USAF Test Pilot School honors Major Graziano

Published March 29, 2010
By Kenji Thuloweit
95 Air Base Wing Public Affairs

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards honored one of its own March 19 with a classroom dedication ceremony. The TPS renamed the Alpha Classroom to commemorate Maj. Mark "Dash" Graziano who was killed May 21, 2009 when his T-38A Talon crashed during a flight-test mission.

The ceremony was attended by current test pilot students along with Major Graziano's mother, Helen Graziano and her sister Mary Christon, both traveled to Edwards from New York and North Carolina respectively. Maj. Jeff Kennedy, TPS branch chief, systems and F-16 instructor pilot, presided over the ceremony and remarked how Major Graziano's eagerness to learn made him one of the best.

"His curiosity was incredible," said Major Kennedy. "His hands-on approach to things is what made him a great engineer."

Col. Terry Luallen, USAF TPS commandant, also spoke at the dedication and helped present a portrait of Major Graziano to Mrs. Graziano, which will hang at the entrance to the classroom. The portrait was painted and donated to the TPS by retired Lt. Col. Bob Keeney.

"He was always positive," said Colonel Luallen. "He was an inspiration to his classmates and a true leader when it came to flying missions."

Major Graziano was a native of Wantagh, New York. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. He flew combat missions as a KC-135 pilot and also flew U-2s overseas before entering the USAF Test Pilot School.

Maj. Lee V. Jones was also on board the T-38A and suffered injuries after ejecting. He was undergoing test navigator training.