Chaplain Nutter serves AEDC hearts and souls for 25 years

  • Published
  • By Raquel March
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --  Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) personnel recently recognized a milestone with AEDC Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Martin Nutter and his family as they celebrated his retirement and serving AEDC souls for 25 years.

He has displayed a servant's heart and touched many people from AEDC leadership to other personnel throughout the base by providing counseling, conducting wedding ceremonies and funerals, and baptisms. He has conducted six baptisms, 26 marriages and 39 funerals for Arnold Air Force Base. Nutter recalled conducting funerals for AEDC Fellows and D.Z. Wingo of whom the base officers' quarters Wingo Inn is named.

During Nutter's retirement ceremony, Ken Jacobsen, AEDC's chief of staff, recalled his own personal need of Nutter's assistance with the death of a family member and how he has assisted many people in the same manner.

Part of the chaplain's service in the Air Force is death notification for military families.

Nutter's wife Linda said many nights the phone would ring during early morning hours and "the phone was on my said of the bed," she said. "I learned to 'let him go' so that he could fulfill his calling."

Linda said her job was to take care of their four children while Nutter served his country.

"I and persons on my staff, such as Autumn Standley, have called him on occasions throughout the years to perform death notifications to families," said Tom Sizemore, AEDC personnel division director. "Regardless of the time, Chaplain Nutter always responded promptly. Thanks to him, AEDC has always been able to provide dignified, compassionate and timely notification to the family members."

Nutter received many calls by many individuals over the years.

"It has been a privilege to be involved in the lives of so many," Nutter said. "It has also been exciting to see how the Lord has moved in these lives."

When Nutter was asked about his most memorable moments at AEDC, he spoke of AEDC's chapel.

"First and foremost, the design and construction of AEDC's first-ever chapel located in the A&E building would have to be the most memorable moment," Nutter said. "In 1996 I drafted a letter to the Command Chaplain at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and provided a Letter of Justification to Gen. Henry Viccellio for the recommendation and need of a chapel at Arnold AFB. General Viccellio personally carved out funding for the construction of AEDC's first Chapel since the Camp Forrest days of WWII."

His second most memorable moments were the numerous services he conducted in the chapel following the events of 9/11.

Nutter started his chaplain service at AEDC under Col. Richard Roellig's command in 1988 and has served with 12 commanders.

In 1984 Nutter received a direct Presidential appointment from President Ronald Reagan and was commissioned as a Reserve Chaplain in the U.S. Air Force. Before arriving at AEDC, Nutter served as chaplain at the 443rd Air Base Group, Military Airlift Command, Altus Air Force Base, Okla.

After 25 years, Nutter is considered retired from Air Force services at Arnold AFB but he says he will continue his ministry.

"I am officially retired as Reserve Chaplain at Arnold AFB - yet, I am not retired from pastoral ministry," he said. "I continue to serve as Pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, Tullahoma, which has been my primary call since 1988. So I am continuing to serve as Pastor of faith, I continue to preach, teach, administer baptism and the Lord's Supper, make hospital calls, sick calls and shut-in calls, counsel, conduct weddings and funerals, etc."

His first church servicing assignment as an intern was in 1977 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Enid, Okla. In 1979 he completed his Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo.

With the full support of his family and ministry being a way of life for each of them, Nutter continues to be available to the AEDC community.

"As pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, I am available to all people." He said

Pastor Nutter may be contacted through the Faith Lutheran Church office at 455-3510.