ROWS AND rows of trees separate Arnold Air Force Base from the public areas of Tullahoma for safety and national security reasons. Still, this essential barrier disconnects the base and the local community. Colonel Mizell, commander of Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), tackled this issue by reinstating the Honorary Commanders: civilian leaders who serve as local ambassadors for the base.
Tennessee native Winston Brooks, executive director of Tullahoma Area Economic Development Corporation (TAEDC) and an honorary commander, helps the base stay actively connected in Tullahoma. He and Chairman Beverly Lee collaborate to lead this effort.
Arnold Air Force Base is the largest economic driver in Tullahoma, with a $1.06 billion economic impact on the region. It features 35 test capabilities, including wind tunnels, engine tests, and rocket tests. Brooks attends the Arnold Community Council, which reaches out to elected officials about current military needs. At the monthly meetings, military leaders and civilians attend to give updates and discuss how the council can support the base.
Brooks is the honorary commander for the 804th Test Support Squadron. He organizes job fairs to recruit the best and brightest candidates. He plans government contracting sessions, working closely with Mike Dent, AEDC’s chief of technical management. Brooks collaborates with others who can further the base’s community impact. He recently partnered with the University of Tennessee Space Institute and 13 local contractors to host a high-tech job fair, sending invitations to over 600 engineering students. These efforts ensure that the base continues to hire exceptional people.
Brooks focuses economic development around Tullahoma’s strengths — aviation, aerospace, defense, and retail. He oversees which businesses are brought to the area, which is challenging because so many businesses are on the waitlist. The city is growing constantly, and Brooks says 1,500 new homes are in the works.
Brooks also advocates for military family issues, including spouse certification reciprocity and child care solutions. Brooks is working diligently to meet these needs. Under his leadership, Tullahoma was named a Great American Defense Community in 2022.
“We’re a defense community. If it weren’t for the base, we would just be another rural community. And what makes this community unique are the rocket scientists and engineers that live amongst us,” Brooks said.
Arnold Air Force Base is the epitome of innovation, and Brooks said he wants to build a location where more of these creative ideas are tackled by people in many different fields on and off base.
“We need a place for academia, military leaders, and businesses to come together and collaborate and help solve a lot of these problems. We’ve got some incredibly smart people in this community. We need to give them a place to go to lead.”
Brooks was appointed to the Air Force Materiel Command Civic Leader Program, which offers more travel opportunities. He recently attended the Secretary of the Air Force National Security Forum at the Air War College. This professional training brought together military leaders and civilian representatives.
Through these experiences, Brooks and the Honorary Commander program are creating a vital bridge between military and civilian residents. GN
