A turbine exhaust case employed in an industrial gas turbine engine, the turbine exhaust case comprising: a frame having a frame outer ring, a frame inner ring, and a plurality of frame struts connected between the outer ring and the inner ring; a fairing disposed between the frame outer ring and the frame inner ring, the fairing comprising a fairing outer ring, a fairing inner ring, and a plurality of hollow fairing struts connected between the fairing outer ring and the fairing inner ring, wherein the fairing struts encase the frame struts; and a circumferential heat shield located between the frame outer ring and the fairing outer ring that provides a thermal barrier between the fairing outer ring and the frame outer ring, wherein the heat shield includes an aft portion having a flange that interfaces with the frame outer ring to form an air dam that directs cooling airflow (c) forward along the frame outer ring within an outer diameter cavity formed between the frame outer ring and the heat shield, wherein cooling airflow is supplied to the OD cavity via a hollow strut that discharges cooling airflow into the OD cavity between the frame outer ring and the heat shield; characterized in that: the heat shield further includes a second air dam for directing the cooling airflow discharged by the hollow strut into the OD cavity; the second air dam includes a first portion located aft of the hollow strut; the second air dam includes a second portion and third portion (84a, 84b) located on either side of the hollow strut and formed integral with the first portion to direct the cooling airflow discharged by the hollow strut forward; and further including a third air dam located forward of the hollow strut, but not adjacent to the second and third air dam portions (84a, 84b) to provide a passageway for directing cooling airflow forward and circumferentially around the OD cavity. a frame having a frame outer ring, a frame inner ring, and a plurality of frame struts connected between the outer ring and the inner ring; a fairing disposed between the frame outer ring and the frame inner ring, the fairing comprising a fairing outer ring, a fairing inner ring, and a plurality of hollow fairing struts connected between the fairing outer ring and the fairing inner ring, wherein the fairing struts encase the frame struts; and a circumferential heat shield located between the frame outer ring and the fairing outer ring that provides a thermal barrier between the fairing outer ring and the frame outer ring, wherein the heat shield includes an aft portion having a flange that interfaces with the frame outer ring to form an air dam that directs cooling airflow (c) forward along the frame outer ring within an outer diameter cavity formed between the frame outer ring and the heat shield, wherein cooling airflow is supplied to the OD cavity via a hollow strut that discharges cooling airflow into the OD cavity between the frame outer ring and the heat shield; characterized in that: the heat shield further includes a second air dam for directing the cooling airflow discharged by the hollow strut into the OD cavity; the second air dam includes a first portion located aft of the hollow strut; the second air dam includes a second portion and third portion (84a, 84b) located on either side of the hollow strut and formed integral with the first portion to direct the cooling airflow discharged by the hollow strut forward; and further including a third air dam located forward of the hollow strut, but not adjacent to the second and third air dam portions (84a, 84b) to provide a passageway for directing cooling airflow forward and circumferentially around the OD cavity. the heat shield further includes a second air dam for directing the cooling airflow discharged by the hollow strut into the OD cavity; the second air dam includes a first portion located aft of the hollow strut; the second air dam includes a second portion and third portion (84a, 84b) located on either side of the hollow strut and formed integral with the first portion to direct the cooling airflow discharged by the hollow strut forward; and further including a third air dam located forward of the hollow strut, but not adjacent to the second and third air dam portions (84a, 84b) to provide a passageway for directing cooling airflow forward and circumferentially around the OD cavity.