Commandants of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School
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
* 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 |
|
[17] [18] |
4 | Leonard I. Wiehrdt | Maj. | May 1947 | Oct 1947 | 46D |
|
[17] [18] |
5 | Leo C. Moon | Lt. Col. | Oct 1947 | Oct 1949 | 47 |
|
[17] [19] [20] |
6 | Chilstrom, KenKen Chilstrom | Maj. | Oct 1949 | Oct 1950 | 45 |
|
[21] [22] |
7 | John R. Amann | Lt. Col. | Oct 1950 | May 1956 | 49D |
|
[22] [23] [24] |
8 | Herbert V. Leonhardt | Lt. Col. | May 1956 | Jun 1959 | 55C | [25] [26] | |
9 | Richard C. Lathrop | Maj. | Jun 1959 | Jun 1961 | 55D | [27] [28] | |
10 | Robert M. Howe | Lt. Col. | Jun 1961 | Jul 1962 | 49D, 52B |
|
[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 |
|
[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 |
|
[13] [36] |
17 | Aldrin, Edwin E. "Buzz"Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin | Col. | Jul 1971 | Feb 1972 | n/a |
|
[35] [36] |
18 | Joseph A. Guthrie, Jr. | Col. | Feb 1972 | Jul 1975 | 58C | [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 |
|
[37] [38] [39] |
21 | Larry G. Van Pelt | Lt. Col. | Jun 1979 | Aug 1979 | 66A |
|
[37] [38] |
22 | Norman L. Suits | Col. | Aug 1979 | Jun 1980 | 68A |
|
[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 |
|
[42] [43] |
26 | Melvin Hayashi | Col. | Aug 1983 | Jul 1985 | 72B |
|
[44] [45] |
27 | Michael D. Marks | Col. | Jul 1985 | Mar 1987 | 75A |
|
[44] [45] |
28 | Michael C. Kostelnik | Col. | Mar 1987 | Jul 1989 | 77A |
|
[42] [44] [46] [47] |
29 | Elton T. Pollock | Col. | Jul 1989 | Jun 1991 | 76B |
|
[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 | [45] [48] [50] [49] | |
33 | Barton E. Henwood | Col. | Aug 1996 | Apr 1998 | 84A |
|
[45] [52] [53] |
34 | Steve Cameron | Col. | Apr 1998 | Jan 2001 | 85B |
|
[54] [55] [56] |
35 | George Ka'iliwai III | Col. | Jan 2001 | Jun 2003 | 84B |
|
[57] [58] [59] [60] |
36 | Ernie H. Haendschke | Col. | Jun 2003 | Jul 2005 | 87B |
|
[61] [62] [63] [64] [65] [66] |
37 | Andre A. Gerner | Col. | Jul 2005 | Jul 2007 | 91A |
|
[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 |
|
[79] [80] |
41 | Lars Hoffman | Col. | Aug 2012 | Jul 2014 | 97A |
|
[79] [81] [82] |
42 | Charles Webb | Col. | Jul 2014 | Present | TBS |
|
[83] |
Notable alumni
USAF TPS has produced many notable alumni including astronauts, record-setting aviators, and senior Air Force leaders.
Notes
- ↑ USAF TPS Graduate Course Catalog. p. 14.
- ↑ Air Force Instruction 99-107, Test Pilot School. p. 7.
- 1 2 Air Force Instruction 99-107, Test Pilot School. p. 8.
- ↑ Air Force Instruction 99-107, Test Pilot School. p. 11.
- ↑ USAF TPS Graduate Course Catalog. p. 9.
- 1 2 "U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School History". United States Air Force. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
- ↑ "Edwards Air Force Base". United States Air Force. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
- ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 233.
- ↑ Young, J. Forging Aerospace Power for America. pp. 3–4.
- ↑ USAF TPS Graduate Course Catalog. p. 19.
- ↑ USAF TPS Graduate Course Catalog. p. 18.
- ↑ USAF TPS Graduate Course Catalog. p. 8.
- 1 2 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 50.
- 1 2 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 35–36.
- ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 240.
- ↑ "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.
- 1 2 3 4 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 241.
- 1 2 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 38.
- ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 40.
- ↑ Lopez. Fighter Pilot's Heaven. p. 129.
- ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 69.
- 1 2 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 242.
- ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 41–45.
- ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 70.
- ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 43–46.
- ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 243.
- ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 45.
- 1 2 3 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 244.
- ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 47–48.
- ↑ Allen. Space Flight Simulator. pp. 793–9.
- ↑ Burgess. Fallen Astronauts. p. 13.
- 1 2 3 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 48–50.
- ↑ Marrett. Contrails Over the Mojave. pp. 59–64.
- 1 2 3 4 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 245.
- 1 2 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 50–51.
- 1 2 3 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 246.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 51–53.
- 1 2 3 4 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 247.
- ↑ "Ward Biography". Texas A&M University. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
- 1 2 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 248.
- ↑ "An Abbreviated History of the Class of 1959". United States Air Force Academy Association of Graduates. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- 1 2 3 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 52–54.
- ↑ "Staten Biography". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2008-06-15. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
- 1 2 3 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 249.
- 1 2 3 4 5 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 54.
- ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 57.
- ↑ "Kostelnik Biography". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2008-06-13. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
- 1 2 3 4 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 250.
- 1 2 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. pp. 58–59.
- 1 2 3 USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 55.
- ↑ "Gardner Biography". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
- ↑ USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. p. 251.
- ↑ "Test Pilot School visits Russia". United States Air Force. 1997-05-27. Archived from the original on 2001-05-23. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "AIAA Ka'iliwai Biography" (PDF). AIAA Distinguished Lecture Program 2005. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. p. 40. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- ↑ "USAF Ka'iliwai Biography". Edwards Air Force Base. Archived from the original on 2003-01-06. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Haendschke Biography" (PDF). Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
- ↑ "USAF TPS". Edwards Air Force Base. Archived from the original on 2005-07-14. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
- ↑ "New Test Pilot School Commandant". United States Air Force. 2003-06-13. Archived from the original on 2006-07-28. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- 1 2 "'Tench hut". Edwards Air Force Base. 2007-07-10. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
- ↑ Perry, Della (2007-06-04). "U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School graduates 146th class". Edwards Air Force Base. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
- 1 2 Reyes, Julius Delos (2008-06-11). "TPS confers its first master's degrees". Edwards Air Force Base. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
- ↑ Taylor, Annamaria (2008-06-10). "USAF Test Pilot School graduates class 07B". Edwards Air Force Base. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
- ↑ "AFPC accepting applications for test pilot school". Edwards Air Force Base. 2009-07-07. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
- ↑ Thuloweit, Kenji (2010-03-30). "USAF Test Pilot School Honors Major Graziano". United States Air Force. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
- ↑ Thuloweit, Kenji (2010-07-07). "Test Pilot School Welcomes New Commandant". United States Air Force. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Two RPA pilots graduate top of class at test pilot school". United States Air Force. 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
- ↑ Mowry, Laura (2012-04-25). "USAF TPS graduates first ever Enlisted Flight Test Course". United States Air Force. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ↑ Mowry, Laura (2012-05-14). "USAF TPS teaches students to fly, fight, win in cyberspace". United States Air Force. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ↑ Mowry, Laura (2012-06-20). "TPS commandant bids farewell to Edwards, retires after 25 years of service". United States Air Force. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
- 1 2 Mowry, Laura (2012-08-08). "TPS welcomes new commandant". United States Air Force. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
- ↑ Terdiman, Daniel (2012-07-12). "Getting schooled with the Air Force's elite test pilots". CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
- ↑ Mowry, Laura (2012-11-02). "Classroom renovations keep TPS students on cutting-edge". United States Air Force. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
- ↑ Mowry, Laura (2013-03-07). "Test Pilot School modernizes Systems curriculum". United States Air Force. Retrieved 2014-05-09.
- ↑ Amber, Rebecca (2014-07-29). "Webb takes over as new TPS commandant". United States Air Force. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
References
- "Air Force Instruction 99-107, Test Pilot School" (PDF). Secretary of the Air Force. 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
- Allen, Clifford H., Jr.; Arthur B. Doty Jr.; Everett C. McCormick (June 1966). "Space Flight Simulator for U.S. Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School" (PDF). Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. 3 (6): 793–9. doi:10.2514/3.28539. ISSN 0022-4650. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
- Burgess, Colin; Kate Doolan; Bert Vis (2003). Fallen Astronauts: Heroes Who Died Reaching for the Moon. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 1-56098-457-0. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
- "Graduate Course Catalog and Student Handbook, 2007-08" (PDF). USAF TPS Curriculum Standards Division. 2007-06-22. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
- Lopez, Donald S. (1995). Fighter Pilot's Heaven: Flight Testing the Early Jets. Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN 1-56098-457-0.
- Marrett, George J. (2008). Contrails Over the Mojave: The Golden Age of Jet Flight Testing at Edwards Air Force Base. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-511-2. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
- USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond. Privately Published. 1994.
- Young, James O. (2007). "Forging Aerospace Power for America" (PDF). U.S. Air Force Flight Test Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-12. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
External links
- "USAF Test Pilot School Fact Sheet". United States Air Force. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- "Odd Sisters: B-2 Spirit/Calspan NC-131". NameMedia, Inc. Archived from the original on 2008-10-11. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
- "The Pioneers: "Jackie" Parker". Monash University. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- "Doolittle's son and grandson dedicate Tokyo Raid exhibit". Military Advantage. Retrieved 2008-09-07.