September 20, 2018 Nicholas A. Petruska Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III 3845 North Pine Way Suite 110 Wilson, WY 83014 Re: Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III Revised Preliminary Proxy Statement Filed September 5, 2018 File No. 1-38119 Dear Mr. Petruska: We have reviewed your filing and have the following comments. In some of our comments we may ask you to provide us information so that we may better understand your disclosure. Please respond to these comments within 10 business days by providing the requested information or advise us as soon as possible when you will respond. If you do not believe that our comments apply to your facts and circumstances, please tell us why in your response. After reviewing your response to these comments, we may have additional comments. Revised Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed September 5, 2018 NRC Group Business Overview, page 23 1. You disclose here and on page 151 that NRC Group's historical combined net loss was $2.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018; however, NRC Group's historical combined net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was actually $569,000 per page F-30. Please explain to us the reasons for the differing amounts or otherwise address any disclosure discrepancy accordingly. Hennessy Capital Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Results of Operations, page 147 Nicholas A. Petruska FirstNameCapital Acquisition Corp. III Hennessy LastNameNicholas A. Petruska Comapany 20, 2018 September NameHennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III September 20, 2018 Page 2 Page 2 FirstName LastName 2. You disclose on page 148 that cash used in operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was approximately $471,000; however, cash used in operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was actually $1,387,000 per page F-5. Please explain to us the reasons for the differing amounts or otherwise address any disclosure discrepancy accordingly. NRC Group's Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations NRC Group Liquidity and Capital Resources, page 182 3. Please ensure that your discussion of net cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2018 agrees to the changes as depicted in your statement of cash flows. For example, your disclosure indicates that there were increases in accounts payable and accounts receivable; however, per page F-32, it appears that both accounts payable and accounts receivable may have actually decreased during the six months ended June 30, 2018. Financial Statements of Progressive Environmental Services, Inc. Independent Auditor's Report, page F-74 4. You disclose on page 81 that the acquisition of Progressive Environmental Services, Inc. meets the threshold for reporting of significant acquired businesses. You further disclose on page 223 that the audited financial statements of Progressive Environmental Services, Inc. as of December 31, 2017 and for the year then ended have been so included in reliance on the report of Jaynes, Reitmeier, Boyd & Therrell, P.C. We note the related audit report on page F-74 states that the financial statements of Progressive Environmental Services, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2016 were audited by another auditor who expressed an unmodified opinion on those statements on June 23, 2017. Please tell us what consideration you gave to presenting the audit report for the financial statements of Progressive Environmental Services, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2016. We remind you that the company and its management are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of their disclosures, notwithstanding any review, comments, action, or absence of action by the staff. You may contact Jeffrey R. Gordon, Staff Accountant, at (202) 551-3866 or Kevin W. Stertzel, Staff Accountant, at (202) 551-3723 if you have questions regarding comments on the financial statements and related matters. Please contact Edward M. Kelly, Senior Counsel, at (202) 551-3728 or Amanda Ravitz, Assistant Director, at (202) 551-3412 with any other questions. Sincerely, Nicholas A. Petruska Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III September 20, 2018 Page 3 FirstName LastNameNicholas A. Petruska Division of Corporation Finance Comapany NameHennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III Office of Manufacturing and September 20, 2018 Page 3 Construction FirstName LastName