Arnold Air Force Base -- ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. – Area high school students were given an inside look at the world of engineering as Arnold Engineering Development Complex welcomed them for the 2026 Engineer-For-A-Day program, Feb. 25, 2026, at Arnold Air Force Base.
Twenty-two participated in the annual event from schools that included Tullahoma, Franklin County, Huntland, Moore County, Warren County, Shelbyville Central, Coffee County, Fayetteville, Cascade, and Lincoln County.
According to AEDC Technical Management Group Senior Engineer Donna Spry, who served as an event planning committee volunteer, the day was filled with opportunities to see what AEDC has to offer for a career in engineering.
“During the 2026 Engineers Week, students participated in the Engineer-For- A-Day event at AEDC,” she explained. “Several AEDC mentors volunteered their afternoon to spend with the students and show them where they work, their duties and what it’s like being an engineer at AEDC.
“The day’s event kicked off with Mr. Ed Tucker, AEDC’s senior technical director, welcoming the students and providing an AEDC overview to provide familiarity of the areas they were to see later in the day. Additionally, a panel of four engineers consisting of two Air Force civilians and two government contractors talked to the students about why they chose an engineering degree and offered advice for how to be successful as they enter college.”
Following the welcome by Tucker and the engineering panel, students were able to tour Arnold to further their understanding of the base and its facilities. Following their tour, students were treated to lunch and then paired with their mentors for the day. They then left to head to each of their mentor’s specific work sites for an afternoon of shadowing them.
AEDC Test Operations Mechanical Engineer Samantha Hasty was among the mentors who volunteered for the event. She said Engineer-For-A-Day offered a unique opportunity for high school students who will soon be deciding their own career paths.
“It’s a unique opportunity for students who are interested in the field to get see a little bit of day to day of what engineers do here at AEDC,” she said.
She added the mentor experience allowed the students to enjoy a “tailored experience base on their area of interest.”
“The mentorship opportunity allowed each of the students to have a more tailored experience based on their area of interest,” explained Hasty. “I think the one-on-one time also allows them to open up and have a dialogue and ask questions about colleges and careers. I hope in the future we continue to get more students and mentors to maintain the 1to1 ratio of students and mentors. I believe local students are one of AEDC's greatest sources for the future of the workforce and talent pool.”
The event also coincided with National Engineers Week. Students were also able to participate in a Student Design Competition that took place at the University of Tennessee Space Institute, or UTSI, on Feb. 24, 2026. Students were paired in two-person teams where they designed, built and competed with their designs against other teams.
The week’s events concluded on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, with the Engineers Week Banquet at the UTSI Dining Hall. The evening featured a buffet dinner, recognition of student participants and a keynote address from Janet Ivey of Janet’s Planet, known for her award-winning educational work in science and space exploration.
Sponsors of the event include AEDC, Southern Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers, the Tennessee Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, UTSI, the Hands-On Science Center of Tullahoma, and the AFSTEM program.