July 13, 2023
Contact: Executive Director Kim Statler, [email protected] or 843-645-0605
Photo: Gov. Henry McMaster presents Gen. Lloyd Newton and his wife Elouise with the Order of the Palmetto
Retired four-star Air Force General Lloyd “Fig” Newton of Polaris Tech Charter School and Jasper County on July 12 earned South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, the Order of the Palmetto.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster presented Newton with the recognition in a ceremony at the Statehouse for his service to the state and the nation. Newton was accompanied by his wife, Elouise, and friends for the honor.
“I am humbled and so appreciative of this recognition in my home state of South Carolina,” Newton said. “My wife and I have traveled the globe, but we were so thankful to return to the Lowcountry in our retirement.
"You hear about people with exceptional life achievements receiving the Order of the Palmetto, and then for me, I received the surprise notification,” he said. “At first, I said to myself, ‘I’m not sure they have the right guy.’ However, it was true, and I am truly blessed to receive it.”
According to the state’s website, the Order of the Palmetto was established in 1971 by Gov. John West. It is South Carolina’s highest civilian honor and is presented in recognition of a lifetime of extraordinary achievement, service, and contributions on a national or statewide scale.
The Order of the Palmetto recognizes individuals who have selflessly given of their time, resources and goodwill through a variety of different causes and pursuits to the benefit of their neighbors, fellow citizens and the fabric and prosperity of South Carolina.
In 2018, Newton earned the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy for “extraordinary achievements as a history-making African American military aviator and his continuing contributions to the advancement of aviation education and advocacy.”
Earlier that year, Newton was inducted to the International Air & Space Hall of Fame. The National Business Aviation Association honored Newton with selection to the prestigious Hall of Fame, recognizing more than 200 of the most significant pilots, crew members, innovators, and aviation organizations since 1963.
Gen. Newton was among a handful of Lowcountry leaders who came together in 2015 with a vision to create a new state charter school to provide young people with an alternative, student-centered approach to teaching and learning. Their conversations led to Polaris Tech Charter School, which opened in 2018 to about 280 middle and high school students in Ridgeland, SC.
This summer, the school expands to serve all grades K-12, and three classes of seniors have graduated since the school opened.
Newton retired in 2000 from the U.S. Air Force as a four-star general. Serving in the military for more than three decades, he flew combat missions in Vietnam, performed with the U.S. Air
Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team, led the Air Education and Training Command and flew the F-117 stealth fighter.
After leaving the military, Newton worked at Pratt & Whitney as executive vice president of international military programs and business development until 2006. He served on the boards of L3 Technologies, the National Defense University and Torchmark Corp.
One of his special projects in retirement has been Polaris Tech, a state-approved charter school serving K-12 students from Jasper County and the Lowcountry. It is a free school (no tuition), that focuses on preparing young people for successful work and college.
The Polaris Tech academic emphasis is on six career areas, starting with: Aerospace, Health Sciences and Business Management. Polaris Tech continues to accept student applications for the upcoming school year for students in grades K-12 and families can apply online at www.polaristech.org.
The school is located on Grays Highway across from the Ridgeland-Claude Dean Airport. Young people from Jasper, Colleton, Hampton and Beaufort counties attend.
To keep updated about Polaris Tech Charter School, follow them on Facebook and at
www.polaristech.org. For specific questions, email [email protected] or call 843-645-0605.
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(Photo courtesy of Kelly Richardson)