Leadership Carteret 2026: Cherry Point Day
This post was contributed by 2026 Class Member Zack Nally, Parks & Recreation Director at the Town of Newport.
Week Six of Leadership Carteret centered on the military presence that shapes much of Carteret and Craven County’s economy and identity. The class met at the Havelock Tourist & Event Center (TEC) for breakfast from Bojangles and beverages provided by the center. Pam Holder, Director of the TEC, opened the morning with an overview of the facility’s role in promoting Havelock tourism and preserving the history of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point through exhibits and programming. From there, participants boarded a bus provided by the air station and entered the installation for a day focused on aviation operations, infrastructure, and economic impact.
The group began with a meet-and-greet with Col. Timothy R. Drieslein, commanding officer of MCAS Cherry Point. Drieslein discussed the economic engine often referred to as the “Aviation Triangle,” the installation’s management of approximately 9,000 square miles of special use airspace, and the complexity of operating a base that functions as its own utility provider. He outlined ongoing and future developments, including expanded F-35 infrastructure and a $120 million air traffic control tower and air operations facility scheduled to open in 2027, framing the base’s trajectory within both national defense priorities and regional growth.
The class then rotated in smaller groups through key operational areas, including the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, the RADAR room, and the METOC (meteorology and oceanography) office. From the tower, participants observed takeoffs from an F-35, a Harrier, and three F-1 aircraft, gaining insight into the coordination required to manage active runways. In the RADAR room, they learned how controllers monitor both military and commercial air traffic across the region’s expansive airspace. METOC personnel explained how weather and oceanographic data influence flight operations and training decisions. The experience was multisensory: the smell of jet fuel, the vibration of engines, and the roar of departures underscored the scale and intensity of daily operations.
For lunch, the group traveled to The Public House for a buffet meal and the Carteret Military Affairs Committee Service Person of the Quarter Awards ceremony, sponsored by Local Point Church. Jen Merlo (Bluefin Artistry; Allured Living), chair of the Military Affairs Committee, presented honors to three service members recognizing exemplary performance and commitment within their respective branches. Read more about the awardees here.
The afternoon continued with a tour of Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE), where Executive Director David Rose provided an overview of the 209-acre facility and its workforce of approximately 3,600 employees. Rose described FRCE as a “hospital for aircraft,” responsible for defining flight line readiness and returning aircraft to operational status. In fiscal year 2025, the center repaired 81 aircraft, and roughly 26 percent of its workforce resides in Carteret County. Participants toured the expansive hangars where aircraft are disassembled, repaired, and reassembled, observing the scale of industrial precision required to sustain modern aviation platforms. The section dedicated to F-35 work remained secured under additional access controls, reflecting the sensitivity of that program.
The day concluded back at the TEC with a presentation from Veteran Volunteer Rich Haslet on the Eastern Carolina Aviation Heritage Foundation and its exhibits housed within the center. The discussion tied together the historical, operational, and economic threads of the day – past, present, and future aviation in eastern North Carolina – providing context for how MCAS Cherry Point and its associated institutions continue to shape the region.
