COFFEE COUNTY, Tenn. -- The 2023 AEDC Fellows selection committee is proud to announce the selection of two new AEDC Fellows.
Martha Ann Simmons has been selected as a Lifetime Achievement Fellow and Norman Smith as a Craft Fellow
They become the 116th and 117th AEDC Fellows since the program’s inception in 1989.
AEDC Fellows are selected for their disproportionately positive impact on the United States aerospace industry. While Arnold Engineering Development Complex has a unique and powerful influence on Department of Defense weapon systems, AEDC Fellows have a legacy of positive influence not only on the DOD, but also sister organizations such as NASA, the Departments of Energy, Homeland Security and Transportation, as well as academia and the aerospace industry.
Martha Simmons
Martha Ann Simmons is a retired manager and subject matter expert with QuantiTech Inc., now Axient Corp., AEDC Technology Group.
Throughout her distinguished, 42-year career at AEDC, she made notable and valuable lifetime contributions to the nation’s aerospace capabilities in many areas relevant to the AEDC mission.
Simmons worked within and positively influenced all sections of the AEDC Technology Branch: Instrumentation and Diagnostics, Modeling and Simulation, Facility Test Techniques and Foreign Technology.
Her technical leadership responsibilities included oversight for technology product development and transition; subject matter expert and principal investigator for projects.
Simmons made major technical contributions throughout her early years representing AEDC on the Joint Army Navy NASA Air Force Interagency Propulsion Committee for development of rocket and missile plumes.
She built on the knowledge and experience gained from distinguished AEDC technical giants, Dr. Wheeler “Mac” McGregor, Dr. Chad Limbaugh and Dr. Robert Hiers, each named as an AEDC Fellow, in 1990, 2009 and 2012, respectively, becoming the lead for operation and maintenance of multiple computer codes.
This capability eventually led to the establishment of the Advanced Missile Signature Center at AEDC. The AMSC supports DOD Programs with collection, analysis, modeling, archival and distribution services that include target, threat and battlespace environment signatures for missiles and other vehicles.
In 2012, Simmons accepted the position of manager of the Instrumentation and Diagnostics Section, managing engineers devoted to the development of advanced diagnostics and their applications to the numerous national research facilities including AEDC; Air Force Research Laboratory; NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Glenn Research Center, Langley Research Center, Stennis Space Center and Kennedy Space Center; and military contractors’ facilities.
Her staff was responsible for the development and operations of the Propulsion Research Facility, an instrumentation and diagnostics test bed for evaluating and demonstrating advanced diagnostic techniques in actual full-scale turbine engine environments.
Norman L. Smith
Norman L. Smith is an aerospace precision machinist leadman in the AEDC Model Shop. He has worked in the Model Shop’s precision machine shop since April 2003.
He directly facilitates cutting edge research, development, test and evaluation efforts, and his technical knowledge and abilities place him at the top of the list of AEDC Model Shop precision machinists.
Smith has proven his high level of machinist skills and capabilities on multiple occasions over many years, as evidenced by his daily involvement in machining close-tolerance parts to exact specifications in a safe and timely manner.
He is a “go-to guy” when safety, timeliness and precision are imperative in getting a part fabricated or repaired and returned to the test customer. His efforts are directly associated with ensuring test facilities are operational to support testing. Smith has a “can do” attitude, and he will complete any job given to him on time and on budget. His unique combination of ability and positive attitude is exactly why Smith’s craftsmanship is seen in a majority of the technically challenging, high-visibility and schedule-driven jobs that enter the Model Shop.
Smith works closely with engineers and designers across AEDC to fabricate a multitude of highly complex parts including test and facility items. He has performed delicate machining operations to fabricate complex parts for aircraft models and missiles and facility infrastructure.
He played a key role in many other jobs in support of AEDC test facilities and processes supported by the Model Shop. It is highly probable that every facility at AEDC utilizes test articles and/or facility hardware fabricated by Smith.
Smith is a key leader at the Model Shop. He can operate virtually every machine in the shop and has supported a broad spectrum of work throughout many years at AEDC. He is frequently sought out by engineers and other craftsmen for advice on the best method to manufacture or machine a product.
His unique skills, capabilities and personality at times cause him to be pulled in many directions, from mentoring fellow precision machinists to providing input on new machines to support the work of the shop. He is also a subject matter expert on tooling and machining processes and which should be implemented.
Smith assists planners and schedulers with estimating machining hours to complete work coming to the shop. He provides a steady stream of innovative ideas to accomplish demanding work requirements in a very busy shop. It is impossible to articulate the positive impact that his experience and ethics have had on AEDC in general, but it can be stated that his calm demeanor, unique abilities and positive attitude make him invaluable to the Model Shop, AEDC and to the United States of America.