WHEN HE joined the Air Force, Col. Grant Mizell dreamed of reaching for the sky. He has always chased adventure.
“The thought that I could someday fly an airplane was the hook I needed,” Mizell said. “The thought that I’d break the surly bonds of earth and go chase clouds was pretty neat.”
It was a decision that took him from a curious high school graduate to the commander of the Arnold Air Force Base and Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC). He has 30 years of service under his belt, and his command extends to AEDC locations across nine states.
Mizell started at the Air Force Academy in 1995 and then attended pilot training to fly C-130s — small but mighty tactical planes. His first operational assignment was in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he completed four combat tours in the Middle East and met his wife, Evelyn. They would later have two children, a son, Kelly, and a daughter, Lorelei.
As a young couple, Mizell and his wife were shipped to the 37th Airlift Squadron in Germany. They left behind their families, but were born into a new kind of family.
“When you join the military, you have instant friends — really, an instant family — who you are going to be with for a long time,” Mizell said.
In Germany, C-130s were deployed to contingencies in Africa, Bosnia, Kosovo, and the Middle East, transporting UN peacekeepers, medical aid, and military personnel. Mizell enjoyed seeing the world and making a difference.
Mizell then attended test pilot school. Always chasing the next adventure, Mizell moved from Germany to a remote base in the Mojave Desert in California, which was 20 miles from the nearest town. Mizell learned to fly over 30 different aircraft. Set in an area with beautiful weather year-round and a safe distance from civilians, Edwards Air Force Base is the perfect location to test aircraft. It’s dangerous work, but groundbreaking.
“Almost every major ‘first’ in the history of aviation happened at Edwards Air Force Base, or within 50 miles of it,” Mizell said.
A rare opportunity offered C-130 test pilots, including Mizell, the chance to work with the Royal Air Force for two years. Mizell moved to England, where he flew British planes and admired their patience, acceptance, and efficiency.
Today, Mizell commands Arnold Air Force Base, a technological hub of aerospace innovation and military testing. It is a critical component of our national security.
“Arnold is the epitome of long-term thinking. They built a wonder of the world,” Mizell said.
The facility is incredible and is open to the public for tours. But Mizell said the heart of the base is the people.
“Arnold Air Force Base is the people of Tennessee. Whether you’ve done it in my uniform, or any service, or in a suit and tie, or coveralls, they are all American heroes. They come in every single day and make America a better place,” Mizell said.
The base maintains the public Wattendorf Highway and opens huge portions of its property for hunting and fishing. It also conducts STEM outreach in schools. Mizell continually leads Arnold Air Force Base to new heights while nurturing the community here in Tullahoma. GN
