Test Pilot School welcomes new commandant

  • Published
  • By Kenji Thuloweit
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The United States Air Force Test Pilot School welcomed its 39th commandant July 7.
 
Col. Noel Zamot assumed the role from outgoing commandant Col. Terry M. Luallen.

The change of command ceremony was held in the TPS's Dick Scobee auditorium and was officiated by 412th Test Wing commander, Col. Dawn M. Dunlop.

Colonel Zamot comes to Edwards from Altus Air Force Base, Okla., where he served as the 97th Mission Support Group commander.

He graduated from the TPS June 1994 and has spent five years at Flight Test Nation as a B-2 Test Weapons Systems officer, Flight commander and as Defensive Systems Branch chief of the B-2 Combined Test Force. He also served as a project manager for the Electronic Combat Integration Test Program.

"In 1993, I was a slick-wing captain walking the halls of TPS and I looked around," said Colonel Zamot. "This place was awash in history; the legacy of aviation; it was just an awesome place to be."

"It was clear to me then that Edwards and the Test Pilot School are very special places, not just for our Air Force, but for our nation. This is the hardest, most elite and difficult flying school in the Air Force and probably the Department of Defense," Colonel Zamot said. "The most treasured and valued award I have ever earned is this faded blue patch that says 'graduate' of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School."

Colonel Zamot said the skills he learned while at TPS had saved his life on at least two occasions.

Colonel Zamot is a career bomber aviator, having flown the B-52G, B-1B and B-2A bombers; and logged over 100 hours of combat in Operation Desert Storm. He has held leadership positions at the squadron, group, wing, joint and international headquarters levels, and commanded at the squadron level.

Colonel Luallen said it was an honor and a privilege to serve as TPS commandant and thanked the entire staff for making the school the best.

"For the past several years, TPS, as a team, has accomplished many great things," Colonel Luallen said. "At the end of the day, despite all the things we do, what's most important is producing the world's best test pilots, flight test engineers and navigators, so they ensure our war fighters have the absolute best. In that regard, you have done an exceptional job."

Colonel Luallen will retire after more than 26 years of active duty service in the Air Force. 

Those who have served as Test Pilot School commandants include such flight test legends as retired Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager and former astronaut Buzz Aldrin.