Figure 3-1
Keesler AFB Economic Impact, FY 15
Table 3-1
Keesler AFB Payroll, FY 15
Payroll
$125,800,833
$100,693,102
$656,958,053
Manpower Payroll
Military/Student Personnel 8,284 $463,643,452
Civil Service 1,362 $111,195,568
Non-Tax Funded 365 $9,388,094
BX and Commissary 251 $6,062,278
1,079 $66,242,486
Other 444 $426,175
Total 11,785 $656,958,053
Contract
Annual Payroll
Annual Expenditures
Estimated Value of Jobs Created
Source: Keesler Air Force Base Fiscal Year 2015 Economic Impact Analysis
In addition to the $657 million payroll created by Keesler AFB, the Base has
over $100 million in direct annual expenditures. These expenditures cover
categories such as construction, Base Exchange, school impact aid / tuition
assistance, health care, lodging, and services.
Source: Keesler Air Force Base Fiscal Year 2015 Economic Impact Analysis
3.3.
Keesler AFB History
The land occupied by Keesler AFB has military history dating back to the
1800s. In the early 1800s, the land was a part of the United States Naval
Reserve (USNR). In 1906, the federal government issued the land to the City
of Biloxi, which named the property Naval Reserve Park. The City expanded
the park by acquiring neighboring land and in 1925, the City gave a section of
the land to the Coast Guard. In the 1930s, Biloxi provided part of the land to
the Veteran’s Administration hospital. Within this decade, the City also built
an airport.
Keesler AFB was first established when Biloxi leased the airport and
1,563 acres to the United States for a technical training school. This school,
then called the Army Air Corps Station, was intended to support World War II
(WWII) training. In June of 1941, the War Department activated Army Air
Corps Station No. 8, Aviation Mechanics School in Biloxi. Two months later,
the Army Air Corps Station was renamed as Keesler Army Airfield, after
Second Lieutenant (2d LT) Samuel Reeves Keesler, Jr. who died while serving
in France during World War I (WWI). Lieutenant Keesler was from
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Background Report