TPS Class 18A

Retired U.S. Marine test pilot and NASA astronaut, Col. Frederick Sturckow, was the featured speaker of TPS Class 18A's graduation ceremony at Club Muroc Dec. 7. Sturckow is a U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School graduate, four-time space shuttle mission astronaut and commercial spacecraft pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo by Joe Jones)

TPS Class 18A graduates 23 new flight test professionals

Published Dec. 11, 2018
By Kenji Thuloweit
412th Test Wing Public Affairs

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --

United States Air Force Test Pilot School Class 18A stood proudly before friends, families, base leadership and fellow testers at Club Muroc as they received their Master of Science Degree in Flight Test Engineering Dec. 7.

Each graduate crossed the stage to receive the graduate plaque from TPS, the diploma from Air University, the graduate coin and the coveted TPS Graduate patch.

The graduation is the culmination of an intense, 48-week program that transforms top operational pilots, navigators and engineers, into elite flight test professionals.

Following the formal dinner, retired U.S. Marine test pilot and NASA astronaut, Col. Frederick Sturckow, went up to the podium as the featured speaker of the evening. Sturckow is a U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School graduate who would be a part of four space shuttle missions. He described one mission to the International Space Station where, along with fellow TPS graduate Col. Kevin Ford, they experienced a problem and had to shut down a thruster. They managed to maneuver their spacecraft to the ISS with only simulator training.

“Where did Colonel Ford and I learn to do something never been done in an airplane before? Right here, at the U.S.A.F. Test Pilot School,” Sturckow said.

Sturckow advised the new graduates to be humble when they get to their new units and to be prepared to do the “dirty work” as well as the exciting things such as flying test missions.

“I’m here to tell you all that all the good flight test has not been done,” said Sturckow. “My hat’s off to you and I wish you the best of success and I’m jealous of all the cool stuff you’re going to get to do.”

Each student also participated in a Test Management Project during the year in which they planned, executed and reported on data for a Department of Defense customer, according to Col. Ryan Blake, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School commandant.

“During a busy and demanding year of training, the students completed over 2,500 graduate hours of instruction, 21 scored academic exams, 85 airborne laboratory events, 38 graded reports and 120 hours of flight time,” said Blake.

Class 18A graduates join more than 3,000 alumni including 100-plus general officers and 60 astronauts.

Test programs across the Air Force Test Center and beyond integrate TPS graduates into test teams to shape the technology and weapon systems of the future for the Air Force, sister services and allied nations.

The Class 18A TMPs were:

Have BASS — The Bay Acoustics Store Separation (BASS) test team demonstrated the expanded envelope of the WAASP pod on the F-16. The pod was used to conduct research on aeroacoustic effects on bay- mounted stores.

Have MEDUSA — The Multi-Path Escape Decisions Using Sophisticated Algorithms (MEDUSA) test team evaluated the performance of a ground collision model for performance-limited aircraft. The system under test was integrated onto a Calspan Variable Stability Learjet and predicted five different terrain avoidance maneuvers.

Pave DNA — The Pave Distinct Native Attributes (DNA) test team demonstrated the discriminability of received signals using statistical machine learning techniques. The system under test was flown on a C-12 modified with signal reception hardware.

Have UPDAWG — The Ultra-High Accuracy Reference System Position Data Acquisition Without Global Positioning System (UPDAWG) test team evaluated the utility of a pod-mounted Ultra High Accuracy Reference System in a GPS-denied environment. The pod was flown on a T-38 supersonic trainer and utilized the White Sands Missile Range (New Mexico).

TPS Class 18A Graduates

Maj. Matthew Gray

Maj. James Knauss

Maj. Daniel Prudhomme

Maj. Corey Struck

Maj. Samuel Wright

Capt. Capt. Michael Bakun

Capt. Spencer Bell

Capt. Trevor Breau

Capt. Roy Fisher

Capt. Kenneth Gahan

Capt. Carl Gotwald

Capt. Mark Hammond

Capt. Brett Hughes

Capt. Ryan Kolesar

Capt. Megan Lewis

CAPT Shannon Mak (Singapore)

Capt. Anthony Mirabile

Ms. Rebecca Mitchell

Capt. Darren Montes

Capt. Timothy Small

Capt. Dean Valentini

Capt. Ryan Weed

Capt. Anthony Zartman

Edwards provides care, opportunities for children aged six weeks through high school graduation

Edwards provides care, opportunities for childrenaged six weeks through high school graduation

The Child and Youth Program at Edwards AFB provides care and opportunities for kids ages six weeks old through high school graduation. A brief summary of those services follows:

The Child Development Center cares for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, with a DOD-wide curriculum. The curriculum is focused on learning through play activities supporting social, emotional, physical and intellectual development. Installations across DOD follow the curriculum on the same timeline to allow seamless permanent change-of-station transitions for youth enrolled in care.
The School Age Center provides before and after-school care and summer camp for children ages 5 to 12. During school breaks, full-day camps are offered. SAC promotes cognitive, social, emotional, cultural, language and physical development through programs that encourage self-confidence, curiosity, self-discipline and resiliency.
The open recreation program at the Main Youth Center provides a safe space for ages 9 to 12 to attend after school. Programs include Power Hour, STEM, Torch Club, social recreation, youth camps, special events and more.
The youth sports program provides intro and league opportunities for ages 3 to 12, and promotes inclusiveness, self-discipline, commitment, resiliency and social skills. There are four sports offered annually for ages five to 12: baseball/softball, soccer, flag football and basketball. Smart start programs are available to ages 3 to 5. There are many other sports and camps offered throughout the year.
The Teen Center is available for ages 13 to 18 during the school year. Programs offered include Military Youth of the Year, Keystone Club, social recreation, STEM activities, college trips, leadership camps and more.
Youth programs (SAC, open rec and teen) are affiliated with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and 4-H.
Family Child Care homes – there are currently three FCC homes on the installation. They can provide care for ages two weeks to 12 years. FCC providers are trained by Child and Youth Program training and curriculum specialists and have the flexibility to determine their hours of operation and the ages of youth within their care. The program’s new dedicated manager, Jennifer Stegmann, may be reached at 661-275-7529.

Although CDC enrollment capacity is 317, not all slots are currently filled because of a shortage of childcare workers. School Age Center enrollment capacity is 156. After-school care enrollment is 130. Before-school care enrollment is 75. Summer Camp 2022 was at its capacity and enrollment for Summer Camp 2023 opens April 3.