Edwards activates, realigns new units in historic ceremony

  • Published
  • By John Haire
  • Air Force Flight Test Center Public Affairs
"A great day for the test wing and a great day for Edwards," were the words used by the 412th Test Wing commander, Col. Arnold W. Bunch Jr., in opening ceremonies June 20 to formally create three new groups and eight new squadrons for the wing.

The ceremony forms the test wing into an organization that more closely aligns its core functions with the organizational structure common to mainstream Air Force.

Colonel Bunch said the move enhances overall efficiency for the test effort by creating unity of command, facilitating enhanced communication and centralizing planning efforts. The move helps the unit mission to be more understandable. The unit becomes a stronger organization offering enhanced responsiveness and flexibility than was a characteristic of the many special directorates and staff sections in place previously.

The units created are the 412th Electronic Warfare Group, consisting of the 771st and 772nd Test Squadrons, the 412th Test Engineering Group consisting of the 773rd Test Squadron, the 775th Test Squadron, the 412th Range Squadron and the 812th Test Support Squadron. Rounding out the new units is the 412th Test Management Group with the 412th and 712th Test Support Squadrons.

Underscoring the importance of the new structure, Colonel Bunch, speaking about the 412th Engineering Group said, "We cannot accomplish our mission without the analysis and expertise this group provides. They also have to continually mentor and nurture our engineering workforce so that we're ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow."

Organization of the 412th Electronic Warfare Group goes back to 1990 when the Air Force Flight Test Center began to consolidate electronic warfare test assets to enhance efficiency.

"The group is challenged with staying multiple steps ahead of both our enemy and our own systems in the electronic environment they operate in," Colonel Bunch said. "Without their tremendous efforts, testing of advanced systems that are so critical to the survival of our airmen and our air assets would not be possible."

Speaking about the 412th Test Management Group, Colonel Bunch pointed out that this unit will "serve as the test wing's focal point to its customers. It will train dedicated program managers and develop standardized program policies and tools." He added that the group will be key to success in working with the various programs that come to Edwards for testing.

The new units were formally created by special order published by the Department of the Air Force in Washington, D.C., and are part of the Air Force's formal organizational structure. While more closely aligning Edward's test wing with the rest of the Air Force, the units are unique because they can be commanded by either military or civilian leaders. In the case of a civilian leader, the person who heads the unit is called a "civilian director."