Gov. Tate Reeves announced Thursday the creation of Mission 3, a new public-private partnership designed to strengthen Mississippi’s military installations, support service members and their families, and align Gulf Coast communities around shared defense and economic goals.
The initiative’s name — Mission 3 — reflects its focus on three pillars: Military, Defense, and Community. The organization will work to protect South Mississippi’s major defense assets and foster collaboration among local leaders, businesses, and government agencies.
“Mississippi’s military and defense communities are worthy of appreciation, support, and investment,” Reeves said. “Through Mission 3, Mississippi will add another valuable tool in its toolbox to better support those who have sacrificed so much for us. I’m excited to see the positive benefits that will come from Mission 3.”
South Mississippi is home to a network of critical defense installations, including Keesler Air Force Base, Camp Shelby, the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, Stennis Space Center, and multiple U.S. Coast Guard operations. Together, these facilities make a significant contribution to national security and the region’s economy.
As federal mission decisions increasingly emphasize regional collaboration, innovation, and workforce development, state and local leaders say Mission 3 is a proactive step toward securing Mississippi’s defense future.
“Mission 3 is our region’s answer to a changing defense economy,” Gulf Coast Business Council President and CEO Jamie Miller said. “It’s how we protect what we’ve built, grow what we’ve earned, and do right by the service members and families who serve us all.”
The organization plans to advocate for new military missions, protect existing installations, coordinate workforce and education initiatives, support housing and infrastructure improvements, and encourage private-sector investment connected to defense industries.
Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Paul Drake will serve as Mission 3’s first executive director. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Army War College, Drake served in Iraq, was the Mississippi Air National Guard’s first Fully Joint Qualified Officer, and previously worked as chief of staff for the National Guard Association of the United States. He currently teaches at the U.S. Army War College’s School of Strategic Landpower.
“I’m grateful to Governor Reeves and our regional leaders for their vision,” Drake said. “Mission 3 will bring military leaders, businesses, and local officials together to speak with one unified voice – because no single organization can protect, enhance, and expand our region’s defense economy alone.”
The new organization was developed after a yearlong study by the Gulf Coast Business Council Master’s Class, which examined successful defense support models in other states and proposed a permanent structure to guide strategy and funding.
Mission 3 was made possible through a Defense Community Support Program grant from the Mississippi Development Authority, with continued collaboration between the Gulf Coast Business Council and the Governor’s Office of Military Affairs to support future defense-related growth across the region.