BASE LOSING POPULAR LEADER REYNOLDS LAUDED AS COMMANDER.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE - During his almost three years as commander of Edwards Air Force Base, Maj. Gen. Richard ``Dick'' Reynolds earned a reputation as a true leader.

Among his admirers is the man whose name ranks first among the great pilots the base has known - Chuck Yeager, the first man to break the sound barrier.

``General Reynolds has probably the greatest depth of experience as a test pilot as any center commander we've had out here,'' Yeager said recently. ``Having those credentials, he has done an outstanding job. His personality is far superior to any commander I've seen out here.''

Col. Steve Cameron, commander of the 412th Test Wing, credits Reynolds for establishing a clear of mission for Edwards.

``General Reynolds has done more for us to provide a focus that any other center commander I've seen,'' Cameron said. ``We know what we're here for.''

Reynolds established a vision for Edwards as a center of excellence for flight test, with three phrases that have become the Edwards' mantra - ``warriors supporting warriors,'' ``agile, responsive, and competitive,'' and ``a great place to live and work.''

``If we're doing something that doesn't match one of those three then maybe its something we shouldn't be doing,'' Cameron said. ``That will survive him.''

Reynolds, Edwards' commander for nearly three years, has been nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and tapped to head the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Reynolds will relinquish command of Edwards on June 19.

Aeronautical Systems Center is responsible for the acquisition, research, development, test evaluation, and support of a wide variety of aircraft, missiles and related equipment programs. Those programs include the F-22 Raptor, the stealthy fighter the Air Force says will help control the skies; and the B-1 and B-2 bombers.

``I'll be the customer that sends much of the work to Edwards,'' Reynolds said.

The Aeronautical Systems Center has a work force of more than 9,500 people and a yearly budget that averages close to $7.7 billion.

Reynolds became commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards in July 1998 after a career that included piloting B-52 bombers, attending Edwards' test pilot school and testing B-1 bombers at Edwards.

Reynolds said among his goals were to re-connect Edwards with the war fighters it ultimately serves, improve the base's business practices, and establish a spirit of teamwork across Edwards.

``We've started on the journey,'' Reynolds said. ``There's much work to be done on each of these.''

During his tenure, Edwards saw one of the busiest periods of flight test work. The notable missions included the buildup of the F-22 fighter testing, the flights of the X-32 and X-35 joint strike fighter technology demonstrators, and the start of test work on the CV-22, the Air Force version of the Osprey.

Edwards also saw the arrival of two Marine aviation units, bringing 22 helicopters and 395 Marines.

Reynolds continued efforts launched under previous center commanders to improve base housing. During his tenure, 99 new homes were built and 161 homes were renovated.

The base also renovated a 80-person dorm and the base dining hall.

Former base officials have told Reynolds that Edwards looks good.

However, the base has had to grapple with the same problem the rest of the nation's military is trying to address - the lack of money for maintenance and sorely needed improvements.

``The infrastructure is a 50-year-old infrastructure. The electrical grid and water system are very bad and need to be replaced,'' Reynolds said. ``Edwards looks good, but there are huge challenges.''

Base observers say during Reynolds tenure morale has soared. That is reflected in comments from outside agencies calling Edwards ``awesome'' and ``outstanding'' after a series of inspections conducted at the base.

``Team Edwards is standing tall,'' Reynolds said.

Reynolds is slated to be replaced at Edwards by Brig. Gen. Wilbert D. Pearson, now director of operations for Air Force Materiel Command in Ohio.

Pearson, a former Edwards test pilot, calls Reynolds two or three times a week and is a frequent visitor to Edwards.

``He (Pearson) is well aware of all the issues we face,'' Reynolds said. ``He understands them far better than I did when I came to Edwards.''

Reynolds said he is leaving Edwards with mixed emotions. He is leaving a base with a rich history and one that is on the forefront of Air Force technology.

``It has a magic to it,'' Reynolds said. ``If you want to see the future of the Air Force, walk down the flight line at Edwards.''

At the same time, however, change for Edwards is good, Reynolds said.

``It's tough to leave, but you know what? It's probably time to go. Any organization can benefit from fresh leadership.''

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

(ran in AV edition only) Edwards Air Force Base commander, Maj. Gen. Richard ``Dick'' Reynolds, will be relinquishing his position June 19.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer