AEDC program provides opportunities for young engineers

  • Published
  • By Deidre Ortiz
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. --  Aerospace Testing Alliance (ATA) offers a professional development program, known as the Junior Engineer Development Initiative (JEDI), for Arnold Engineering Development Complex's (AEDC) entry-level engineers.

Sustaining and growing intellectual capital and overall technical rigor at AEDC is imperative to delivering the overall mission and meeting the complex objectives of AEDC test customers. The JEDI program is one of several programs at AEDC to hone technical competencies and improve communication skills.

Laurie Winton, coordinator of the program, said JEDI provides a valuable opportunity that allows young engineers to develop important skills they will use throughout their careers.

"The JEDI program was started to enhance the involvement and recognition of the Complex's younger professional workforce by providing opportunities outside their normal work assignments," she said. "The goal of the JEDI program is to increase depth and breadth of knowledge of the overall picture of the AEDC mission, increase knowledge of the breadth of work at AEDC, and encourage networking and mentoring relationships among coworkers."

All new engineers at Arnold AFB participate in the JEDI program. The JEDI group is currently comprised of entry-level engineers who have been with ATA less than three years. As of mid-July, the JEDI program has 37 members.

The JEDIs have an elected council of five engineers who represent the group by managing and helping to disseminate information. The council encourages participation in various activities, as well as helps facilitate activities for the group, both on and off the clock.

JEDI members are encouraged to take part in an opportunity offered on a quarterly basis to brief management and other attendees from across the base on work they are doing, whether assigned, in their graduate school work or an innovation grant. This provides them the chance to hone their presentation skills in front of a technical audience and provides attendees the opportunity to know more about the work being done by our younger engineering staff.

The first briefings were presented in April by Justin Davis, Paul Ritter, Billy Stack and Adam Tupis. The presenters for July were Chad Carpenter, Ryan Tatro, Adam Moon and Joshua Blair.

"It's not always an easy thing to do, but they represent themselves and this program very well," Winton said. "I am honestly honored to have the opportunity to work with such an exceptional group of young people who are focused, interested in being challenged, and who desire and solicit opportunities for growth and responsibility."

Lynn Moran, director of AEDC's Test Assets and Support Department, also shared her impressions of the briefings.

"All the presenters did an outstanding job and I was impressed with both their presentation and technical skills," she said. "I appreciate the opportunity that the JEDI program provides management and others to hear about the work being done by our younger staff, and I look forward to hearing about their successes at AEDC in future years."

According to Dr. Rob McAmis, Integrated Test and Evaluation director, several people are involved in developing and supporting the JEDI program.

"I'm very proud of Laurie, the section managers and the mentors who are working to ensure our new folks are challenged and enthused about their choice of ATA/AEDC," McAmis said. "I've always known that we are a unique workplace in that we have engineering challenges all around us... it just takes a bit of effort to reveal those and then motivate others to be excited about pursuing solutions."