Dr. Blake accepts position with FAA: Will be missed at AEDC

  • Published
  • By Deidre Ortiz
  • AEDC/PA
Dr. Doug Blake was recently selected as the program director of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Logistics Center at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, Okla.

His time as executive director at Arnold Air Force Base (AFB) officially came to a close at the end of June.

When asked what he would miss most about working at Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), Blake stated it was a no-brainer.

"I've most enjoyed the opportunity to work with the fantastic men and women who make up Team AEDC," he said. "Where else could I possibly get to work with great people who perform complex, meaningful and challenging work using facilities that are unique in the world? What a great experience this has been!"

Blake said he had quite a few memorable events during his time spent as AEDC's executive director.

"I have so many pleasant memories of this place that include watching an arc-heater test to my many Friday management-by-walking-around meetings to going bowling with the Junior Force Council to attending the many AEDC functions at the Arnold Lakeside Center to washing one of the display aircraft at the front gate to having lunch in Café 100 with members of the front office to teaching engineering concepts to Tullahoma's middle school students," he said. "And the list goes on. It has, without a doubt, been a very memorable and all-too-short 18 months."

It's hard to work somewhere day in and day out and not get attached to a place and its people, and Blake mentioned it's difficult for him to leave his AEDC family.

"I've made many lasting friendships at AEDC that I will always treasure," he said. "Moving as frequently as I have done in my career brings both excitement and some degree of sadness. On the one hand, I am always excited and honored to be given new opportunities. On the other hand, I am always saddened to say goodbye to the many great people I always come to know.

"That sadness is a good thing, though. It just means that I have had the good fortune to have worked with people that make saying goodbye so hard. I leave AEDC with full intent on keeping in contact with the people here, and I will always be interested in the success of this organization."

Although he received support from many he's worked with at AEDC, Blake extended a special thanks to Col. Raymond Toth, AEDC commander, for helping make his time here such a great experience.

"If I can single out one person, I would like to mention that I have especially enjoyed working with Col. Toth," he said. "He is a great commander and a fine person who cares deeply for this organization. It truly has been a privilege and an honor to work for him."

Toth shared some of the same sentiments about Blake, stating he was a pleasure to be around.

"Dr. Blake is articulate, thoughtful, strategic and an accomplished engineer and leader," the commander said. "He is also a big fan of movie quotes, which made him particularly fun to work with. I will absolutely miss his quiet thoughtfulness and strategic insights. I have met very few people in the military or DOD who have his level of understanding of the strategic process or how to bring an organization through dramatic change."

Toth stated Blake contributed significantly to the Complex and these contributions will be seen long into the future.

"Dr. Blake was instrumental in the development and implementation of the AEDC strategic plan," he said. "Many people don't recognize the importance of these plans or criticize that, once developed they merely sit on a shelf and collect dust. Dr. Blake helped craft a compelling vision for our future, a vision that will challenge each and every one of us, but also a vision that is wholly necessary to ensure AEDC's survival in an uncertain budgetary environment. I firmly believe AEDC's history will look quite favorably on his contributions during his tenure here. I wish him the best of luck at the FAA!"

In saying his farewell, Dr. Edward Kraft, AEDC's chief technologist, mentioned he had worked with Blake prior to his joining AEDC but in working alongside him was able to gain more insight of his character.

"Although I have known him professionally for several years, this is the first time I really got to see his depth and quality firsthand," Kraft said. "He possesses a rare combination of leadership, effective management skills, and technical depth. Beyond his skills, however, he has a genuine talent for engaging everyone he works with. He was instrumental in developing a sense of family in the front office group. Although we work serious issues every day, the front office group genuinely enjoys working together. Dr. Blake added much to that camaraderie."

Kraft said he wishes Dr. Blake well on his next adventure.

"We knew when he came to Arnold he would deservedly move to a Senior Executive position somewhere within the government," he said. "Although he is leaving Arnold and the Air Force now, I fully expect our paths will cross again in the future."

Though he'll no longer be around to witness it directly, Blake stated he knows AEDC leadership and personnel will continue to be dedicated, doing whatever it takes to maintain the Complex's vision.

"Over the past couple of years, we have worked diligently to develop a vision for AEDC's future that we believe will propel this fine organization to ever greater levels of excellence," Blake said. "We have also worked to propagate this vision throughout the organization and into the broader community. As we transition into our next operating contracts, we expect the vision to be incorporated into the proposals we will receive and we are structuring our government workforce and our planning processes in ways that will help us to achieve the vision. This is truly an exciting time at AEDC, and I believe what we are doing today will have a lasting and positive impact on the organization. AEDC's future is bright."

Prior to accepting the position with the FAA, Blake's entire professional career has been spent working for the Air Force in some way.

"I have worked for the Air Force for just over 30 years, 20 as active duty enlisted and officer and 10 as a civilian. I love the Air Force, no doubt about it. At the same time, I'm excited for the opportunity to see how a different government agency does its business, and I hope to be able to bring experiences and perspectives I've gained within DOD to help the FAA accomplish its mission."

Blake arrived at AEDC in December 2012, but before that had been serving as the director of the 76th Software Maintenance Group in Tinker AFB, Okla., therefore he's looking forward to returning to the area.

"I was in Oklahoma for two years prior to coming to AEDC, and I absolutely loved it there," he said. "Just as I expect to have friends at AEDC for years to come, I still have many friends in the Oklahoma City area. It will be fantastic to see them again."

In offering advice to whoever will take his spot as AEDC's executive director, Blake said he's developed a set of principles over the years that focus on leading by example.

"I have a few tenets that I feel have served me well. They have helped me here at AEDC and throughout my career. If my successor were to indulge me, I might offer him or her the following: listen more than you talk; ask more than you tell; involve more than you exclude; temper more than you amplify; be patient more than you rush; smile more than you scowl; trust more than you doubt; say 'we' or 'they' more than you say 'I.' What matters is what remains after you're gone."