Brown to Serve as AEDC’s Director of Military Affairs

by Arkansas Economic Development Commission

(August 11, 2025)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (August 11, 2025) – Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Charles E. Brown Jr. has been named the new Director of Military Affairs for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

In this role, Brown is charged with strengthening and sustaining the military installations in Arkansas to drive economic growth in local communities and the State of Arkansas. He will serve as the first point of contact between the State of Arkansas and the U.S. military in economic development projects.

Arkansas is home to five major military installations, including the Little Rock Air Force Base, Camp Robinson, Pine Bluff Arsenal, Ebbing Air National Guard Base, and Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center. Arkansas most recently became the home of a new enduring mission: a new Foreign Military Sales Program Pilot Training Center at Ebbing Air National Guard Base.

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Photo is Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Charles E. Brown Jr. (from AEDC)

184th Attack Squadron Receives RPA Squadron of the Year

In September, at the Air & Space Forces Association's conference, the 184th Attack Squadron was officially presented with the 2024 RPA Squadron of the Year Award!

The 184th Attack Squadron, based at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, has been recognized as the top Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) squadron in the U.S. Air Force — earning the prestigious General Atomics RPA Trophy for 2024.

Selected from across the entire Air Force — including Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve units — the 184th distinguished itself through:

• 314 combat sorties
• 5,972 ISR hours supporting three named operations
• Historic POTUS-directed overwatch for humanitarian aid airdrops
• Leading the USAF in non-traditional defensive counter-air and C-sUAS MQ-9 missions, executing 66% of all such missions

These extraordinary efforts reflect the squadron’s unmatched combat capability and its leadership in advancing RPA operations for the future fight.

Congratulations to the Flying Razorbacks on this well-deserved recognition! The 188th Wing continues to prove that innovation, resilience, and operational excellence are alive and well in the Air National Guard. We are honored to have this team in Fort Smith!

Chamber Delegation Visits Singapore

In July, the Chamber organized a delegation of business leaders representing education, housing, and healthcare for a visit to Singapore. The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is scheduled to begin arriving in Fort Smith next year to conduct F-35 training, with an additional group arriving in 2027 for F-16 training. The Chamber remains committed to ensuring the community is fully prepared to support these allied military members and their families. This visit provided valuable perspective on the community they currently call home, enabling us to strengthen our readiness and extend a warm and well-prepared welcome upon their arrival in Fort Smith.

Does your business offer a military discount?

We have put together a tab on our website that features businesses in our area that offer military discounts! This page is shared with the community and military members. Click below to fill out the form and tell us about the perks and discounts you offer!