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

The commanding officer of the Test Pilot School is known as its Commandant. The commandant leads the school which combines Air Force Materiel Command's most complex flying unit encompassing nearly 4,000 flight hours in over 30 aircraft types annually, and Air University's most demanding Master of Science degree encompassing over 50 credit hours. The position is usually held by a colonel selected by the AFMC commander although this authority may be delegated to the commander of the Air Force Test Center. The commandant oversees all flying training, academic instruction, budgeting, and curriculum administration at the school. 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. 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.
The school's mission is to "create test leaders, develop school staff and conduct test research to accelerate multidomain capabilities to the warfighter." Its vision is "testers, leaders, thinkers and innovators in the mold of Jimmy Doolittle." Its ethos is "credible, adaptable, warfighter-focused." The school has three courses: the Flight Test Course, the Space Test Course, and the Enlisted Test Course. The FTC develops Experimental Test Pilots, Experimental Flight Test Engineers, Experimental Test Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilots, and Experimental Test Combat Systems Officers. The STC develops Space Test Engineers and the ETC develops Enlisted Testers across a wide range of Air Force Specialty Codes. In total, the school graduates approximately 90 students each year.
The school was established on September 9, 1944 as the Flight Test Training Unit at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. 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. Edwards AFB is the home of the Air Force Test Center and has been an integral part of flight testing since the 1940s.
Between 1962 and 1972, the Test Pilot School expanded its role to include astronaut training for military test pilots. 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. Although the school no longer trains astronauts, many TPS graduates since 1972 have been selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for duties in space. The school encourages applications from civilians, personnel from other U.S. military services, and individuals from foreign countries. 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, and France's École du personnel navigant d'essais et de réception.

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, and notable events that occurred during their tenure at the school.

List of Commandants

Individual was killed in an aviation-related accident.

No	Name	Rank	From	To	Class	Notable events during tenure	Ref
1		O-04Maj.	1944-09Sep 1944	1945-01Jan 1945	n/a	Sep 9, 1944—USAAF Flight Test Training Unit set up at Wright Field, Ohio AT-6 introduced
2		O-05Lt. Col.	1945-01Jan 1945	1946-01Jan 1946	n/a	B-25, B-17, P-51 introduced Jan 1945—School moved to Vandalia airport School renamed Flight Performance School Late 1945—School moved to Patterson field
3		O-04Maj.	1946-01Jan 1946	1947-05May 1947	n/a	Curriculum expanded to include Stability and Control testing
4		O-04Maj.	1947-05May 1947	1947-10Oct 1947	1946-0446D	Aug 1947—F-80 introduced
5		O-05Lt. Col.	1947-10Oct 1947	1949-10Oct 1949	1947-0147	47—First USAF class. First class to fly jets School renamed Air Material Command Experimental Test Pilot School
6		O-04Maj.	1949-10Oct 1949	1950-10Oct 1950	1945-0145	50C—Last class at Wright Field
7		O-05Lt. Col.	1950-10Oct 1950	1956-05May 1956	1949-0449D	Feb 4, 1951—School moved to Edwards AFB 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
8		O-05Lt. Col.	1956-05May 1956	1959-06Jun 1959	1955-0355C	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
9		O-04Maj.	1959-06Jun 1959	1961-06Jun 1961	1955-0455D	60B—US Army helicopter test pilot course UH-1, F-104 introduced
10		O-05Lt. Col.	1961-06Jun 1961	1962-07Jul 1962	1949-0449D, 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
11		O-06Col.	1962-07Jul 1962	1966-07Jul 1966	1946-0346C, 51A	NF-101 introduced July 1, 1963—ARPS consolidated into TPS curriculum Number of classes per year reduced from three to two Calspan B-26, H-13 introduced Feb 7, 1966—First Manned Orbital Laboratory class
12		O-06Col.	1966-07Jul 1966	1967-05May 1967	1957-0157A, I	F-106 introduced
13		O-06Col.	1967-05May 1967	1968-06Jun 1968	1951-0151A, 53C	NF-104, NF-106 introduced
14		O-05Lt. Col.	1968-06Jun 1968	1968-08Aug 1968	1957-0157A	n/a
15		O-06Col.	1968-08Aug 1968	1971-01Jan 1971	1952-0352C	Gliders, A-7 introduced
16		O-06Col.	1971-01Jan 1971	1971-07Jul 1971	1962-0362C, IV	ARPS courses eliminated
17		O-06Col.	1971-07Jul 1971	1972-02Feb 1972	n/a	Systems Test Phase introduced
18		O-06Col.	1972-02Feb 1972	1975-07Jul 1975	1958-0358C	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
19		O-06Col.	1975-07Jul 1975	1977-12Dec 1977	1965-0365C	YA-7D DIGITAC, A-37 introduced
20		O-06Col.	1978-01Jan 1978	1979-06Jun 1979	ETPS FW Course 25	May 19, 1979—Boyd Hall dedicated
21		O-05Lt. Col.	1979-06Jun 1979	1979-08Aug 1979	1966-0166A	n/a
22		O-06Col.	1979-08Aug 1979	1980-06Jun 1980	1968-0168A	n/a
23		O-06Col.	1980-06Jun 1980	1982-03Mar 1982	1966-0166A	UV-18, U-6, Calspan LJ-24 introduced
24		O-05Lt. Col.	1982-03Mar 1982	1982-07Jul 1982	1969-0169A	82B—Air Force Institute of Technology program with TPS begins
25		O-06Col.	1982-07Jul 1982	1983-08Aug 1983	1968-0168A	n/a
26		O-06Col.	1983-08Aug 1983	1985-07Jul 1985	1972-0272B	Calspan Avionics Systems Test and Training Aircraft NC-131 introduced
27		O-06Col.	1985-07Jul 1985	1987-03Mar 1987	1975-0175A	Dec 5, 1986—Scobee Auditorium dedicated
28		O-06Col.	1987-03Mar 1987	1989-07Jul 1989	1977-0177A	88B—First female student test pilot enrolled Integrated Flight Data Acquisition System introduced
29		O-06Col.	1989-07Jul 1989	1991-06Jun 1991	1976-0276B	First USAF Reservist joined TPS staff Test management phase added to curriculum C-23 introduced
30		O-06Col.	1991-06Jun 1991	1992-08Aug 1992	1975-0175A	NC-141 introduced
31		O-06Col.	1992-08Aug 1992	1994-04Apr 1994	1981-0281B	F-16B, F-15B introduced
32		O-06Col.	1994-04Apr 1994	1996-08Aug 1996	1979-0279B	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, F-15E introduced
33		O-06Col.	1996-08Aug 1996	1998-04Jul 1999	1984-0184A	NT-39 introduced First students to visit Russia's Air Force Flight Test Facility
34		O-06Col.	1998-04Jul 1999	2001-01Jan 2001	1985-0285B	Students expand envelope of AGM-65 Maverick missile Students test crash avoidance system Test Pilot School renovated, school temporarily located in Hangar 1870 VISTA joins TPS fleet at EDW
35		O-06Col.	2001-01Jan 2001	2003-06Jun 2003	1984-0284B	First flight test engineer and non-rated TPS Commandant First TPS sponsorship of AFIT doctoral program
36		O-06Col.	2003-06Jun 2003	2005-07Jul 2005	1987-0287B	2003—Aerospace Vehicle Test Course introduced Nov 18, 2003—TPS receives Richard G. Cross Award from ITEA June 15, 2004—Pete Knight classroom dedicated
37		O-06Col.	2005-07Jul 2005	2007-07Jul 2007	1991-0191A	06B—First husband and wife team graduates Process begins to make TPS a Master of Science Program
38		O-06Col.	2007-07Jul 2007	2010-07Jul 2010	1992-0292B	07B—First class to receive Master of Science in Flight Test Curriculum expanded to include unmanned aerial systems March 19, 2010—Mark Graziano classroom dedicated
39		O-06Col.	2010-07Jul 2010	2012-06Jun 2012	1993-0293B	2011—First Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) test pilot 2012—Flight test course for enlisted personnel 2012—Cyber Systems Test Course introduced
40		O-06Col.	2012-06Jun 2012	2012-08Aug 2012	n/a	First commandant from the Air Force Reserves First non-TPS graduate to serve as commandant since Buzz Aldrin
41		O-06Col.	2012-08Aug 2012	2012-08Jul 2014	1997-0297A	Classroom renovations Modernized Systems curriculum
42		O-06Col.	2012-08Jul 2014	2017-07Jul 2017	2003-01TBS	Air Force Flight Test Museum used as classroom
43		O-06Col.	2017-07Jul 2017	2018-07Jul 2018	2003-0103A	TPS receives AF Organizational Excellence Award
44		O-06Col.	2018-07Jul 2018	2020-07Jul 2020	2008-0108A	TPS 75th Anniversary New curriculum dedicated to space hardware
45		O-06Col.	2020-07Jul 2020	2023-09Jul 2023	2006-0106A	First female, flight test engineer commandant Oct 1, 2020—Multi-Domain Test Force activation TPS collaborates with Republic of Korea Air Force Feb 23, 2023—Space Test Course established
46		O-06Col.	2023-07Jul 2023	2025-06Jun 2025	EPNER Class 2014	TPS conducts world's first AI-controlled dogfights--X-62A vs F-16 TPS is a Collier Trophy Finalist Secretary of the Air Force flies with TPS in the X-62A TPS's first control of a satellite, in the STC Modernization per 2024 Strategic Plan--emphasis on Data-Driven Test AI-based mission systems upgrade for X-62 A-29s added to fleet--first new aircraft in 30 years First ever fully-integrated, year-long Flight & Space Test Course, nicknamed "The Malhalanobians", graduates
47		O-06Col.	2025-06Jun 2025	2025-06Present	2012-0212A	n/a

Notable alumni

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