Altus Air Force Base

Altus Air Force Base serves as area’s largest employer

By Rick Carpenter

Altus Air Force Base is the largest employer of Jackson County and Altus. The base employs 1,507 civilians and 1,420 military personnel while another 1,743 students come through the base for training each year.

Altus Air Force Base is the U.S. Air Force’s primary training site for the KC-135, the C-17 and the newly commissioned KC-46A Pegasus. The KC-46A is expected to bring 300 new jobs to the Altus area.

Jackson County Memorial Hospital in Altus is the second largest employer with 736 full- and part-time employees.

Bar-S Foods, which produces meat products including bacon, hot dogs, sausages and lunch meats, is the third largest employer with 640 full- and part-time employees.

Other top employers and the number of employees: • Altus Public Schools, 425 employees; • Wal-Mart Super Center, 300 employees; • The City of Altus, 272 employees (216 full-time and 56 part-time); • Western Oklahoma State College, 236 employees (92 full-time, 144 part-time and adjunct); • Southwest Technology Center, 44 full-time employees; • Western Equipment, 43 employees; • United Supermarket, 40 employees; • Hobby Lobby, 40 employees; and • Turbines, Inc., 23 full-time employees.

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Rick Carpenter | Altus Times

Altus Public School and City of Altus officials were on hand in February when Altus Air Force Base officially received the first KC-46A Pegasus. The new aircraft will generate about 300 new jobs at the base, the city’s largest employer.

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