417th FLTS has new commander Published June 14, 2010 By Kenji Thuloweit 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Lt. Col. Jeffrey E. Warmka assumed command of the 417th Flight Test Squadron June 10 from Lt. Col. Michael R. Contratto. Col. Colin Miller, 412th Operations Group commander, officiated the ceremony at Edwards South Base. Colonel Warmka is a command pilot with more than 2,200 flying hours, primarily in the B-1 and B-2 bombers. He assumes command of 417th FLTS, which oversees the Airborne Laser Testbed Combined Test Force and mission. The squadron is charged with coordinating systems development and integration, ground tests and flight tests for the ALTB. Under Colonel Contratto's command, 417th FLTS testing of the ALTB culminated with a successful open-range shoot down of a test enemy missile. The 417th FLTS received several awards including the 2009 Air Force Materiel Command Test and Evaluation Team of the Year and the 2008 and 2009 Air Force Directed Energy Weapon Safety Award. The 417th FLTS and ALTB CTF are now continuing High Power System Integration testing of the newly designated Airborne Laser Testbed and plan on expanding the range and lethality of its high energy laser weapon platform.