Beverly Lee
Hometown:
Tullahoma, TN
Connect: LinkedIn
Beverly is excited to use her military background, network, and Department of Defense experience to enhance opportunities for all groups in the Tullahoma region. With her project, she hopes to inspire the next generation on the exciting opportunities of STEM careers and working on programs that have significant impact on our nation's security.
Beverly Lee, Colonel, USAF (Ret) is a champion of aerospace and technology-driven economic development. Colonel Lee actively advocates for technology driven companies and entrepreneurs in the Middle Tennessee region and was instrumental in the city of Tullahoma being awarded the 2022 designation of “Great American Defense Community” by the Association of Defense Communities.
As a former intelligence officer, Colonel Lee worked with many Air Force flying units and was the senior military spokesperson and project officer for many high-level assignments in the United States, Europe and Asia. Assignments to Arnold Engineering Development Complex provided experience with the mission, people, and technology-driven assets of the largest and most advanced aerospace testing center in the world. In addition, she was formerly employed by two of the nation’s top defense contractors, Northrop Corporation and EG&G Inc., where she worked on highly-sensitive compartmentalized emerging technology programs.
She is an active member of the Arnold Community Council, National Defense Industrial Association, Tullahoma Area Chamber of Commerce Board Member, and Chair of the Military and Government Affairs Committee.
Colonel Lee has served as a grant review panel member for the National Science Foundation and is a certified Community of Heart and Soul Coach. She has been recognized as the Citizen of the Year for Laguna Niguel, CA as well as Tullahoma, TN, the 2023 Volunteer of the Year by the Tennessee Economic Development Council, and received the Lifetime Achievement Women Impacting the Community award from the Tullahoma Area Chamber of Commerce.
ERC Project
Project Title:
Arnold Heritage and Innovation Center
Host Community or Region:
Tennessee
Host Organization:
Tullahoma Area Economic Development Corporation
The Arnold Heritage and Innovation Center is a transformative 24,000-square-foot facility planned for a 32-acre site adjacent to Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) in southern Middle Tennessee. Situated in a historically underserved census tract with a 31.8% poverty rate, the Center responds to both national security imperatives and community needs, leveraging AEDC’s expanding role in aerospace research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E). In 2024 alone, AEDC’s economic impact on the region reached $1.1 billion—a clear indicator of the growth opportunities this new hub will amplify.
Designed to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, the Center will offer co-working spaces, tech incubators and makerspaces, targeted entrepreneur support and mentorship programs that connect local start-ups with cutting-edge resources. Educational initiatives will spotlight emerging aerospace technologies—such as hypersonics, advanced propulsion, digital engineering and autonomous systems—while highlighting AEDC’s notable legacy and ongoing contributions to U.S. air and space superiority. Partnerships with DOD STEM initiatives, the AEDC Innovation team, local schools, colleges and universities in the region to provide workshops and interactive exhibits, learners of all ages will be inspired to pursue STEM careers, fostering a robust pipeline of skilled professionals.
Moreover, the Center’s reskilling and upskilling initiatives address critical workforce gaps, supporting high-quality job creation and ensuring the region remains competitive in defense and commercial markets. By merging heritage, innovation, and strategic outreach, the Arnold Heritage and Innovation Center will enhance economic resilience, uplift the local community, and reinforce America’s global leadership in aerospace.
Interested in supporting this project or learning more? Contact the ERC program team here.
