ACC tells Congress and Pentagon officials AEDC vital to national security

  • Published
  • By Kathy Gattis
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. --  Lawmakers and Pentagon officials recently listened as members of the Arnold Community Council (ACC) talked about the importance of Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) and offered some no-cost initiatives for government improvement and investment in hypersonics.

The ACC makes an annual trip to Washington, D.C. to promote AEDC and garner support for the Complex. About 13 community leaders made the trip and the schedule was packed... from Pentagon meetings to a breakfast with elected officials and their staffs; meetings with the Defense Support Initiative (DSI), Eglin's equivalent of the ACC; appointments with Senators Alexander and Corker; Congressman Black and DesJarlais and others in the Tennessee delegation.

A major player in the planning and execution of the ACC trip was the ACC Legislative Affairs Chairperson, Mike Niederhauser. He scheduled the appointments and planned the breakfast the ACC funds for elected officials and their staff members.

"Mike Niederhauser's leadership as the ACC Legislative Affairs Chairman resulted in two action-packed days of appointments with Congressmen, Senators and staffers," ACC President Jim Jolliffe said. "Our ability to meet with them and share the importance of AEDC and the Major Range and Test Facility Base was invaluable."

Niederhauser was quick to praise Jolliffe's leadership (Jolliffe coordinated the visits to the Pentagon) and offered some other thank yous as well.

"With the outstanding assistance of the Congressional Range and Test Center Caucus (CRTCC) co-chairs, we had the most effective trip we have ever had," Niederhauser said. "We want to thank Representatives Diane Black and Tulsi Gabbard along with their staffs for their assistance both before and during the trip. With the outstanding preparation of Tom Best (Long Range Planning Chair) and his team and the leadership of JJ Jolliffe (ACC President) and the well trained teams, we were able to deliver a well received and informative message.

I want to thank everyone who worked so hard while we were in DC," he said.

The CRTCC (http://rangeandtestingcaucus-black.house.gov/) was formed in 2014 and focuses on how the country's T&E infrastructure works together to field safe and effective military capabilities in support of national defense.

Tullahoma Mayor Lane Curlee said it was an eye-opening experience.

"On Monday we visited the Pentagon (my first-ever visit)," he said. It was fascinating. The Pentagon houses the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with the Secretaries of the Air Force, Marines, Army and Navy. During our time in Washington we visited 23 congressmen. I believe many good contacts were made."

Another traveler, Jack Stewart, who has made similar trips since 1999 agreed that this is the most productive trip ACC has made. Stewart is a liaison between ACC and the Edwards AFB community organizations.

"I have been active with the ACC and representing Edwards at the same time since 2011," Stewart noted. "In terms of the meetings and working with Edwards and Eglin community groups, this was the best trip yet."

Stewart has worked with both of the Edwards councils, Antelope Valley Board of Trade (AVBOT) and the Edwards Civ Mil organization.

"Since 1999 I have been making trips to Washington as a director and then vice president of the AVBOT and later the director of Edwards Civ Mil. I am a strong advocate of the Air Force, AEDC and Edwards," Stewart said.

ACC President Jim Jolliffe said was pleased with the coordinating between the community councils. "As a result (of the coordination), we delivered consistent messages to similar leaders in both DOD and Congress. We even shared appointments on some of our office calls to elected officials and their staffs," Jolliffe said.

The initiatives supported and presented by ACC members can be found on their web site at www.arnoldcommunitycouncil.com.