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Bart Blackwell Republican for South Carolina House

Meet Bart

 

Bart Blackwell US Air Force

Bart is a business leader, veteran, entrepreneur, inventor, and family man who is committed to utilizing his considerable experience and skills for the community and state of South Carolina.  

 

He grew up with two brothers in a suburb of Buffalo, NY, competing in youth football, baseball, and ice hockey.  After graduating from Clarence Central High School he attended the University of Buffalo for one year and then decided it was time for “something different” and transferred to the College of Charleston. 

 

Bart excelled at the College of Charleston and graduated cum laude with a B.S. degree in Economics with a minor concentration in Political Science.  Best of all, he met his wife Paula while there.

 

Shortly after graduation Bart had the opportunity to pursue his passion for aviation and accepted an appointment to the United States Air Force’s Officer Training School.  After receiving his commission, Bart attended navigator flight school - graduating in the top 10% of his class and being designated a Distinguished Graduate.

 

Bart spent 6 years on active duty, earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Southern California, and obtained the rank of Captain.

 

After a few years of managing programs for a defense contractor in Charleston and consulting to the Department of Defense’s Joint Center for Flexible Computer Integrated Manufacturing (JC-FCIM), Bart launched an engineering development company specifically to develop a new hospital bed designed to enhance the quality of life for the bedbound patient.

 

The product received U.L. and FDA approvals and was awarded two patents.

 

Bart took control of the existing B & S Machine Tool operation at the beginning of 1999 and has since doubled the size of the operation while serving as a Cub Scout den leader, and youth baseball and soccer coach for his two sons Matthew and Daniel.

 

Bart is a graduate of Leadership Aiken County and has served on the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors since 2009, serving as Board Chairman in 2015.

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