A distinguished former state board member for Technical and Comprehensive Education, with the Order of the Palmetto, has recently been awarded South Carolina’s highest civilian award.
Established by Gov. John C. West in 1971, the Order of the Palmetto recognizes individuals for their lifetime achievements and contributions that have significantly benefited the state.
This year’s recipient, Phil Homan, was selected and awarded by Gov. Henry McMaster, who served on the state board for Technical and Comprehensive Education from February 2025 until his retirement in May 2023.
Homan also dedicated several years as the board’s designee to Denmark Technical College’s Local Area Commission, where his efforts were crucial in shaping the college’s future and ensuring it remained a vibrant and dynamic part of the community.
A steadfast advocate for registered apprenticeship programs, Homan’s commitment has greatly promoted and expanded these programs across South Carolina.
After receiving the award from McMaster, Homan said he was shocked and grateful beyond words.
“I never thought I’d get nominated for anything like this. I was just fulfilling my obligations to return something back to the state and the communities I work with,” he said.
Homan’s dedication has not only created numerous opportunities for individuals to achieve economic independence but also improved their quality of life, according to a press release from Aiken Technical College.
Homan’s career is highlighted by his tenure as the retired director of Human Resources for the Schaeffler Group in Cheraw and his decorated military service.
Serving in the U.S. Army for 27 years, Homan attained the rank of sergeant major and served in the Special Forces (Green Berets) and the 101st Airborne Division. His military honors include the Bronze Star for Valor, Army Senior Parachute Badge, Combat Infantry Badge with 2nd award, Army Commendation Award for valor and an Air Assault Badge.
After earning a business degree from Liberty University while serving in the military, Homan later received a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix in 2008.
Beyond his professional and military achievements, Homan has contributed significantly to Chesterfield County and the town of Cheraw by serving in various leadership roles, including: two terms as chairman of the Greater Cheraw Chamber of Commerce, vice chairman of the Chesterfield Economic Development Board, Vice Chairman of the Economic Alliance Board of Chesterfield County and representing Chesterfield County on the Pee Dee Workforce Development Board.
However, out of all his achievements and extensive community involvement, Homan said he is most proud of starting one of the first apprenticeship programs in South Carolina, which was later utilized as a model for several more apprenticeship programs.
“That’s what they modeled the South Carolina apprenticeship program after,” he said.
From his time in Europe during deployment, Homan said he was able to see the success of various apprenticeship programs in other countries, which he later applied to South Carolina’s technical schools.
“The normal retention rate for programs nationwide is about 60%, but my program was retaining 95-98% in employment rates,” he said.
Homan said he was also grateful to have the opportunity to take three smaller technical colleges – Aiken Technical College, Denmark Technical College and Northeastern Technical College – and help them improve and grow.
“I was able to help them totally turn things around and become viable entities in their community,” he said.
Homan said he has dedicated his career to improving technical colleges because he believes them to be an incredible asset to building communities, as a result of students’ quick job employment.
“The job opportunities coming out of technical colleges are much higher than those coming out of a four year program … people want to know that they can get a job when they complete a program,” he said. “That’s one of the things technical colleges can do – they can prepare you for the workforce and give the basic and/or advanced training one needs to be successful and move forward.”
In retirement, Homan continues to work with Aiken Technical College, Denmark Technical College and Northeastern Technical College.
Currently, Homan said he is working with one of the colleges to put in place a veterans coordinated consult who will work to attract those leaving the military and offer them a time-saving opportunity.
“They can take the skills they’ve already learned and then move that into the civilian job market at a much shorter time so that they can get a job to support themselves and their family,” he said.
Homan said he is especially passionate about technical colleges supporting veterans reacclimate to civilian life as it helps both parties in the long run, and ultimately leads to expanding the community’s workforce.
“Homan’s dedication to public service, workforce development and community leadership has made a profound and lasting impact on South Carolina,” stated a press release from Aiken Technical College. “The Order of the Palmetto is a fitting recognition of his significant contributions to the state.”
