Lt. Col. William 'Bill' Hack takes charge as commander of AEDC's 716th Test Squadron

  • Published
  • By Philip Lorenz III
  • AEDC/PA
Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. --  Lt. Col. William "Bill" Hack took the reins of the 716th Test Squadron in a formal ceremony with the center's senior leadership, family and friends in attendance Monday, March 12. AEDC 704th Test Group Commander Col. Jeff Smith handed the command flag to Colonel Hack with the Propulsion Wind Tunnel (PWT) facility's 16-foot transonic wind tunnel as a backdrop.

"I am honored to become a part of this outstanding organization, and my goal is to further its reputation as a premiere test facility," Colonel Hack said. "Arnold Air Force Base has been a key part of Air Force history and it was part of General Hap Arnold and Dr. von Karman's vision for establishing and maintaining air power's technological edge over our enemies.

"In 1951, only four years after the founding of an independent Air Force, Arnold Air Force Base was established and since then has tested every Air Force weapon system.
To me that is an incredible accomplishment. The Airmen, government civilians and contractors who came before us have passed on a rich legacy of research and development - which is our duty to continue."

Before coming to AEDC, Colonel Hack was chief of the Assessment and Demonstrations Division at the Munitions Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Eglin AFB, Fla. He has held a variety of acquisition assignments in flight test, research and development, engineering and program management working on multiple fighter, airlift and tanker platforms.