Flexial welcomed our good friends from Hamilton Sunstrand Space Systems International: Lionel Ribeiro, Manager of Documentation & Training, and Bob Kundrotas, Manager of Engineering, Environmental Control & Life Support Systems. Through their efforts and recommendation, Flexial was given the privilege of a visit by NASA astronaut and pilot Barry E. Wilmore who made a special presentation for products that Flexial contributed to the International Space Station.

Our guest of honor, Astronaut Butch Wilmore, is a native Tennessean and joined NASA from the U.S. Navy where he holds the rank of Commander. He is a Navy pilot, a test pilot, has logged over 4500 flight hours, 663 carrier landings, and four operational deployments flying A-7E and FA-18 aircraft. He has flown off the decks of four different aircraft carriers in actions over Iraq and Bosnia. He completed 21 combat missions during Desert Storm. His commendations and special honors are too numerous to elaborate here. He joined NASA in July of 2000 and completed two years of training and evaluation. He is currently engaged in technical assignments with the Astronaut Office awaiting assignment to a space flight.

Astronaut Wilmore spoke to Flexial's entire group on the subject of NASA Process Control and how it is everyone's job. In reference to the microscopic welding that he witnessed on his tour, and knowing that he would someday trust his life to our work, he stressed the importance of strict control over all processes. "We are only as good as your worst weld," he reminded us. He also stressed the importance of maintaining process knowledge and skills to assure continuity of performance for components that serve the aging Shuttle fleet. Flexial has an excellent score in this regard, furnishing replacement bellows assemblies for the F-15 and F-16 aircraft that date back to the 1970s as well as bellows assemblies for the latest F/A-22 Raptor.

Honored guests included State Representative Jere Hargrove who made a presentation; Dr. Bob Bell, President, Tennessee Technological University; George Halford, President/CEO, Cookeville Area Putnam County Chamber of Commerce; Commander James Fields, USN Ret., a fellow Navy pilot. A catered lunch followed for all guests and employees. Astronaut Wilmore posed with each of us and closed with an autograph session.

Flexial is proud to be a supplier to Hamilton Sunstrand and NASA. The visit by astronaut Butch Wilmore was a reminder that our products are often mission-critical with lives depending on their exceptional quality. Flexial's ISO-9001 and AS-9100 certifications through Underwriters Laboratories form the backbone of our quality system, but it is the personal and caring touch of each Flexial associate that assures that our "worst weld" is excellent and our best weld is better.