Arnold Engineering Development Complex is celebrating a major milestone, and the community is invited to join in the festivities.

A 75th anniversary open house will be at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., headquarters of AEDC, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 27. The event is free and open to the public.

“The men and women who currently work at, or have ever been part of the AEDC team, are excited to exhibit this nation’s premier scientific infrastructure to our supportive community partners,” said AEDC Commander Col. Grant Mizell.

AEDC Test Support Division Deputy Director Chad Morris added the open house is a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity for members of the public to get a look behind the gates of Arnold AFB and see where history is made.

“Bring your family, your friends and your curiosity,” he said. “This free open house is our way of saying a massive ‘thank you’ for 75 years of unwavering community support.”

On June 25, 1951, then-President Harry S. Truman dedicated AEDC in honor of the late Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold, often credited as the “father of the Air Force” and whose vision helped bring AEDC to fruition. That dedication in 1951 occurred on what would have been Gen. Arnold’s 65th birthday.

“This celebration marks 75 years of pushing the boundaries of aerospace,” Morris said. “Our theme is ‘The Future is Faster Than You Think: 75 Years of Innovation.’ From the early days of the Space Race to testing the advanced systems of today, this celebration honors our incredible legacy of aerospace innovation and the foundational role AEDC has played in national security for three quarters of a century.”

Members of the public will be able to access Arnold AFB via the Main Gate along Wattendorf Memorial Highway beginning at 8 a.m. The open house event will commence at 9 a.m., and attendees can begin taking part in activities that will take place throughout the day. These include guided bus tours of the AEDC mission facilities, hands-on STEM activities, the “Walk through AEDC History” tents, unit and mission displays, food trucks, and live music featuring Darin Jones & The Last Man Standing and Sara Jones & The Hightones.

The official open house kickoff will occur at 10 a.m. with a welcome from the AEDC commander.

“Arnold Air Force Base has been the cornerstone of testing every major air and space advancement since 1951,” Mizell said. “This base is not only a critical part of aviation history but will continue to drive America’s aerospace dominance for the next 75 years.”

A 75th Anniversary Rededication Ceremony and the sealing of a time capsule honoring former AEDC commanders will take place at noon. This time capsule will not be opened until AEDC’s 100th anniversary in 2051.

“During this event, we will follow in President Truman’s footsteps, where he stood in 1951 to dedicate this base the first time, and we will rededicate this amazing wonder of the world to continue leading America’s national defense for another 75 years,” Mizell said.

Those in attendance will also have the opportunity to observe AEDC history in the making, as a Change of Command ceremony will take place at 3 p.m.

“This is a unique opportunity for our community to witness a cornerstone of military tradition,” Morris said. “Seeing a Change of Command allows the public to share in a deeply historic moment as a new commander takes the helm of this vital complex, a transition that usually happens behind closed gates.”

During this ceremony, the outgoing AEDC commander will transfer leadership of the Complex to a new commander.

“Here is an opportunity for the public to see what happens behind the gates of America’s most high-tech development site and witness the military tradition of AEDC’s Change of Command ceremony, where I will hand off command of this Complex to our incoming teammate, Col. Wayne Dirkes,” Mizell said.

Open house events will take place in front of and near the Arnold AFB Administration & Engineering Building, where attendees will be directed after entering the Main Gate. Guests are asked to adhere to all base security protocols and instructions from security personnel upon entry.

Attendees are also asked to follow the directions of the parking attendees who will guide traffic to the designated parking areas. Guests must remain in the designated event and tour areas and follow the directions of AEDC personnel and law enforcement.

For the safety of all guests, items such as firearms, ammunition, knives/bladed tools, mace/pepper spray, tasers, coolers, glass containers, large bags/backpacks, illegal drugs, alcohol, fireworks, laser pointers, spray paint, wheeled recreational devices, drones, pets excluding service animals are prohibited. This list is not all-inclusive, and additional items may be prohibited at the discretion of AEDC Security during the vent.

All guests and vehicles are subject to search upon entry.

“We hope the public walks away with a deep sense of pride in what happens right here in their own backyard,” Morris said. “Whether it’s seeing the massive facilities on our bus tours or watching kids get inspired by an amazing array of STEM activities in our STEM Zone, we want everyone to feel connected to our mission and excited about the future.”

There is still time for local businesses to get involved in the open house, as organizers are actively accepting event sponsors and vendors. To sponsor, contact (931) 454-3128. Those interested in becoming a vendor may contact (931) 454-7425.