PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID TULLAHOMA TN Vol. 66, No. 1 Arnold AFB, Tenn. PERMIT NO. 29 January 7, 2019 Arnold Air Force Base hosts 2018 Air Force Test Center Strategic Offsite By Bradley Hicks AEDC Public Affairs The mission of the Air Force Test Center is to “conduct De- velopmental Test and Evaluation of air, space and cyber systems to provide timely, objective and accurate information to decision makers.” Arnold Engineering Devel- opment Complex is expected to continue playing a vital role in this mission, and recently Brig. Gen. Christopher Azzano and other AFTC leadership descended upon the AEDC headquarters to not only shape the direction of the AFTC but also to meet with members of Team AEDC and get a firsthand look at the facilities that will help the AFTC attain its vi- sion to be the tester of choice both now and in the future. Arnold Air Force Base hosted the 2018 AFTC Strategic Offsite, Azzano’s first offsite since he took on the role of AFTC commander in August. The offsites, which oc- cur annually, provide leadership across the AFTC the opportunity AEDC Test Systems Sustainment Chief Col. John Tran, left, and TSS Capital Improvement Lead Engineer and Service Life Ex- to gather for strategic planning, in- tension Program Manager Kathleen Bajar show Brig. Gen. Christopher Azzano, commander of the Air Force Test Center, the cluding discussions focused on the mechanical systems used in the Engine Test Facility at Arnold Air Force Base. Azzano and other AFTC leadership visited Arnold development of new technologies. Air Force Base in mid-November to take part in the 2018 AFTC Strategic Offsite, Azzano’s first offsite since assuming the role Leadership from each of the of AFTC commander in August. (U.S. Air Force photo by Brad Hicks) (This image was altered by obscuring badges for security purposes) AFTC’s organizations were on hand for the recent Offsite at Ar- to focus on the strategic direction nold to host this event because evaluating systems in new mission aspect of the event to me. It was nold, with AEDC Commander of the organization as a whole, so many strategic issues for the areas, such as space, hypersonics also significant because we were Col. Scott Cain and AEDC Super- adding this strategic direction fo- Air Force and how we support and directed energy, all of which able to showcase our people and intendent Chief Master Sgt. Rob- cuses the efforts of the AFTC and the National Defense Strategy are directly support the NDS. facilities to the senior leaders. ert Heckman among those repre- enables its leaders to execute the tied to Arnold and AEDC,” Cain “Working with the Air Force They all came away with a new senting AEDC. mission of the Center more effec- said. “AEDC has a critical role in Test Center to set our sights on Cain said the offsite events are tively. developing next-generation aero- resourcing AEDC to support these See OFFSITE, page 5 a great way for AFTC leadership “It was significant for Ar- space systems and for testing and missions was the most significant 704th Test Group receives $23,000 for 3D Runway Surface Scanning and Surface Re-Creation By Deidre Ortiz AEDC Public Affairs Air Force Materiel Command has allo- cated more than $4.6 million in Squadron Innovation Funds in fiscal year 2018, and $23,000 is to be used for 3D Runway Sur- face Scanning and Surface Re-Creation at the Landing Gear Test Facility (LGTF). The LGTF is operated by the 704th Test Group (704 TG), Aerospace Survivabil- ity and Safety Office (704 TG/OL-AC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, a unit of the Arnold Engineering Development Complex. Brig. Gen. Azzano says Scott Wacker, Flight Chief, 704 TG/OL- AC, explained this innovative effort is one Arnold Air Force Base that has been in the works for many years. “The 704 TG Aerospace Survivability and Safety Office at Wright-Patterson has critical in helping Air Force spent over a decade at the Landing Gear Test Bruce Nelson, with Battenkill Tech- Facility developing advanced test methods nologies, demonstrates his 3D laser that allow the evaluation of aircraft tire and carrier deck scanner on the runway Test Center achieve its at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. runway friction interaction and tire wear,” The 704th Test Group, Aerospace he said. “This effort has focused on devel- Survivability and Safety Office, at mission oping innovative technologies and processes Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Air Force Test Center Commander Brig. Gen. Christopher Azzano, right, is to more accurately simulate real world tire Ohio, has received $23,000 as part of greeted by Sean Smith outside of the Aerodynamic & Propulsion Test Unit performance in the test facility. At the heart the Squadron Innovation Funds pro- during Azzano’s Nov. 16 tour of Arnold Air Force Base. Azzano and other of this work is the 168-inch internal drum vided by the Air Force Materiel Com- AFTC leadership recently visited Arnold to take part in the AFTC Strategic dynamometer, which is a world-unique test mand. This funding is being used to Offsite. The Offsite was Azzano’s first since assuming the post of AFTC machine developed and commissioned in further develop the unit’s 3D Runway commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Bradley Hicks) Surface Scanning and Surface Re- Creation project at the Landing Gear See RUNWAY, page 5 See the entire story on page 2. Test Facility. (U.S. Air Force photo) Arnold Air Force Base Main Gate Arnold AFB engineers prepare to project set to begin ‘amaze’ local students …Page 3 …Page 3 2 • January 7, 2019 Arnold Brig. Gen. Azzano says Arnold Air Force Base critical Air Force Base in helping Air Force Test Center achieve its mission By Bradley Hicks AEDC Public Affairs Arnold Air Force Base re- cently hosted Brig. Gen. Christo- pher Azzano’s first Air Force Test Center Strategic Offsite since he Col. Scott Cain assumed the post of AFTC com- Commander mander in August. Jason Austin The AFTC, headquartered at Chief, Edwards Air Force Base, Califor- Public Affairs nia, leads the Air Force test and evaluation mission, conducting developmental T&E and evalua- tion of air, space and cyber sys- Richard Tighe tems to provide timely, objec- General Manager, tive and accurate information to National Aerospace decision makers. The AFTC has Solutions oversight of work carried out at High Mach Staff: three primary locations across Kathy Gattis, Air Force Materiel Command. NAS Executive Editor The organizations of the AFTC include: Arnold Engineering Lt. Col. David Garay, director of the Aeropropulsion Combined Test Force at Arnold Air Force Base, Raquel March, right, discusses some of the equipment found within the Aeropropulsion Systems Test Facility with NAS Editor Development Complex, Arnold Brig. Gen. Christopher Azzano, commander of the Air Force Test Center, center. Pictured at left is High Mach is published by AFB; 96th Test Wing, Eglin Air ASTF Asset Manager Jimmy Steele. Azzano and other AFTC leadership visited Arnold Air Force Lakeway Publishers, Inc. a pri- Force Base, Florida; and 412th vate firm in no way connected Test Wing, Edwards AFB. Base in mid-November to take part in the 2018 AFTC Strategic Offsite, Azzano’s first offsite since with the U.S. Air Force, Arnold Leadership from each of the assuming the role of AFTC commander in August. (U.S. Air Force photo by Brad Hicks) Air Force Base, Arnold Engi- tance of the work carried out at role in our nation’s security. As Team AEDC to know about the neering Development Complex AFTC organizations attended (AEDC) or National Aerospace the Offsite at Arnold. The event Arnold in achieving the AFTC we move to restore readiness and AFTC’s vision and goals for the Solutions (NAS), under exclu- provided them the opportunity mission. improve lethality of our service, future? sive written contract with NAS to come together to discuss ways AEDC has been front and center. Azzano: I want them to know at Arnold AFB, Tenn., 37389. to develop and grow next-gener- High Mach: Why did you The United States is lagging be- how incredibly important AEDC Everything advertised in this publication will be made ation technologies and systems choose Arnold Air Force Base for hind our potential adversaries in is to the AF Test Center and to the available for purchase, use for the U.S. Air Force and Joint your first Offsite? some critical technologies, and defense of our nation. or patronage without regard partners. Brig. Gen. Azzano: I’ve Arnold is indispensable in the It is evident the AEDC work- to race, color, religion, sex, Strategic planning meetings spent much of my career in the discussion of how to catch up - force takes pride in what they do national origin, age, marital sta- tus, physical handicap, political were held at Arnold on Nov. 14 Air Force Test Center, but most how to develop game-changing and is motivated by the impor- affiliation or any other non- and 15, and Azzano and other recently I was assigned to the technologies and incorporate tance of their work. But when merit factor of the purchaser, AFTC leadership toured the base AFMC Directorate for Air, Space them into next generation sys- you take a step back and look at user or patron. on Nov. 16. and Cyberspace operations. In tems. For those reasons, AEDC the strategic environment con- The High Mach office is located at 100 Kindel Drive, Prior to his tour of Arnold, that position, with consideration seemed like the perfect place to fronting our nation today, it is ob- Suite A236, Arnold AFB, Tenn.