Colonel Matthew Caspers is the Deputy Commander, 412th Test Wing, Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), California. He leads a wing of nearly 8,000 personnel in the developmental test and evaluation of the KC-46, KC-135, KC-10, C-17, C-5, F-35, F-22, F-16, B-21, B-1, B-2, B-52, T-7A, RQ-4 and emerging technologies. Additionally, Colonel Caspers is responsible for base operations support for more than 19,500 active duty, reserve, civil service, and defense industrial base contractors at Edwards, the second largest base in the U.S. Air Force, and Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.
Colonel Caspers earned his commission in 2002 as a distinguished graduate from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School in June 2008 and has since served in a variety of flight test and program management assignments supporting the development, testing, and fielding of advanced aircraft weapon systems and technologies. Prior to his current assignment he was Technical Director, Capabilities Integration and Planning, National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Maryland, leading technical planning for a headquarters-level mission element, comprised of over 100 civilian and military members, responsible for delivering enterprise architecture, systems engineering, innovative technology insertion, and system decommissioning services for the Agency.
EDUCATION
2002. Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y.
2003. Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala
2007. Master of Science, Aeronautical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2008. Master of Science, Flight Test Engineering, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala
2014 Air Command and Staff College, by distance learning
2016 Air Force National Lab Technical Fellowship, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Livermore, Calif
2020 Master of Science, Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Norfolk, Va
ASSIGNMENTS
- July 2002 – September 2004, Aeronautical Systems Engineer, 82d Aerial Targets Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
- September 2004 – July 2005, Chief of Engineering, 82d Aerial Targets Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
- August 2005 – March 2007, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
- June 2007 – June 2008, Student, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
- July 2008 – July 2012, various duties (data masked).
- July 2012 – July 2015, Program Manager, Strike Systems Verification, Special Programs Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
- July 2015 – July 2016, Fellow, Air Force National Lab Technical Fellowship, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Livermore, Calif.
- July 2016 – June 2019, various duties (data masked).
- July 2019 – June 2020, Student, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Norfolk, Va.
- July 2020 – June 2022, Technical Director, Capabilities Integration and Planning, National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Md.
- July 2022 – Present, Vice Commander, 412th Test Wing, Edwards AFB, Calif.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2020 – June 2022, Technical Director, Capabilities Integration and Planning, National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Md, as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 29, 2002
First Lieutenant May 29, 2004
Captain May 29, 2006
Major March 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2016
Colonel March 1, 2021
(Current as of August 2022)