RETIREES FETED AIR FORCE SEEKS REPLACEMENTS FOR DEPARTING ENGINEERS.

Byline: Daily News

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE - Three of the Air Force Flight Test Center's most-senior civilian flight test engineers will retire Jan. 3.

Roger Crane, the senior technical adviser for the 412th Test Wing, isretiring after 38 years of federal civil service.

Tracy Redd, the Engineering Directorate's chief of the Flight Systems Integration Division, is retiring after 39 years.

Jim Ford, the Directorate's Subsystems Integration Branch chief, is leaving after more than 40 years.

The retirement illustrates a problem for Edwards and the Air Force in general: Engineers are retiring faster than new ones can be recruited.

The latest estimates indicate a 13 percent shortfall of engineers within Edwards' 412th Test Wing, officials said.

Crane said good marketing is the key to bringing new engineers toEdwards.

``Our current engineers have to get out there and hustle for recruits,'' said Crane. ``We can get them; we just have to work for them. We have to talk to the young engineers and tell them about the work the Air Force does at Edwards.''

Ford helped to develop the Engineering Directorate's new engineer training program that gives new hires a broad look at the test work at theFlight Test Center before they begin working in the specific area where they will be assigned.

``One of the most-rewarding aspects of my career has been training people,''said Ford, who has nearly 1,800 flight hours in test airplanes. ``Getting good people trained to continue our flight test work is extremely valuable.''

All three retiring engineers were recognized for their contribution to the partnership between the 412th Test Wing and the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at China Lake.

Since 1992, the division and the Test Wing have had a support agreement, which provides engineering personnel support to Edwards.

From their efforts, many of the original Navy personnel working under the agreement at Edwards have become Air Force employees as a result of the connection, base officials said.

Crane began his career with the Air Force in 1964 as a flight testengineer trainee testing an improved anti-skid system for the KC-135A tanker.

The key to success at that time, said Crane, was learning how to relate to his military co-workers.

``You didn't last very long if you didn't accept the military culture,'' he said. ``Than meant working any hours and doing whatever the mission required.''

Ford started working at the former Carswell Air Force Base, Texas, in 1958 on the B-58 Joint Test Force under the command of Col. Davy Jones, one of the original Doolittle Raiders. As an airman, he moved to Edwards in 1960 and was elevated to the level of project engineer, again working on the B-58.

``I've had a fantastic career here,'' said Ford. ``I couldn't have gotten it anywhere else.''

Both Redd and Ford recall having opportunities to work on almost everyairplane in the Air Force arsenal.

``If you name an airplane, we've tested it or participated in it,'' said Redd, who added that he has long preferred the diverse work associated with government flight test.

``In industry, if you become a design engineer you stay in that field and work in your specific area,'' said Redd. ``Flight testers, particularly here at Edwards, will test more airplanes and gain broad experience on a number of systems. I don't know of anywhere a person could go and get the experience that a person could get here flying so many different kinds of airplanes.''

Ford and Redd celebrated their retirements with ceremonies this month. A ceremony for Crane will be held at 1 p.m. Jan. 3 at the 412 Test Wing Headquarters courtyard. The ceremony is open to the base public.

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Photo:

(color) Col. Steve Cameron chats with engineer Roger Crane during Crane's last staff meeting before retirement. He and two other engineers recently left Edwards AFB.

United States Air Force