Local man speaks about his 30 years at Yuma Proving Ground

Chuck Wullenjohn has served as public information officer at the Yuma Proving Grounds since 1989.

After announcing his retirement on Halloween this year, Wullenjohn looks back at his time at the Yuma Proving Grounds (YPG) and what he remembers most about his position.

Wullenjohn constantly worked with the media as well as the congressional district and elected leaders in the community.

He often developed stories for the media and helped arrange their visits at YPG.

Wullenjohn was even able to work with the Discovery Channel and the History Channel.

“The good thing about public affairs for the Army is that it’s different every day,” he said.

He said he loved the unpredictability that presents itself every day.

Starting out with a teaching credential, Wullenjohn graduated at a time when it was difficult to get teaching jobs.

Writing and working for the newspaper made him fall for working in journalism.

Through his years of service, Wullenjohn continued to believe that “the Army is America’s Army,” he said.

According to him, he said it belongs to the American taxpayer. “To be able to tell the Army story, to make it accessible, I think that was very important,” he said.

Wullenjohn remembers a time in the late 1990s when President George H.W. Bush completed his first parachute jump since World War II at YPG.

He also remembers when the United States went to war with Saudi Arabia in Kuwait and Iraq. 40 journalists throughout the world came to the YPG area to see how the U.S. Army tests desert equipment.

“That was an eye-opener for me, and I thought ‘boy Yuma Proving Ground is an unbelievably complicated place’,” he said.

According to Wullenjohn, with 2400 employees working in engineering, computer science, and math degrees, the testing system is complex.

“What we’ve done out there has saved, really an untold number of American lives as well as prevented a lot of injuries. Just in the last 10 years, I think everyone in Yuma should take pride in the Yuma Proving Ground,” he said.

After starting his job at YPG, Wullenjohn wrote for their newspaper, “The Outpost”.

Years later, the YPG has expanded to include new responsibilities.

These responsibilities can include an active relationship with all elected officials, involvement with the community, participation in events, and branching beyond the Proving Ground.

Wullenjohn is thankful for his team of people that work within the public affairs office.

He is also thankful for test engineers that he worked with to develop test stories he could provide to the media.

Traveling is what Wullenjohn is most looking forward to in retirement.

“I do want to stay involved, but I want to travel throughout the year,” he said.

Wullenjohn chooses to stay busy by teaching political science part-time at Arizona Western College.

“I miss Yuma Proving Ground, I liked my job a lot, it was very difficult for me to leave,” he said.

Wullenjohn is confident that the new public information officer will do a great job serving YPG through the upcoming years.