Support staff personnel play huge part in AEDC, Air Force mission Published June 4, 2015 By Deidre Ortiz AEDC/PA ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. -- Christopher Fanning Christopher Fanning is a contracting officer that supports Arnold Air Force Base and the AEDC test mission requirements. In his position, he supports various acquisitions that include service, supply, construction and research and development contracts in order to meet the Air Force and the nation's testing mission. He and his team are responsible for awarding contracts based on mission requirements that are identified to support the overall Air Force Strategic Objectives. "As a contracting officer at Arnold, my responsibility is to ensure that I develop the most efficient and cost effective contracting method to support the overall test mission for the Air Force at AEDC," Fanning said. "I am playing an integral part in the future construct at AEDC as I will be the Administrative Contracting Officer for the base IT services contract. The mission cannot be supported without a contract in place and as a contracting officer for the United States of America; we are the only people that have the authority to obligate government funds." Leslie McGowan Leslie McGowan is a paralegal in the legal office at Arnold Air Force Base. McGowan enlisted in the Air Force in 1991, serving first as a satellite systems operator before cross-training as a military paralegal in 1996. She separated from active duty after 10 years of service. She began working as a paralegal at Arnold in 2006 and has provided a high level of service and continuity to the office since that time. She is currently the only paralegal assigned to the office, supporting two active duty attorneys and one civilian attorney. Her primary duties include: managing the claims process at the base (including claims filed against the Air Force as well as identifying claims to be pursued by the Air Force); managing the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (providing free tax assistance to dependents, military members, and retirees); managing the Victim Witness Assistance Program (educating police, liaising with community organizations, performing education outreach); providing legal assistance to dependents, military members, and retirees (drafting powers of attorney, notarizing documents, pre-drafting wills and advance health care documents for attorney review); researching legal issues (pre-drafting legal reviews for attorneys on driving suspensions, base debarments, and other legal issues); and providing administrative support to the office.