REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. (Nov. 9, 2021) – When Terry Bell joined the United States Air Force in 1977, little did he know that he was beginning a 45-year career in electronics as an engineering technician.
In addition to the Air Force, over his career, he has worked on projects for four of the five service branches.
“I served in the Air Force for four years. I worked in two electronic jobs while serving in the Air Force. I was a Radio Relay Equipment Repairman and a Base Installation Security Systems Repairman. As a Radio Relay Equipment Repairman, I maintained and repaired a 1200 channel voice/teletype communication system that communicated via a high frequency microwave antenna system to other bases throughout Europe and the world. As a Base Installation Security Systems Repairman, I maintained the security system for the base weapons storage area. This system had a dual security fence and underground detection between the fences. It also had motion detection inside the hangers and surveillance cameras for all the areas.
“After the Air Force, I worked 14 years at the Chrysler Military Electronics Division. In this position I built, tested, trouble shot and repaired test equipment that tested the Line Replacement Units for the M1A1 tanks and the Bradley Fighting Vehicles. Chrysler sold the Electronics Division in 1997, so I spent the next 12 years working in their product engineering division. I built and tested prototype electronic modules and radios to go into future car and truck production.”
After working for several defense contractors, Bell came to AvMC in September of 2017 in the Prototype Integration Facility under the Software, Simulation, Systems Engineering and Integration Directorate. Over his time at the PIF, he has received a Challenge Coin from the Product Director for Test, Measurement, and Diagnostic Equipment for work accomplished on the Wireless At-Platform Test Set project and a Special Act Award for the Telemetry Electronics Module project.
When not at the PIF, Bell enjoys watching Alabama sports – all of them, although football is definitely a favorite. He has been married to Velma Lagratha Worley Bell for 37 years, whom he met when they both worked for Chrysler in the electronics field. Their daughter, Tiffany, is a biologist at a Huntsville medical testing facility and son, Heath, is an engineer at a Huntsville electronics company -- following in his parents’ footsteps.
Whether it be in uniform or in civvies, Bell can look to a career well-spent, supporting his fellow airmen and Warfighters across the service branches. Veterans Day for him, is another opportunity to support them in a different way.
“I think it is important to celebrate Veterans Day because it is a chance to give recognition to all the people who gave a part of their life to serve our nation.”
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The DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center, headquartered at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the Army’s research and development focal point for advanced technology in aviation and missile systems. It is part of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM), a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures Command. AvMC is responsible for delivering collaborative and innovative aviation and missile capabilities for responsive and cost-effective research, development and life cycle engineering solutions, as required by the Army’s strategic priorities and support to its Cross-Functional Teams.
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