studied airport management at Auburn University before obtaining his law degree from the University of South Carolina in 1982. He became director of the Greenville Downtown Airport, known by its FAA designation GMU, in 1983 when that position was created and will serve in that role until his retirement September 30.

Among Frasher’s many accomplishments that will impact aviators for years to come in South Carolina:

  • Creating the role of Airport Director in 1983 at GMU until its present state as South Carolina‘s busiest General Aviation airport.
  • Oversaw the installation of an FAA contract tower.
  • Oversaw the installation of the first Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS) at a general aviation airport in the country.

That EMAS system was credited with saving the lives of six people in 2006 when the brakes failed on an aircraft.

Speaking relative to Frasher’s impact on Special Services Corporation, Doug Goldstrom, President of Sales and Marketing for Special Services Corporation said,

“Joe Frasher has been a fixture at GMU during the most active growth period for SSC.  He’s been a great partner for us all of these years, and we’re fortunate for having had the opportunity to work with him.”