US Air Force Test Pilot School transforms for Great Power Competition
September 10, 2024
On the cusp of its 80th anniversary, the US Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base is setting out to adapt to an era of Great Power Competition, with a new strategic plan to modernize its curriculum for data-driven test, enhance staff development and invest in formal faculty development, while expanding research capabilities.
A far-reaching modernization of the curriculum is already underway, with a new emphasis on ensuring that TPS graduates are proficient in big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and in testing data-driven control systems. 2024 will also mark the first year-long course dedicated specifically to space testing.
Staff development is also being refined. “Our instructors are the backbone of the school, and we are investing in their continuous development to maintain the highest standards of educational excellence,” Major General Scott Cain, commander of the Air Force Test Center, said. The school has established a formal Test Instructor Course to leverage nearly 80 years of flight test knowledge, ensuring that faculty development remains top-notch. It has also implemented TPS Fellowships for instructors to immerse with teams such as NASA’s Johnson Space Center and DARPA to broaden their understanding of the test profession.
The strategic plan also underscores the importance of advancing test research, particularly in data-driven test applications. The school is committed to expanding its research capabilities, focusing on developing novel test techniques, frameworks, and tools to address pressing challenges. Interagency partnerships, academic research, and private industry collaborations continue to grow as TPS advances the state-of-the-art in critical areas such as combat autonomy.
The new plan includes a comprehensive roadmap that aims to align the school’s mission more closely with the broader goals of the Air Force Test Center. It emphasizes developing test leaders who are not only experts in their fields but also critical thinkers and innovators, preparing its graduates to deliver the multidomain capabilities that warfighters need.
Col. James Valpiani, commandant of the Air Force Test Pilot School said that: “Our mission is to create leaders who can navigate the increasingly complex landscape of military testing and evaluation. We are committed to equipping our graduates with the mindset, knowledge, and skills necessary to lead in an era defined by rapid technological change and great power competition. This strategic plan is our roadmap to the future,” Valpiani said. “It reflects our commitment to preparing our graduates to effectively lead test teams in an era of unprecedented technological and strategic change.”
The Air Force Test Pilot School Strategic Plan is said to be inspired by Lt. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, a pioneer in flight testing whose dedication to innovation, critical thinking, and leadership under adversity is a guiding principle for the school.
Major General Cain said that: “We are proud to carry on the tradition of excellence that Lt. Gen. Doolittle exemplified. Our goal is to prepare our graduates to be the test leaders of tomorrow, capable of leading multidisciplinary teams and advancing new capabilities for our warfighters.”
