Huntsville-Madison County Chamber’s Redstone Update Provides a Glimpse Behind the Gates

On Wednesday, Dec. 8, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Redstone Update at the Von Braun Center, its first in-person event since the COVID-19 outbreak forced it to go virtual. 

This event allowed Redstone Arsenal to highlight its continuing growth as a Federal Center of Excellence, which has helped the regional economy to soar to new heights. Attended by members of the Huntsville business community, the media, and members of key agencies on the Arsenal, the Redstone Update emphasized the diverse work taking place there and the thousands of jobs created by its agencies.

Chamber Board of Directors Chair Jeff Gronberg kicked off the event, noting that Redstone Arsenal is an economic engine powering half of Huntsville’s economy with unparalleled capital investment and increasing employment. 

Senior Commander of Redstone Arsenal Lt. Gen. Donnie Walker greeted those in attendance, emphasizing the growth of the Arsenal from only 6,000 employees in 1942 to its current 45,000. 

Recurring themes discussed by the participants included a steadfast focus on the future, an emphasis on modernization and growth, the synergy achieved by the numerous agencies on the Arsenal, and the importance of people dedicated to serving their nation. 

U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Duzzny discussed Redstone’s Materiel Command and the importance of Huntsville to the Army’s global reach: Redstone Arsenal supports all six combatant commands which cover North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East/Central and South Asia, and the Indo-Pacific region.

Marshall Space Flight Center Director of Operations Robert Champion highlighted the importance of Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) to Huntsville, the Arsenal, and the Artemis program.

Champion noted that over 7,000 people work for MSFC, with 70% of those engineers, 25% business and institutional, and 5% scientists. “We reap the benefits of Marshall’s economic impact. Statewide, Marshall provides $105 million in tax revenues and  $1.7 billion in procurements. As an agency, NASA provides more than 35,000 jobs in the state.”

According to Champion, the pandemic was a learning experience: “We’ve learned how to adapt and still operate efficiently during that time.” 

Champion also discussed the Artemis program being developed in Huntsville, which will land the first woman and person of color on the moon “using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before.” MSFC is building the Space Launch System (SLS) to send astronauts to the moon aboard the Orion spacecraft as well as the Human Landing System (HLS). 

The SLS is going through final testing and will be launched in mid-February 2022. The unmanned Artemis I is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration. Marshall is the lead center for the Human Landing System, “the final piece of the puzzle needed for us to get astronauts to the moon. HLS is an example of how Marshall is embracing and applying new partnerships and procurements and developing new operating models cooperating with industry and with NASA.”

Champion noted that NASA is working with SpaceX to land the next humans on the moon with their Starship.

In addition to its efforts to send human explorers back to the moon and on to Mars, Champion noted that Marshall’s Earth Science Division (ESD), which works in collaboration with UAH, focuses on controlling flooding and other natural disasters.

Champion referred to this generation of young people as the Artemis Generation, adding that “we’re not only doing STEM, but STEAM as well as STREAM, adding arts and reading to that because we need all types of backgrounds and disciplines and fields to support our missions.” 

MSFC strives to inspire future generations of scientists and engineers through its sponsorship of community events like Artemis Day, as well as events such as the Human Exploration Rover Challenge, the FIRST Robotics Competition, and the Student Launch Competition.