An aerospace businessman of 19 years, Sam Adcock of Columbus quit his job Tuesday.
Adcock, the former general manager and vice president for Airbus Helicopters’ Mississippi operations, announced his resignation during a press event at Golden Triangle Regional Airport so he can run for Mississippi’s vacant U.S. representative seat for Mississippi’s First Congressional District. He plans to join a field of hopefuls in a May 12 special election to replace the late Rep. Alan Nunnelee, who died in February.
“Airbus offered me an opportunity to take a leave of absence, but I decided resigning was more appropriate,” Adcock said. “This is not an adventure. This is not a lark. I’m in this race to win.”
Adcock said that in 2001 he led a delegation that helped bring an American Eurocopter (now Airbus) to the Golden Triangle, locating next to GTRA at the Lowndes County Industrial Park. Since then, more than 800 aircraft have been assembled, repaired or replaced at the local Airbus facility, and more than 340 Lakota aircraft from the facility have been delivered to the Army and Army National Guard.
He said when representatives from the Dallas-based business visited in 2001, the land surrounding the airport was “nothing by hayfields and pine trees.” He said he is proud of the “huge transformation” that started when Airbus arrived at the industrial park, and he believes he can use that same blueprint for success more broadly.
“What I did in Columbus, I want to do across north Mississippi,” Adcock said.
Before joining American Eurocopter, Adcock managed shipbuilding and repair as a civilian employee with the Navy and worked with former Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott — first serving as his legislative director and later as his defense and security policy adviser in Washington.
Though the May 12 election is technically nonpartisan, Adcock identifies as a “conservative Republican.” He said his platform would focus on job growth and better national security, and he believes his background on both fronts stands alone among other hopeful candidates.
“I’m excited to present the people in North Mississippi, and Lowndes County in particular, the opportunity to support someone who is a businessman and not a politician,” he said.
Airbus Helicopters Inc. President and CEO Marc Paganini complimented Adcock on his years with the company in an email statement Wednesday.
“All of us at Airbus Helicopters Inc. are grateful to Sam for the time and effort he gave to the company,” he said. “He did an outstanding job managing the company’s operations in Columbus and has been an important factor in our success, both in Mississippi and overall. We wish Sam all the best.”
Two other Columbus residents and area businessmen, Boyce Adams and Danny Bedwell, have also announced their intent to run for Nunnelee’s vacant seat. Candidates must submit petitions containing 1,000 signatures of registered First Congressional District voters to the Mississippi Secretary of state’s office by March 27.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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