Commandants of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School

USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, California

The commanding officer of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School (USAF TPS) is known as its Commandant. The commandant manages the school which is a military unit that operates in a distinctly academic atmosphere.[1] The position is usually held by a colonel selected by the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) commander although this authority may be delegated to the commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC).[2] The commandant oversees all flying training, academic instruction, budgeting, and curriculum administration at the school.[3] The commandant also chairs a board of officers that selects the school's students. The selection board consists of flight test squadron commanders with a majority of the board members being TPS graduates.[4] Every three years, the commandant conducts a review of the school's curriculum with participation from flight test squadrons, the U.S. Naval TPS, and operational squadrons.[3]

The school's mission is to produce experimental test pilots, flight test engineers, and flight test navigators to lead and conduct test and evaluation of aerospace weapon systems.[5] The school was established on September 9, 1944 as the Flight Test Training Unit at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB) in Dayton, Ohio.[6] To take advantage of the uncongested skies and superb flying weather, the school was moved on February 4, 1951 to its present location at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert of Southern California.[6] Edwards AFB is the home of the Air Force Flight Test Center and has been an integral part of flight testing for over fifty years.[7]

Between 1962 and 1972, the Test Pilot School expanded its role to include astronaut training for military test pilots.[8] Thirty-seven TPS graduates of this era were selected for the U.S. space program, and twenty-six went on to earn astronaut's wings by flying in the X-15, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs.[9] Although the school no longer trains astronauts, many TPS graduates since 1972 have been selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for duties in space. The school encourages applications from civilians, personnel from other U.S. military services, and individuals from foreign countries.[10] An exchange program allows selected students to attend other test pilot schools including the United States Naval Test Pilot School, the United Kingdom's Empire Test Pilots' School (ETPS), and France's École du personnel navigant d'essais et de réception (EPNER).[11]

Commandants

The following list provides a complete list of commandants of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. The table contains their name, rank, dates as commandant, the TPS class from which they graduated (if applicable), and notable events that occurred during their tenure at the school.

Key

Rank Military rank The rank shown is at the time the individual served as commandant.
Class Year/Letter The year and order in which a class started. For example, 07A was the first of two classes to start in 2007.[12]
Roman Numeral Four Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS) classes designated I, II, III, and IV, that prepared students for manned spaceflight operations. These classes were dropped when the USAF lost its manned spaceflight mission.[13]
Events "introduced" Indicates an aircraft type was first made available for use by TPS students. This date is usually much later than the aircraft entered USAF service.

List of Commandants

Buzz Aldrin
Steve Cameron
Ken Chilstrom
Gene Deatrick
Jim Doolittle, III
Guy Gardner
Joe Guthrie
Ralph Hoewing
Lars Hoffman
George Ka'iliwai III
Michael Kostelnik
Mike Luallen
Charles Webb
Chuck Yeager
Noel Zamot

  *   Individual was killed in an aviation-related accident.

No Name Rank From To Class Notable events during tenure Ref
1 Ralph C. Hoewing Maj. Sep 1944 Jan 1945 n/a [14]
[15]
[16]
2 "Dick" Muehlberg Lt. Col. Jan 1945 Jan 1946 n/a [14]
[17]
3 Ralph C. Hoewing Maj. Jan 1946 May 1947 n/a
  • Curriculum expanded to include Stability and Control testing
 [17]
[18]
4 Leonard I. Wiehrdt Maj. May 1947 Oct 1947 46D
  • Aug 1947—F-80 introduced
 [17]
[18]
5 Leo C. Moon Lt. Col. Oct 1947 Oct 1949 47
  • 47—First USAF class. First class to fly jets
  • School renamed Air Material Command Experimental Test Pilot School
 [17]
[19]
[20]
6 Chilstrom, KenKen Chilstrom Maj. Oct 1949 Oct 1950 45
  • 50C—Last class at Wright Field
 [21]
[22]
7 John R. Amann Lt. Col. Oct 1950 May 1956 49D
  • Feb 4, 1951—School moved to Edwards AFB (south base)
  • 51A—First class held at Edwards AFB
  • May 1951—T-28, B-26 introduced
  • Apr 2, 1951—School renamed Air Research and Development Command Experimental Test Pilot School
  • Jan 1, 1953—School renamed USAF Experimental Test Pilot School
  • 1953—T-33, F-84 introduced
  • Jun 9, 1955—School renamed USAF Flight Test School
  • Mar 14, 1956—School moved to main base building 1220
  • 1956—F-86, F-100 introduced
 [22]
[23]
[24]
8 Herbert V. Leonhardt Lt. Col. May 1956 Jun 1959 55C
  • Jul 3, 1956—School emblem approved
  • Jun 17, 1957—First student field trip overseas
  • 1957—NB-57 introduced
  • Curriculum expanded from six to eight months
  • Number of classes per year reduced from four to three
  • 1958—TF-102 introduced
 [25]
[26]
9 Richard C. Lathrop Maj. Jun 1959 Jun 1961 55D
  • 60B—US Army helicopter test pilot course
  • UH-1, F-104 introduced
 [27]
[28]
10 Robert M. Howe Lt. Col. Jun 1961 Jul 1962 49D, 52B
  • Jun 5, 1961—Aerospace Research Pilot Course introduced
  • 1961—T-27 space flight simulator introduced
  • Oct 12, 1961—School renamed USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School
  • Late 1962—T-38 introduced
 [28]
[29]
[30]
[31]
11 Yeager, Charles E.Charles E. Yeager Col. Jul 1962 Jul 1966 46C, 51A [28]
[32]
[33]
12 Robert S. Buchanan Col. Jul 1966 May 1967 57A, I [32]
[34]
13 Deatrick Jr., Eugene P.Eugene P. Deatrick Jr. Col. May 1967 Jun 1968 51A, 53C [32]
[34]
14 George D. Hendrix Lt. Col. Jun 1968 Aug 1968 57A
  • n/a
 [34]
15 Harold W. Christian, Jr. Col. Aug 1968 Jan 1971 52C [34]
[35]
16 William J. Campbell Col. Jan 1971 Jul 1971 62C, IV
  • ARPS courses eliminated
 [13]
[36]
17 Aldrin, Edwin E. "Buzz"Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin Col. Jul 1971 Feb 1972 n/a
  • Systems Test Phase introduced
 [35]
[36]
18 Joseph A. Guthrie, Jr. Col. Feb 1972 Jul 1975 58C
  • Jul 1, 1972—School renamed USAF Test Pilot School
  • RF-4 introduced
  • Feb 26, 1973—Flight test engineer course initiated
  • Calspan NT-33, NKC-135 introduced
  • 74B—First student navigator and first female student flight test engineer
  • Sep 1, 1975—Course expanded from 44 to 46 weeks
 [36]
[37]
19 Warwick H. Glasgow Col. Jul 1975 Dec 1977 65C [37]
[38]
20 Donald T. Ward Col. Jan 1978 Jun 1979 ETPS FW Course 25
  • May 19, 1979—Boyd Hall dedicated
 [37]
[38]
[39]
21 Larry G. Van Pelt Lt. Col. Jun 1979 Aug 1979 66A
  • n/a
 [37]
[38]
22 Norman L. Suits Col. Aug 1979 Jun 1980 68A
  • n/a
 [37]
[38]
23 Donald E. Madonna* Col. Jun 1980 Mar 1982 66A [37]
[40]
[41]
24 Michael E. Sexton Lt. Col. Mar 1982 Jul 1982 69A [40]
[42]
25 Kenneth E. Staten Col. Jul 1982 Aug 1983 68A
  • n/a
 [42]
[43]
26 Melvin Hayashi Col. Aug 1983 Jul 1985 72B
  • Calspan Avionics Systems Test and Training Aircraft (ASTTA) NC-131 introduced
 [44]
[45]
27 Michael D. Marks Col. Jul 1985 Mar 1987 75A
  • Dec 5, 1986—Scobee Auditorium dedicated
 [44]
[45]
28 Michael C. Kostelnik Col. Mar 1987 Jul 1989 77A
  • 88B—First female student test pilot enrolled
  • Integrated Flight Data Acquisition System (IFDAPS) introduced
 [42]
[44]
[46]
[47]
29 Elton T. Pollock Col. Jul 1989 Jun 1991 76B
  • First USAF Reservist joined TPS staff
  • Test management phase added to curriculum
  • C-23 introduced
 [45]
[48]
[49]
30 Gardner, Guy S.Guy S. Gardner Col. Jun 1991 Aug 1992 75A [48]
[50]
[51]
31 Harold T. Strittmatter Col. Aug 1992 Apr 1994 81B [48]
[50]
32 James H. Doolittle III Col. Apr 1994 Aug 1996 79B
  • Sep 9, 1994—50th anniversary of USAF Test Pilot School
  • 95B—First class to use individual student cubicles and Pentium laptops
  • T-2, NF-16D Variable-Stability Inflight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA), F-15E introduced
 [45]
[48]
[50]
[49]
33 Barton E. Henwood Col. Aug 1996 Apr 1998 84A
  • NT-39 introduced
  • First students to visit Russia's Air Force Flight Test Facility
 [45]
[52]
[53]
34 Steve Cameron Col. Apr 1998 Jan 2001 85B
  • Students expand envelope of AGM-65 Maverick missile
  • Students test crash avoidance system
 [54]
[55]
[56]
35 George Ka'iliwai III Col. Jan 2001 Jun 2003 84B
  • First flight test engineer and non-rated TPS Commandant
  • First TPS sponsorship of AFIT doctoral program
 [57]
[58]
[59]
[60]
36 Ernie H. Haendschke Col. Jun 2003 Jul 2005 87B
  • 2003—Aerospace Vehicle Test Course introduced
  • Nov 18, 2003—TPS receives Richard G. Cross Award from ITEA
  • June 15, 2004—Pete Knight classroom dedicated
 [61]
[62]
[63]
[64]
[65]
[66]
37 Andre A. Gerner Col. Jul 2005 Jul 2007 91A
  • 06B—First husband and wife team graduates
  • Process begins to make TPS a Master of Science Program
 [67]
[68]
[69]
38 Mike Luallen Col. Jul 2007 Jul 2010 92B [67]
[69]
[70]
[71]
[72]
39 Noel Zamot Col. Jul 2010 Jun 2012 93B [73]
[74]
[75]
[76]
[77]
[78]
40 Paul Meyer Col. Jun 2012 Aug 2012 n/a
  • First commandant from the Air Force Reserves
  • First non-TPS graduate to serve as commandant since Buzz Aldrin
 [79]
[80]
41 Lars Hoffman Col. Aug 2012 Jul 2014 97A
  • Classroom renovations
  • Modernized Systems curriculum
 [79]
[81]
[82]
42 Charles Webb Col. Jul 2014 Jul 2017 TBS [83]
[84]
43 Matthew Higer Col. Jul 2017 Present 03A
  • n/a
 [85]
[86]

Notable alumni

USAF TPS has produced many notable alumni including astronauts, record-setting aviators, and senior Air Force leaders.

Notes

  1. ↑ USAF TPS Graduate Course Catalog. p. 14.
  2. ↑ Air Force Instruction 99-107, Test Pilot School. p. 7.
  3. 1 2 Air Force Instruction 99-107, Test Pilot School. p. 8.
  4. ↑ Air Force Instruction 99-107, Test Pilot School. p. 11.
  5. ↑ USAF TPS Graduate Course Catalog. p. 9.
  6. 1 2 "U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School History". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  7. ↑ "Edwards Air Force Base". United States Air Force. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
  8. ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 233.
  9. ↑ Young, J. Forging Aerospace Power for America. pp. 3–4.
  10. ↑ USAF TPS Graduate Course Catalog. p. 19.
  11. ↑ USAF TPS Graduate Course Catalog. p. 18.
  12. ↑ USAF TPS Graduate Course Catalog. p. 8.
  13. 1 2 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 50.
  14. 1 2 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 35–36.
  15. ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 240.
  16. ↑ "Colonel Hoewing is New NRD Executive" (PDF). The Missileer. Washington, D.C.: United States Air Force. 5 (22): 1. 1966-04-07. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  17. 1 2 3 4 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 241.
  18. 1 2 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 38.
  19. ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 40.
  20. ↑ Lopez. Fighter Pilot's Heaven. p. 129.
  21. ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 69.
  22. 1 2 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 242.
  23. ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 41–45.
  24. ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 70.
  25. ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 43–46.
  26. ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 243.
  27. ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 45.
  28. 1 2 3 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 244.
  29. ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 47–48.
  30. ↑ Allen. Space Flight Simulator. pp. 793–9.
  31. ↑ Burgess. Fallen Astronauts. p. 13.
  32. 1 2 3 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 48–50.
  33. ↑ Marrett. Contrails Over the Mojave. pp. 59–64.
  34. 1 2 3 4 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 245.
  35. 1 2 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 50–51.
  36. 1 2 3 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 246.
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 6 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 51–53.
  38. 1 2 3 4 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 247.
  39. ↑ "Ward Biography". Texas A&M University. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  40. 1 2 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 248.
  41. ↑ "An Abbreviated History of the Class of 1959". United States Air Force Academy Association of Graduates. Archived from the original on 2008-07-23. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
  42. 1 2 3 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 52–54.
  43. ↑ "Staten Biography". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2008-06-15. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
  44. 1 2 3 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 249.
  45. 1 2 3 4 5 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 54.
  46. ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 57.
  47. ↑ "Kostelnik Biography". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2008-06-13. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
  48. 1 2 3 4 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 250.
  49. 1 2 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 58–59.
  50. 1 2 3 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 55.
  51. ↑ "Gardner Biography". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
  52. ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 251.
  53. ↑ "Test Pilot School visits Russia". United States Air Force. 1997-05-27. Archived from the original on 2001-05-23. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
  54. ↑ "Simulator lets students pilot variety of aircraft". Airman Magazine Online. United States Air Force. February 2001. Archived from the original on 2001-03-12. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
  55. ↑ "Student test pilots tackle real projects". Desert Wings. United States Air Force. March 1999. Archived from the original on 2001-05-23. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
  56. ↑ Sturim, Captain James (2000-11-03). "Class project tests crash avoidance system". Desert Wings. United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2001-05-10. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
  57. ↑ "AIAA Ka'iliwai Biography" (PDF). AIAA Distinguished Lecture Program 2005. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. p. 40. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
  58. ↑ "USAF Ka'iliwai Biography". Edwards Air Force Base. Archived from the original on 2003-01-06. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
  59. ↑ Doner, Master Sgt. Stefanie (2001-03-21). "Test Pilot School commandant has Edwards and flight test in his blood". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2001-05-06. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
  60. ↑ Hague, Capt. Catie (2003-07-18). "TPS sponsors AFIT doctoral program, searches for applicants". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2006-07-28. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
  61. ↑ "Haendschke Biography" (PDF). Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  62. ↑ "USAF TPS". Edwards Air Force Base. Archived from the original on 2005-07-14. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  63. ↑ "New Test Pilot School Commandant". United States Air Force. 2003-06-13. Archived from the original on 2006-07-28. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
  64. ↑ Hague, Capt. Catie (2003-08-01). "Test Pilot School reaches new heights with space test course". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2006-07-28. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
  65. ↑ Hague, Capt. Catie (2003-11-21). "U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School wins ITEA award". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2006-07-27. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
  66. ↑ Davis, Second Lt. Brooke (2004-06-18). "TPS dedicates classroom to honor late aviation legend". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2006-07-26. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
  67. 1 2 "'Tench hut". Edwards Air Force Base. 2007-07-10. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  68. ↑ Perry, Della (2007-06-04). "U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School graduates 146th class". Edwards Air Force Base. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  69. 1 2 Reyes, Julius Delos (2008-06-11). "TPS confers its first master's degrees". Edwards Air Force Base. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  70. ↑ Taylor, Annamaria (2008-06-10). "USAF Test Pilot School graduates class 07B". Edwards Air Force Base. Archived from the original on 2012-02-19. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  71. ↑ "AFPC accepting applications for test pilot school". Edwards Air Force Base. 2009-07-07. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  72. ↑ Thuloweit, Kenji (2010-03-30). "USAF Test Pilot School Honors Major Graziano". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  73. ↑ Thuloweit, Kenji (2010-07-07). "Test Pilot School Welcomes New Commandant". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  74. ↑ Hennigan, W. J. (2011-02-09). "Nation's first drone test pilot trainee has the right-click stuff". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-02-10.
  75. ↑ "Two RPA pilots graduate top of class at test pilot school". United States Air Force. 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  76. ↑ Mowry, Laura (2012-04-25). "USAF TPS graduates first ever Enlisted Flight Test Course". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  77. ↑ Mowry, Laura (2012-05-14). "USAF TPS teaches students to fly, fight, win in cyberspace". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  78. ↑ Mowry, Laura (2012-06-20). "TPS commandant bids farewell to Edwards, retires after 25 years of service". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2013-03-09. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  79. 1 2 Mowry, Laura (2012-08-08). "TPS welcomes new commandant". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2016-01-26. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  80. ↑ Terdiman, Daniel (2012-07-12). "Getting schooled with the Air Force's elite test pilots". CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  81. ↑ Mowry, Laura (2012-11-02). "Classroom renovations keep TPS students on cutting-edge". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  82. ↑ Mowry, Laura (2013-03-07). "Test Pilot School modernizes Systems curriculum". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  83. ↑ Amber, Rebecca (2014-07-29). "Webb takes over as new TPS commandant". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  84. ↑ Ball, Christopher (2017-04-13). "TPS students get new knowledge from historic aircraft". United States Air Force. Retrieved 2017-04-16.
  85. ↑ Thuloweit, Kenji (2017-07-14). "Higer becomes new commandant at USAF Test Pilot School". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2017-07-23. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
  86. ↑ "Colonel Matthew W. Higer Biography". United States Air Force. 2016-01-01. Archived from the original on 2017-07-23. Retrieved 2017-07-23.

References

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