Spinelli assumes command of 412th Operations Group Published June 29, 2017 By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Col. Christopher Spinelli took command of the 412th Operations Group June 26 in a change of command ceremony held in Hangar 1600. A U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School graduate, Spinelli returns to Edwards to oversee the group that conducts developmental test and evaluation of nearly every aircraft in the Air Force inventory, associated weapons and several joint prototype aircraft. He also performs operational oversight of three geographically separated test units and numerous Air Force Research Laboratory programs. Spinelli formerly commanded the 445th Flight Test Squadron here. He replaces outgoing commander Col. Scott Cain who has served in the position for the past two years. Spinelli previously was chief of Safety for the Air Force Test Center at Edwards. Before that he served at the F-35 Integration Office at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. His Edwards experience includes TPS and assignments with the 445th FLTS and 416th Flight Test Squadron. The Texas native graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1996.