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CHAMBER, from 4
That figure does not include other local travelers Angeles County Air Show at the Gen. William J. Edwards,” Knight said. “I love Edwards. It is telope Valley Press editor Dennis Anderson, a
who choose to fly to their destination. Efforts are Fox Airfield in Lancaster, as part of the effort to my favorite place. It is the people that make Ed- military veteran now working as a clinical social
currently underway to partner with government boost the reputation of Aerospace Valley. wards.” worker, inquired about whether it is a good idea to
entities to address the challenges of bringing vi- True collaboration is needed to break down the In a question and answer session, former An- build a nuclear-powered hypersonic missile. Such
able air transportation options back to the Ante- barriers that exist in the Valley in order to work to- a missile is widely believed to be the source of a
lope Valley. gether, he said. Edwards has opened air space and recent nuclear accident in Russia.
Improved education is essential to recruit and ground resources to civilian partners like Virgin “Speed absolutely matters in warfare,” Teichert
retain the type of people needed in this Valley Orbit and Stratolaunch, to help further their flight said. If a target can be hit in the needed time, then
for local employment in the fields of science and test and technology development efforts. the requirement has been met, he added. A missile
technology. Teichert said he recently hired a Sci- Also, Edwards is trying to help spouses of mili- need not be nuclear powered to meet the need for
ence, Technology, Engineering and Mathemat- tary members find jobs in the Valley – those are speed and accuracy.
ics, or STEM, coordinator as a contact point at spouses whose careers require a state license such Lisa Kinison, co-owner and business manager
Edwards. In addition, the STARBASE program as teachers, nurses, doctors and attorneys, as well of Aerotech News, reflected on the Apollo 11
at Edwards launched in March for fifth- and sixth- as other highly talented spouses who are looking moon landing, saying the idea of space as a con-
grade students from area schools, to offer an in- to find employment and extend their ties into the tested domain is a scary notion.
tensive five-day course in STEM related subjects. community. Teichert said California is one of nine “We’re returning to near peer competition,”
Thirty-four area schools have signed up to partici- states that does not have professional licensure Teichert responded. “The near peer threats have
pate in the program. reciprocity for military spouses. caught up to us. China and Russia have developed
This year for the first time, Edwards joined the As far as young military recruits Teichert said, domains that can do us harm.”
STEM exhibit at the Antelope Valley Fair & Al- those that enlist today have known a world that If they destroy a communications satellite,
falfa Festival. since Sept. 11, 2001 has been constantly at war.
When it comes to marketing and branding “They will continue to enlist and serve our they can interrupt this nation’s communication
“Aerospace Valley,” Teichert appealed to business great nation,” he added. network. If the satellite enables the United States
leaders at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon to Teichert paid tribute posthumously to Aida to gather pertinent information about adversaries,
assist with outreach programs. Air shows will re- O’Connor who passed away in August 2019. He that too has potentially detrimental outcomes.
sume at Edwards in October 2020. That’s a chance acknowledged her efforts in founding the Ed- “We need to make out capabilities more resil-
to help this Valley “get back on the map” and re- wards Air Force Base Civilian-Military Support ient. Our adversaries are serious (about) finding
fresh its reputation as the premiere location for all Group in 1989. Photograph by Alisha Semchuck ways to harm us in a way that we can’t harm them
things cutting edge, not just in the world of flight “We can’t do anything at Edwards without a Brig. Gen. E. John “Dragon” Teichert, commander back,” he said.
test, but in aerospace technology as a whole. “It’s community that supports us. You are making us of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Kinison asked whether that was justification for
not enough for us to know that the world’s most feel necessary and supported. You are making his- Base, Calif., addresses community leaders at forming a new military branch.
impressive aviation feats get done here in this Val- tory today,” he told the luncheon attendees. the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce monthly Teichert said to accomplish that, a new branch
ley. We need the world to know, because we need Former U.S. Rep. Steve Knight and wife Lily luncheon Sept. 11, 2019. Teichert was the must be resourced sufficiently to avoid the various
the world to send their best to come work with us were among the people at the chamber luncheon keynote speaker and addressed four areas branches competing for the same dollars.
here. We need them to know that if they want to at the John P. Eliopulos Hellenic Center. of concentration that are necessary for the “We have common problems that we can solve
work on the coolest things in aerospace, then they Knight listened intently as Teichert spoke about Antelope Valley to move forward on a worldwide without cashing in our values,” Teichert said. “We
need to come here and they need to stay here.” the advancements being made. “The highest level perspective — connectivity, education, marketing don’t have to wait for a crisis to solve some of
And, Edwards will be cooperating with the Los of sophistication in flight is being worked on at and branding, and true collaboration. these problems.”

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