Jody Bryson Awarded Order of the Palmetto

Jody Bryson, president and CEO of the South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center (SCTAC) in Greenville, was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, the state's highest honor, on Monday, June 22, 2026, at a ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Greenville.

Gov. Henry McMaster, in presenting the award, praised Bryson's leadership of SCTAC, an organization that has had "an enormous impact on the state."

SCTAC, formerly known as Donaldson Center, has grown into a $6 billion per year economic driver, and is the home to Lockheed's production of F-16 fighters.

Bryson, who joined SCTAC in 2007, began his career as an adviser to Gov. Carroll Campbell. In addition to his work with SCTAC, Bryson serves on the board of trustees for Francis Marion University and has served as the vice chairman of the Upstate S.C. Alliance.

He was nominated for the Order of the Palmetto by David Wilkins, former U.S. ambassador to Canada, who lauded Bryson's "transformative leadership of SCTAC and pivotal role in the growth of South Carolina’s automotive, aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries."