It’s a long, straight drive from Adelaide to Woomera. Five-and-a-half hours of red dirt, scrub and silence.

Rachel Brightwell, Range Operations Manager at the Air Force Test Ranges Squadron, jokes that she knows every bump and every turn on the road to Woomera.

Her recent work at the remote South Australian site has earned her an Army commendation for her input into the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) project. 

In a world first earlier this year, the Australian Army successfully fired a Sidewinder air-to-air missile from a Hawkei high-mobility launcher at Woomera Test Range, a major milestone in the NASAMS introduction into service.

In the 18 months leading up to the firing, Ms Brightwell and her team were hard at work behind the scenes – conducting planning conferences, mapping exclusion zones and managing the range so the test fire could go off with a bang.

For her work, Ms Brightwell was awarded a command commendation, presented by Lieutenant Colonel Cooper Dale of the Land Fires program, on behalf of Lieutenant Colonel Darren McLeod, Commanding Officer of Army Headquarters.

In presenting the award, Lieutenant Colonel Dale highlighted that Ms Brightwell’s leadership and technical skills were key to the NASAMS success.

'It’s really exciting to be part of something like this, especially when it’s one of the few activities that actually makes the six o’clock news.'

Ms Brightwell said that while her name was on the award, it took more than one person to make it all work.

“I don't like to be centre of attention. We do a lot of good work up here. We’re in the background making things work and none of us expect to receive accolades,” she said.

“It’s a team effort and I wouldn't be able to do what I do without the support of the team, the squadron and everyone playing their part in what we do.”

As one of only two range operations managers with the skills required to plan and execute such trials, her role involved managing the test space, deconflicting concurrent range activities and ensuring a safe and suitable environment for the NASAMS trial.

From the range control centre, located on the Woomera Test Range, Ms Brightwell executed and managed the overall safety and security of the test environment, using the Woomera Test Range suite of optical, radar and communications systems. 

“It’s really exciting to be part of something like this, especially when it’s one of the few activities that actually makes the six o’clock news,” she said. 

“A lot of what we do up here is sensitive, so it’s not something you can go home and show the kids.”

The Air Force Test Ranges Squadron manages the operation and tasking of air weapons ranges including Delamere, Evans Head and the Woomera Test Ranges.

They also manage the tasking and management of Air Force range safety officers.