News

ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. – Many look to spend their vacations with their toes in the sand, soaking up some rays at the beach. Others may prefer the seclusion offered by a stay in a mountain cabin. Still some may enjoy the comforts of home and choose to “staycation” during their time off.

David Taylor does not fit into any of these categories.

Taylor, a machinist with National Aerospace Solutions, LLC, the Test Operations and Sustainment contractor for Arnold Engineering Development Complex, which is headquartered at Arnold Air Force Base, has no desire to take it easy during his time away from work. Instead, he looks to get his hands dirty for a good cause.
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ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. – Though snow days are fairly few and far between for Tennessee, whenever inclement weather does occur during the cold, winter months, the Heavy Equipment crew that oversees roads maintenance at Arnold Air Force Base is ready to tackle it head-on and keep the streets on base safe.

“When there’s a forecasted chance of snow or ice, our goal is to keep the roadways as safe as possible so we can get everyone to and from work,” said Tom Penfold, facilities manager for Base Operations and Support with Chugach, the subcontractor for National Aerospace Solutions, LLC, at Arnold.
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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – The team at Arnold Engineering Development Complex’s National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex, or NFAC, which includes members of National Aerospace Solutions LLC (NAS), recently added rain simulation to the organization’s portfolio of capabilities.

The F-16 System Program Office has been trying to address an issue with rain pooling on the canopy of the aircraft and reducing pilot visibility. Pilots try to avoid flying through inclement weather, but pop-up storms present an unavoidable risk. Because pilots avoid such flying conditions, field testing provides limited opportunities to gather data on proposed solutions.
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ARNOLD AFB, Tenn. – The Air Engineering Metal Trades Council (AEMTC), Arnold Engineering Development Complex’s largest union, has elected its new officers.

The new officers include: Alvin Cleek, President; Allen Garner, Vice President; Jason Kelley, Recording Secretary; Annette Painter, Financial Secretary; Kevin Glaser, Sergeant-at-Arms; Chris Cleek, Ricky Taylor and Mike Riddle, Trustees; and Brian Farless, Tim Orange, Tommy Anderson and Michael Buckner, Grievance Committee members.

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ARNOLD AFB, Tenn. – NextGen, a National Aerospace Solutions, LLC (NAS) group of early-career employees focused on networking, professional development, and stewardship, is looking to build upon the accomplishments of 2020 as they move into the new year.
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ARNOLD AFB, Tenn. – Team members with National Aerospace Solutions, LLC, the Arnold Engineering Development Complex Test Operations and Sustainment Contractor, received awards Nov. 9 and Nov. 11 during the Salute to Excellence Annual Awards presentation at Arnold Air Force Base.

Awards were presented for the following: Quality, Safety, Security, Innovation, Engineering Design and Facilities Professional of the Year, Science and Technology Professional of the Year, Customer Service Excellence, Program/Project Manager of the Year, Technical Project Leader of the Year, Craft Innovation, Craftsman Lead of the Year, Craftsman Journeyman/Technician of the Year, Test Operations Engineer of the Year, Craft Supervisor/Superintendent of the Year, Engineering Analysis of the Year, and Engineer of the Year.
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ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. – Leadership with National Aerospace Solutions, LLC, the Test Operations and Sustainment (TOS) contractor for Arnold Engineering Development Complex at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., led a teleconference Oct. 13 and 14 with members of the Technical Advisory Board (TAB) of its University Consortium made up of senior professors from universities across the nation.

Among the topics discussed was the need to advance test and evaluation capabilities and the current efforts taking place at Arnold, as well as the AEDC geographically separated units.
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ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. – A $13 million dollar project to upgrade the nozzle drive motors for the Arnold Engineering Development Complex 16-foot supersonic wind tunnel, or 16S, at Arnold Air Force Base is complete as of early October.

While the last customer test in 16S was completed in 1997, a new investment of $60 million dollars is expected to relaunch the tunnel as an active testbed this winter after four years of restoration and modernization.
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ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. – The Water Treatment Plant at Arnold Air Force Base is now brighter, safer, more reliable and more efficient thanks to a multimillion-dollar renovation project that included everything from cosmetic and quality of life upgrades to complete infrastructure and operating system overhauls.

“This project helps ensure that we continue to provide potable water to all base personnel that meets or exceeds the standards set by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Environmental Protection Agency,” said Joshua Cooke, senior utility manager with the Civil Engineering Operations Section at Arnold AFB.
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ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. – Earlier this year, a group of ironworkers with the Arnold Engineering Development Complex Model and Machine Shop at Arnold Air Force Base were tasked with building a complex aluminum platform system for the C-2 Engine Test Cell.

While on paper the task seemed easy enough, the ironworker crew was sent home before they got a chance to begin the project. On April 6, Arnold Air Force Base went into an Operationally Urgent status, or Tier 2 operations, which allowed base entry only for those employees required to complete critical test missions and support functions.
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