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Wind Energy interns receive VIP treatment at Dyess AFB |
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Written by Staff Reports
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Tuesday, 28 July 2009 |
College and high school interns at the Texas Wind Energy Clearinghouse received VIP access and tours through Dyess Air Force base on July 22.
Dyess personnel leading the tour included Captain Crystal Powers, a B-1 bomber pilot and executive officer to the 7th Bomb Wing Commander; Dwight Williams, airspace manager for the base; and Airman 1st Class Lidia Garcia. Other Dyess personnel handled aspects of the tour on the flight line, in the aircraft hangars, in the flight simulator systems, in the airbase control tower, and elsewhere on the base.
Captain Powers took the interns aboard an active B-1 bomber, allowing each intern to sit in the pilot cockpit and understand the operational systems of the supersonic aircraft. Other B-1 pilots supervised the interns during a one-hour ride in the B-1 flight simulator system, where the interns “flew” the B-1 through simulated takeoff, flight, and landing.
Interns also watched a B-1 takeoff from the control tower, toured the Dyess community, and had lunch with senior Dyess officials.
Current wind energy interns from Sweetwater High School include Kathleen Barkley, Shelby Scott, Lauren Hardin, Briana Munoz and Morgan Runge. Interns from Angelo State University are Brianne Wilburn and Kelci Owens, both graduates of Highland High School. Halie Browning (SHS 2009) is an intern from Cisco College, and Emily Carey (SHS 2009) is an intern from Tarleton State University.
The U.S. Air Force is the Nation’s leading purchaser of renewable energy, and Dyess AFB has been a national leader in renewable energy purchases since 2000. Dyess AFB flight operations are also an important consideration in the evaluation and location of wind energy projects in West Texas.
The Texas Wind Energy Clearinghouse is a Sweetwater-based statewide trade association for the wind energy industry. The Clearinghouse provides information and outreach services through newsletters, advisory services, conferences, international media relations, and global marketing of the region. Members of the Clearinghouse include ranchers, farmers, colleges, universities, heavy industry, small business, chambers of commerce, economic development corporations, wind energy companies, and other stakeholders from throughout Texas and globally.
The internship program began in 2006 and has included more than 40 students from high schools in Sweetwater, Highland, Roscoe, Blackwell and Colorado City, as well as Angelo State University, Texas Tech University, West Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University, Tarleton State University, Baylor University, Cisco College, Western Texas College and Texas State Technical College. Interns are involved in marketing, event planning, conference administration, foreign language training, international media relations, VIP delegation tours, and other activities. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 30 July 2009 )
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