Edwards AFB and Tehachapi partners push STEM outreach, museum relocation and Young Eagles flights

General Wickert described several ongoing and planned outreach efforts that connect Edwards Air Force Base with Tehachapi schools and community programs.

"We have a DOD starbase. So, fifth graders, from the Tehachapi Schools come over and spend a week, in immersive week long experience, hands on science experience doing, up at DOD Starbase Edwards," he said.

Wickert and the hosts discussed a local "build a plane" program run by volunteers, which pairs hands-on aircraft construction with volunteer mentoring from retired NASA and Air Force personnel. He described the program as an effective way to inspire students and said his office and volunteers rent hangar space to support the effort.

The Edwards museum—run by the Flight Test Historical Foundation—was discussed as a fundraising and relocation effort to display artifacts outside the base gate near the West Gate/Rosemont area. Wickert recounted finding an X-15–era pressure suit marked "Armstrong" in archives and described the museum as a tool to connect local youth to aviation history.

Hosts announced a local Young Eagles flight rally for children ages 8 to 17 on Saturday, Aug. 2, and said advance registration is required through the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) chapter site (eaachapters.org). The event offers free flights with volunteer pilots and is intended to expose young people to aviation careers.

Wickert emphasized the value of early, hands-on experiences in attracting students into STEM paths and said the base routinely welcomes school groups for demonstrations and tours.

"A lot of our medical partnerships are actually, you know, here in Tehachapi. Adventist is actually exploring ways that we might be able to open an urgent care, you know, either right outside of, of Edwards or actually on Edwards," he said when discussing community partnerships tied to quality of life and recruiting.