AFFTC to be re-designated as Air Force Test Center Published July 6, 2012 By 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Air Force Flight Test Center will be re-designated as the Air Force Test Center during a ceremony held July 13 at 9 a.m. in Bldg. 1600. During the ceremony, the 95th Air Base Wing will transition to the 412th Test Wing, although both unit changes became effective July 6. Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger, commander of Air Force Materiel Command will preside over the ceremony. The Air Force Test Center will play a critical role in developmental test and evaluation for AFMC's air and ground systems and is an essential cornerstone to the command's consolidation initiative from 12 centers to five. The 5-Center construct will increase efficiencies, reduce redundancies in management overhead and in acquisitions processes, as well as save approximately $109 million annually. Ultimately, the consolidation ensures the command will improve the way it accomplishes the mission, providing better support to the warfighter. Brig. Gen. Arnold W. Bunch Jr., will lead the center and will oversee work at not only Edwards, but also at Eglin AFB, Fla. and Arnold AFB, Tenn., which was re-designated the Arnold Engineering and Development Complex July 6. At Eglin, the 96th Air Base Wing will be re-designated the 96th Test Wing July 18. Missions at each location will continue. In addition to the Air Force Test Center, the Air Force Sustainment Center at Tinker AFB, Okla., the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, the Air Force Research Laboratory, also at Wright-Patterson, and the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center at Kirtland AFB, N.M., make up AFMC's 5-Center construct. Initial operation capability is scheduled for October 1, with full operational capability planned for mid-2013.