Propulsion Research Facility Control Room dedicated in memory of late engineer

During a dedication ceremony March 18 at the Propulsion Research Facility control room at University of Tennessee Space Institute, Col. Timothy West, AEDC Test Operations Division Chief, presents military coins to the family members of the late Gregg Beitel, ATA engineer. Beitel worked at AEDC more than 30 years. (U.S. Air Force photo/Deidre Ortiz)

Propulsion Research Facility Control Room dedicated in memory of late engineer

Brad Winkleman, ATA engineer who worked closely with Gregg Beitel, spoke at the dedication ceremony March 18 at University of Tennessee Space Institute. Winkleman holds up a metal probe used as part of the Propulsion Research Facility test stand and explains to the crowd its purpose. He also noted that, like the metal probe, Beitel was strong in his determination to make sure the PRF was a success. (U.S. Air Force photo/Deidre Ortiz)

Propulsion Research Facility Control Room dedicated in memory of late engineer

Myra Beitel cuts the ribbon officially dedicating the Propulsion Research Facility control room at UTSI in honor of her late husband, ATA engineer Gregg Beitel. Many were in attendance for the dedication ceremony March 18 at the University of Tennessee Space Institute. (U.S. Air Force photo/Deidre Ortiz)

Propulsion Research Facility Control Room dedicated in memory of late engineer

At the dedication ceremony March 18 at UTSI, the Beitel Family pose with a plaque in honor of Gregg Beitel, ATA engineer who worked at AEDC for more than 30 years before his passing in September 2014. Beitel helped in spearheading the Propulsion Research Facility at UTSI. The control room for the facility has been named the Gregg Beitel Control Center in his honor and the plaque will be mounted at the entrance of the building. Pictured left to right: Beitel’s daughter Natalie, wife Myra, daughter Hayley and son Roscoe. (U.S. Air Force photo/Deidre Ortiz)

Propulsion Research Facility Control Room dedicated in memory of late engineer

Published April 4, 2016
By Deidre Ortiz
AEDC/PA

ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. -- The Propulsion Research Facility control room at the University of Tennessee Space Institute was dedicated in memory of the late Gregg Beitel, a research and test engineer for Aerospace Testing Alliance at AEDC.

Beitel passed away Sept. 29, 2014. He worked at AEDC for more than 30 years.
The dedication ceremony March 18 was attended by several family members, friends and former colleagues.

In honor of his work and dedication to AEDC, Col. Timothy West, AEDC Test Operations Division Chief, presented Beitel's three children, Natalie, Hayley and Roscoe, and his father Robert with military coins.

Brad Winkleman, ATA engineer who had a close working relationship with Beitel, gave a presentation and provided comments regarding Beitel's role in establishing the Propulsion Research Facility at UTSI. The facility, which consists of sea-level-static test stands located at the UTSI campus, was formed through a partnership of the AEDC instrumentation and diagnostics team and UTSI personnel. The test stands have served as technology development platforms using the J85-GE-5 turbojet engine.

Different metal rods used in the PRF test stand were laid out on a table in the control room and Winkleman picked up one of these, noting it was "sturdy, strong" just as Beitel had been.

"It was his determination that helped bring us this facility," he said. "He imprinted upon us the vision for this. He was a wonderful colleague and a very good friend."
Winkleman added that Beitel, who worked on Intrusive Diagnostics for PRF, had created a super hero of sorts called Intrusive Diagnostics Man who helped solve different issues that often arise. He compared Beitel to the super hero, and ended by saying that it was the PRF team's "hope and desire that one day, instead of being overwhelmed by problems, we will overwhelm them."

The ceremony concluded with Beitel's wife Myra leading the ribbon cutting and officially dedicating the control room in her husband's memory. A plaque with the inscription "Gregg Beitel Control Center" will be mounted at the entrance of the PRF control room.

-AEDC-