New Arnold AFB Commander Spotlights Tullahoma’s Relevance

Nothing the Air Force flies or sends into space goes up without first stopping in Tullahoma, according to the new commander of Arnold Air Force Base. He’s pushing to ensure decision makers and tax payers know Arnold’s role.

Ground testing facilities aren’t sexy. They don’t have air shows, and their work is often done behind closed doors. Col. Mike Panarisi admits even within the Air Force, Arnold flies under the radar. That’s why he’s piping up.

“We do find ourselves being a bit more vocal as the budget battles ensue, to make sure they make informed decisions, that its not from a position where we don’t know what that place does, therefore we must not need it. I mean, I frankly didn’t know what the place did. I’ve been in the Air Force 25 years, never heard of it. So when they told me I was going to be the commander of Arnold, my first question was, ‘where is it?’”

Panarisi took command in July. In recent years, Arnold’s wind tunnels have tested NASA rockets, Army helicopters and even engines for the Boeing 787.

In a different kind of assignment, Arnold Air Force Base was in the running to train airmen in hand-to-hand combat. The Defense Department has since canceled the mission. Now Col. Panarisi says he hopes to attract more commercial industry to the base. Already, civilian businesses account for nearly 30% of activity in the wind tunnels.

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