Local reaction to Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch nomination for a fourth star

  • Published
  • By Kathy Gattis
  • AEDC/PA

To say people at Arnold AFB and area community leaders are excited about the promotion of Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch would probably be an understatement.

Bunch is a Tennessee native and when he received his third star in 2015, his promotion ceremony was held in his hometown of Morristown. Many members of the Air Force stationed at Arnold Engineering Development Complex and the Arnold Community Council traveled to Morristown to attend the ceremony. Walters State Expo Center was used as the venue because there were so many people expected to attend.

After becoming the first commander of the Air Force Test Center (2012-2015), Bunch was a frequent visitor at AEDC. He conducted a town hall meeting at the base, toured numerous times and held meetings at AEDC during his tenure as the AFTC commander. He was also the guest speaker at one of the ACC annual banquets and when in town, he spoke at an ACC monthly membership meeting. Bunch returned to AEDC in June to conduct the Civilian Senior Level Career Service promotion ceremony for Dr. Tom Fetterhoff, AFTC technical advisor for Aerodynamic, Propulsion and Ground Test Evaluation. One time Bunch delighted firefighters at Arnold AFB when he suited up and worked as a fireman for a day.

Given his AEDC and Tennessee connections, the High Mach staff knew people here would have a lot to say about the Bunch promotion. AEDC readers will recognize the people quoted below.

Dr. Tom Fetterhoff
AFTC Technical Advisor for Aerodynamic, Propulsion and Ground Test Evaluation

“General Bunch is one of the finest officers I have had the pleasure of working with. He is centered, never takes his subordinates for granted, and makes sure everyone on the team is valued. He is humble and never ever forgets anything. His knowledge and leadership style will be a great asset to AFMC. We are lucky to have him.”

Dave Bond
Air Force Materiel Command Director of Engineering and Technical Management (Ret)

“I have hoped for years that this would happen. My thought is not what this promotion means to General Bunch, but rather what it means to the AF and the test community. There is no chance that as a former “tester” he will provide favorable or unfair favorable treatment to the test community and AFTC specifically. If there was ever a person that personified the values of honesty, service and excellence it is General Bunch. Having said this, the value of having a Commander that really understands the challenges of testing and the value testing brings to the acquisition process cannot be overstated.”

Janice Bowling, Tennessee State Senator
Deputy Speaker Tennessee State Senate

”I was delighted and proud to hear of General Bunch’s nomination for General of the Air Force. As a born and bred Tennessean, General Bunch has a true sense of patriotism combined with a strong dose of the Tennessee volunteer spirit. Each occasion we have shared has impressed me more and more with his authenticity, graciousness and dedication.”

Jeff Fishman
Arnold Community Council Past President

“General Bunch’s family and my family have been friends for as long as I can remember. I hadn’t seen him in years, so it came as quite a surprise that we would have the opportunity to work together in support of AEDC. I attended his promotion ceremony and there was a huge crowd of hometown friends, family and dignitaries that were on hand to wish Bunch well. I was told this was the largest crowd at a pinning ceremony outside of those held at the Pentagon.”

Claude Morse
Arnold Community Council President

“I am delighted to hear that Arnie Bunch has been nominated for promotion to general and to become commander of Air Force Materiel Command. Arnold Community Council has had great interaction with him for several years. He understands ACC’s mission and what ACC does for AEDC and the USAF. We are happy to have an incoming commander of the AFMC who understands the importance of the mission at AEDC to keep American airpower the best in the world, supporting General of the Air Force Hap Arnold’s vision of “An Air Force Second to None.”

Mike Niederhauser
Air Force Materiel Command Civic Leader Program Member
ACC Legislative Affairs

“I was so excited when I heard Arnie was promoted to AFMC 4-star. I first meet Arnie and his wife Carolyn in 2011 at an awards ceremony at Wright-Patterson. I saw them again in 2012 and we became close friends. That’s the same year he came to a meeting of the ACC and asked us to accept the new organization the Air Force developed (established AEDC reporting to the Air Force Test Center at Edwards AFB). Because of him, we embraced it and reached out to Edwards and Eglin. Arnie with his Tennessee style makes you slow down and look around to see what you can accomplish together.
General Bunch is one of the nicest people I have ever met. When I was sick with cancer, he would call me just to see how I was doing. He is a genuine person who cares about everyone he knows, and he will have that same concern about everyone under his command.”


Brian Skelton
Air Force Materiel Command Civic Leader Program Member
Arnold Community Council Past President
Tullahoma Utilities Authority President

“I was excited, but not surprised at General Bunch’s promotion. He earned it, and AFMC is getting a brilliant leader. I am very proud of this Tennessean.
I first met General Bunch when he was the Brigadier General at the Air Force Test Center at Edwards in 2012. I was active with both the Arnold Community Council and the AFMC CLP program. AFMC was about to begin the move to make Edwards the AFTC and AEDC was reorganized as a complex under AFTC. I remember much anxiety around the AFMC community at that time and remember how General Bunch made many trips to AEDC to assure our base leadership and community leadership that he would take care of AEDC because it was such a crucial part of the test community.”


Mike Wiedemer
Maj. Gen. USAF (Ret)
ACC Past President

“I was absolutely delighted to hear that General Bunch was nominated for his fourth star and for assuming command of AFMC. He is extraordinarily well qualified and most deserving. He knows the issues associated with research, development, test and evaluation better than any other military officer who could lead AFMC. We are lucky to have him in such an important position. The ACC has worked with General Bunch on issues of sequestration, encroachment and hypersonic research and development to name a few topics.”

The announcement that Bunch would become the commander of AFMC was made in December and Senate confirmation is expected later this year.