ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. -- The Arnold Community Council (ACC) recently held its annual banquet and Arnold Engineering Development Complex Fellows induction ceremony at the Manchester Events Center.
Daniel Bratcher, Director of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) – Coffee County, was the keynote speaker. Bratcher communicated the purpose of the planned TCAT – Coffee County, namely, to create a skilled workforce for area industries which would benefit AEDC well into the future.
The AEDC Fellows Program, chaired by retired Air Force Gen. Mike Wiedemer, recognizes individuals whose specific outstanding accomplishments and contributions to aerospace ground testing at AEDC disproportionately and positively affected customers, suppliers, stakeholders and employees of AEDC; sister government organizations, industry partners and the state of the art. The AEDC Fellows Program added three new members in 2025: Bill Phillips, Ph.D., John Hopf and David Duesterhaus.
Phillips was selected as an AEDC Technical Fellow, Hopf and Duesterhaus were selected as AEDC Lifetime Achievement Fellows.
Phillips was selected for his design, development and implementation of spectral models and codes, advancing the state-of-the-art in signature modeling for both AEDC and the nation. Hopf was selected for his work in improving the productivity, efficiency, and safety of nearly every wind tunnel at AEDC, with an emphasis on captive trajectory systems. Duesterhaus was selected for his efforts in leading the Technology Division, Director of the AEDC National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex, and Ground Test Representative for the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation.
Current Tullahoma Mayor and outgoing ACC President Lynn Sebourn highlighted the work accomplished by ACC during his one-year term. He described the impact of the successful trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with our Congressional and Pentagon representatives. He also emphasized the importance of capturing the needs of the base community to ensure that local leaders include them in economic and infrastructure planning. He thanked ACC for the opportunity to serve.
Incoming President Mark Mehalic, Ph.D., emphasized the need for the communities surrounding Arnold Air Force Base, headquarters of AEDC, to provide the housing, education and quality of life that the AEDC workforce requires, especially considering the significant increase in AEDC infrastructure and the subsequent need for increased workforce in the coming years.
The ACC was established in 2000 to promote, protect and preserve AEDC and to facilitate interaction and cooperation between AEDC and the surrounding communities. The ACC represents 13 southern middle Tennessee and Alabama counties.
Members of the council visit the Tennessee Congressional delegation and other key members of the U.S. Congress each year and keep open communications with members of the Tennessee Legislature and local governments. The council sponsors awards to honor AEDC quarterly and annual military award winners. ACC also supports the annual AEDC veterans’ picnic, the AEDC children’s Christmas party, the Honor Flight of Middle Tennessee and Wreaths Across America.
The council leadership plans to continue working to protect and support AEDC and to continue strengthening relationships with community councils at our sister bases in the test enterprise.
ACC is a Tennessee nonprofit corporation and an IRS 501(c)(6) nonprofit.