ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. -- AEDC will induct a new AEDC Fellow, a Lifetime Achievement Fellow and the first Craftsman Fellow at the annual AEDC Fellows Banquet June 25.

Dr. Robert S. Hiers III is the newest AEDC Fellow, joining 64 others selected for the honor since the program began in 1989.

The AEDC Lifetime Achievement Fellow recognizes individuals who have made significant and exceptionally valuable contributions to AEDC throughout their careers.

This year's honoree is David C. Bond. His addition brings the number of Lifetime Achievement Fellows to seven.

William T. Scott is AEDC's first Craftsman Fellow.

Dr. Mark J. Lewis, the director-designate of the Science and Technology Policy Institute of the Institute for Defense Analyses, will deliver the keynote address at this year's AEDC Fellows Banquet. Dr. Lewis is the former Chief Scientist of the U.S. Air Force.

Dr. Robert Hiers III

Dr. Hiers began his AEDC career as a co-op student while he was pursuing his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Upon graduation he accepted a full-time job within Sverdup's technology organization and has been working in technology ever since.

Today, as ATA's Technical Fellow for Instrumentation and Diagnostics Technology, Hiers has developed several outstanding examples of technology capabilities routinely used at AEDC and elsewhere within the Department of Defense, including specialized diagnostic probes and associated data analysis methods; Fuel-Rich Exhaust Flow Inerting Methodology that has reduced safety risks associated with exhaust flow in the J-6 Rocket Test Facility; and Enhanced Missile Signature Threat Models that have been applied to support DOD warning sensor programs.

As a result of his expertise in rocket plume phenomology, in 1999 Dr. Hiers and Dr. Wheeler K. McGregor were called upon to advise the United Nations Special Commission regarding technical aspects of remote sensing capabilities of immediate concern. The commission was established to verify Iraq's compliance to destroy its weapons of mass destruction.

Dr. Hiers is being recognized for his outstanding technical contributions and professional leadership in the development and successful transition of state-of-the-art diagnostic systems, analysis methods and test methodologies in support of AEDC's contribution to weapon system development.

David C. Bond

David Bond arrived at AEDC in 1978 to serve as the Air Force project manager for the Test Instrumentation System (TIS) project. He was responsible for developing and installing the $30 million data acquisition and processing system for the Aeropropulsion Systems Test Facility, the free world's largest engine test facility.

Throughout the years, Bond held a variety of positions at AEDC. As technical director for Communications and Computer Systems, Bond was responsible for a $40 million upgrade of the center's data processing and communications network. He also served as chief of the Space Systems Division, chief of the Applied Technology Division and technical director of the Operations Directorate.

Bond went on from AEDC to serve as the deputy director for the Air Force Materiel Command's (AFMC) Operations Directorate, where his strong advocacy for AEDC played a key role in increased funding for test and evaluation infrastructure. He later became executive director of the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB, Calif., and finished his Air Force career as director of Engineering and Technical Management for AFMC. He continues to advocate for AEDC as a member of the Arnold Community Council.

Bond is being recognized for his outstanding career of leadership and service to the developmental test and evaluation mission of AEDC and the Air Force.

William T. Scott

From his arrival at AEDC in 1958 until his retirement in 1999, Bill Scott's talents were focused on innovations to ground testing that yielded not incremental, but revolutionary, improvements in AEDC heat transfer testing capabilities that have been acknowledged as world-class.

Scott developed a variety of heat transfer measurement sensors designed to solve specific customer requests. He had the leading role in the fundamental design, construction and calibration of the entire suite of von Karman Gas Dynamics Facility heat transfer instrumentation that spanned a 42-year career at AEDC.

He was the sole developer and master of micro-miniature fabrication techniques performed under a microscope for many years. At the time of their development, none of the gages he manufactured were commercially available.

Scott was also a leader of instrumentation technicians at AEDC, and he retired as Instrument Technician Master.

Scott is being recognized for outstanding contributions in leadership, sustained technical innovation and application of miniature heat transfer sensors to ground test facilities at AEDC.

The Fellows program was established in 1989 and recognizes AEDC individuals who have made exceptionally distinguished and substantial contributions to the nation's aerospace ground testing capability at the center.

Candidates considered for selection as either an AEDC Fellow or as an AEDC Lifetime Achievement Fellow are current or retired military, civilian and operating contractor and subcontractor personnel assigned or previously assigned to AEDC. The banquet will be held at the Arnold Lakeside Center. If you would like to attend, please call 454-6505.