Col. Clifton Bell is the commander of the 412th Operations Group at Edwards Air Force Base, California. He leads the developmental test and evaluation of nearly every aircraft in the Air Force inventory, associated weapons and several joint prototype aircraft. Bell also provides operational oversight of three geographically separated units and numerous Air Force Research Laboratory programs.
Bell earned his commission in 2003 through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program, graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering. He attended pilot training through the joint specialized undergraduate pilot training program with the Navy, where he flew the T-34C Turbomentor. He then flew the T-38 Talon at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, before being assigned to the B-52 Stratofortress for his first operational flying assignment.
He joined the B-2 Spirit program at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, in 2008 and was selected for the Air Force Test Pilot School as part of class 13B. After completing test pilot school, he conducted flight tests in the B-2 Spirit, participating in numerous upgrades including the integration of the B-61 Mod 12 in support of the National Nuclear Security Administration mission.
Bell also served on the Air Force Materiel Command headquarters staff for two years, leading the Special Test and Operations Branch in the A3 directorate before establishing the Commander’s Accelerated Initiatives Office under the AFMC deputy commander. He has provided expertise to the development of the B-21 Raider since 2016, serving as the director of the B-21 Combined Test Force and commander of the 420th Flight Test Squadron, which culminated in his execution of the first flight of the B-21 as the chief B-21 test pilot.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ
2014 Master of Science, Flight Test Engineering, USAF TPS, Edwards AFB, CA
2015 Air Command and Staff College, Non-Resident
2015 Master of Science, Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2024 Air War College, Non-Resident
2025 Joint and Combined Warfighter School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 03 – May 05, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Whiting Field NAS, FL; Vance AFB, OK
2. Jun 05 – Jun 08, Various Assignments culminating as B-52 Aircraft Commander, Barksdale AFB, LA
3. Jul 08 – May 13, Various Assignments culminating as B-2 Evaluator Pilot, Whiteman AFB, MO
4. Jun 13 – May 18, Various Assignments culminating as Deputy Commander, Operations Group, Edwards AFB, CA
5. Jun 18 – Aug 19, Chief, Special Projects Branch, HQ AFMC, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
6. Sep 19 – Jul 20, Deputy Chief, Commander’s Accelerated Initiatives Office, HQ AFMC, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
7. July 20 – Aug 23, Director, B-21 Combined Test Force; Commander, 420th Flight Test Squadron
8. Aug 23 – Jul 24, Chief, Qualitative Evaluations and instructor, Air Force Test Pilot School
9. Jul 24 – Aug 25, Division Chief, Policy and Programs, Air Force Test and Evaluation
10. Aug 25 – Dec 25, Director, Air Force Test and Evaluation, Department of the Air Force
11. Dec 25 – Present, Command, 412th Operations Group, Edwards AFB, CA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Instructor Pilot, Experimental Test Pilot (TPS Instructor)
Flight Hours: More than 2200
Aircraft Flown: More than 30 types including the B-21, B-2, B-52, C-12, and T-3