Edwards leadership discuss economic impact at AVBOT

  • Published
  • By Rebecca Amber
  • Staff writer
LANCASTER, Calif. --  The Antelope Valley Board of Trade held its 43rd annual Business Outlook Conference Feb. 27 at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds. The "Made in the Antelope Valley" themed event was bigger than ever before, occupying two pavilions.

Attendees entered through the Van Dam Pavilion where exhibitors and local businesses showcased their services. Many of them stopped for their green screen souvenir photo, an annual fundraiser. The money raised will be put towards the first Robert "Bob" Johnstone Memorial Scholarship for students attending a new California Community Colleges Baccalaureate Pilot Program at Antelope Valley College. The program will give students the opportunity to earn a Baccalaureate degree in Airframe Manufacturing Technology. Johnstone was a long-time proponent of technical education and producing Antelope Valley-grown engineers.

Several speakers talked about how to improve business in the Antelope Valley and told success stories along with demonstrating their positive economic impact in the community. Two of those speakers were Brig. Gen. Michael T. Brewer, 412th Test Wing commander, and David McBride, NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center director.

Brewer's current assignment to Edwards is his third time serving as a wing commander.

"I'd say never had greater support," said Brewer of the support he found in the Antelope Valley.

He used his time on stage to share his perception of the nature of warfare, beginning with Claude Monet who is best known for his invention, the mini ball, an expanding round used in a rifle. His invention "changed the nature of warfare."

He then transitioned to Oliver Winchester who invented the repeating rifle. The Comanche Indians could shoot 10 arrows in the time it took to load a musket, but with the development of the Winchester rifle, the course of the American West to what it has developed into today.

"Courage, tactics, heroics - these are all necessary, but they are not sufficient," said Brewer.

What Brewer wanted to demonstrate is that technology is what wins wars and changes the world.

"Every day there are people in this world that get up with one goal in mind, and that is to kill Americans. But I tell you what, every day there are men and women who to go to work at Edwards Air Force Base and Plant 42 who get up with one thing in mind, and that is to protect Americans."

In the last year at Edwards there were over 6,400 sorties flown, almost 11,000 flying hours. The medical offices provided 36,000 appointments and $200 million was acquired in test earnings. There were 175 active projects happening simultaneously, 15 million gallons of gas were pumped and 412th Civil Engineering wrote 20,000 work orders.

The Air Force mission is made up of three parts, the first Global Vigilance, Global Power and Global Reach. Edwards is responsible for developing software and improvements to current aircraft necessary to fulfill the mission and change the nature of warfare.

In the Global Power department, the F-35 was recently cleared to carry a GPS-guided missile, the J-DAM, that will provide tactical navigation for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and U.S. allies for the next 50 years. The F-22 Raptor is receiving a whole new software suite including the Auto Ground Collision Avoidance System, which prevents the aircraft from colliding with the ground.

Brewer stated that at least one F-16 pilot's life is lost every year by running the aircraft into the ground. The nature of the job is very demanding and a pilot can pull so many G-forces that they can pass out and may not regain consciousness in time to recover the aircraft. Auto G-CAS will prevent accidents like this from happening.

He also noted that every bomber has had a complete software upgrade installed.

For Global Vigilance, Edwards is supporting its Navy counterpart with Triton, a maritime unmanned aerial vehicle used for reconnaissance and surveillance.

And to support the Global Reach mission, the ability to reach the fight, there is on-going C-17 testing, C-5 testing and KC-46 development.

There are 81 total aircraft with 17 different aircraft types to support the test mission. Every day 12,000 people come onto the base and 7,700 of those people work within the 412th Test Wing.

"It's not about the money - it really is about producing the equipment that protects the nation, but it takes a lot of money to make that happen," said Brewer.

In terms of payroll the base spent $540 million and there are nearly $250 million worth of contracts in place to operate the base including airfield support and management for Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale.

If you add in the economic impact of Plant 42, including the contractors that work there, Edwards has a $600 million impact on the local economy.

From the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center side of things, McBride shared that the theme, "Made in the Antelope Valley" really resonated for the center because the AV enables so much of their work. He added that it's the natural resources like great flying weather and dry lakebeds that makes their research possible.

NASA Armstrong has partnered with the 412th Test Wing on many occasions, including the Auto-GCAS system which was fielded into all F-16s this year and will be integrated into F-35s and F-22s in the future. The software is being nominated for the prestigious Collier Trophy award this year.

Additionally, the Armstrong center investigates the health of the earth focusing on areas like climate change invariability, water energy cycle, carbon cycle, eco system and atmospheric composition. They continue to make breakthroughs with the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, SOFIA and AV residents can expect to see her take to the skies for the next 20 years.

The center continues to do research that will help them understand the origins of the universe, essential elements for life in the cosmos, and validate the existence of other planets. McBride believes that astrophysics research done in the A.V. will lead to Nobel prizes.

For the third year in a row, NASA was recognized as the best place to work in the federal government. Much of the credit for that, McBride stated, goes to the communities they live and work in.

The keynote speakers at this year's conference were "Famous" Wally Amos, who opened Famous Amos Cookies in Hollywood 40 years ago, and actor John Ratzenberger.

Amos told the story of how he created a successful business, how he lost it in a corporate takeover, and the lessons he learned along the way.

Ratzenberger, who is best known for his role as mail carrier Cliff Clavin on the sitcom Cheers, talked about the importance of manufacturing.

"Manufacturing is to America what spinach is to Popeye - that's our real strength."

The Antelope Valley Board of Trade has been serving the Antelope Valley since 1957. According to their mission statement, AVBOT exists "to engage in maintaining and promoting diverse business and industry, quality infrastructures and a strong legislative voice for the benefit of its members and the Greater Antelope Valley."