Field Representative Betsy Ranalli from Senator Bob Corker’s office visited The University of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma last week. UTSI Chief Operating Officer Dr. Don Daniel took Ranalli on a tour of the Institute with special visits to the Engineering Management Department, the Center for Laser Applications (CLA) and to the Carbon Fiber Lab. UTSI’s new Assistant Vice President for Research and Development Dr. Angie Bukley accompanied Daniel and Ranalli on the tour. The group is shown above in the CLA listening to Dr. William Hofmeister explain how laser surfacing of fifth-wheel locks eliminates the grease used in 18-wheeler hitches. The Holland Company uses a “no-lube” hitch created through laser-surfacing. Left to right are Dr. Daniel, Ranalli, Dr. Bukley and Dr. Hofmeister.

–UTSI Photo by Laura Horton