ATA work force may decrease next fiscal year Published June 18, 2009 By Raquel March AEDC/PA Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. -- The President's 2010 budget request documents a $24 million reduction in funding for contractor services at Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC). This reduction would go into effect Oct.1. Consistent with Aerospace Testing Alliance's (ATA) philosophy of only using an involuntary reduction in force (RIF) as a last resort, the company is planning alternate means of dealing with the lower funding which could lessen the number of involuntary reductions which may be required at the end of the current fiscal year. In a letter sent to all ATA employees June 11, ATA General Manager Dr. David Elrod said, "As we work through our planning for next fiscal year, it is apparent that the workload and overall funding for ATA will be reduced from this year's levels. "At this point, the total staffing requirements for FY10 appear to be 150 to 220 employees lower than this year's requirement. Attrition and reduction in overtime usage can lessen that gap slightly, but not eliminate it. The workload and our funding for next year are (as always) subject to further change in the months to come. "There are factors, which could cause the gap to increase and other factors which might cause it to shrink as we go forward. We will work to keep each of you informed as the workload matures and becomes more certain." If an involuntary reduction is required, ATA will follow company policy, which provides a consistent and equitable method of reducing and/or realignment of the skills and numbers of the work force. In addition, ATA is also working with ATA's parent companies - Jacobs, Computer Sciences Corp. and General Physics - to identify opportunities for ATA employees to transfer to other locations. The President's budget referencing AEDC may be viewed at www.saffm.hq.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-090511-083.pdf, page 711.