Economic Recovery Corps fellow Beverly Lee is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and a champion of aerospace- and technology-driven economic development. She actively advocates for technology-driven companies and entrepreneurs in the Middle Tennessee region and was instrumental in the City of Tullahoma being designated a Great American Defense Community in 2022 by the Association of Defense Communities.  

As part of the ERC program which connects fellows with host organizations to advance a strategic project, Lee is supporting Tullahoma Area Economic Development Corporation (TAEDC) by helping to grow an inclusive STEM workforce and increase the region’s economic resilience. 

Home to the Arnold Engineering Development Complex—the world’s largest and most advanced aerospace testing center—rural Tullahoma is an epicenter for emerging technology testing. There is an impending need for highly skilled technicians, engineers, scientists, and administrators, with projections to hire more than 1,000 personnel over the next few years. Lee serves as TAEDC’s primary liaison to the aerospace and tech industries, recruiting firms and entrepreneurs to identify, prioritize, and develop workforce development needs and strategies critical for an inclusive, community-informed entrepreneurial ecosystem.

There are 65 ERC projects across the U.S.—find one near you at economicrecoverycorps.org/projects.

ERC is proudly supported by EDA.