Air Force Test Pilot School expands collaboration with Air University, reflects broader reach across academia and industry

  • Published
  • By Chase Kohler
  • 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  

The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School is expanding partnerships across academia, government and private industry to improve research and investments in aerospace.

Leaders from the school gave an inaugural briefing to the Air Command and Staff College’s Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Leadership seminar March 31 to April 1 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. The seminar prepares Air Force and sister service field grade officers, competitively selected for in-residence professional military education, for leadership in the era of AI.

Maj. Richard Agbeyibor, the assistant dean of faculty for research at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, and Noel Zamot, a senior research advisor, briefed students on the unique test and evaluation process for autonomous systems. They shared lessons learned and best practices on AI and autonomy tools, processes and new capabilities currently in use at the school and throughout the larger test enterprise. Agbeyibor, whose Ph.D. research focused on human-AI teaming, discussed antecedents of trust and how the DoW is focusing on designing trustworthy autonomous systems.

The briefing reflected both the critical role new leaders will play in incorporating new technologies and the school’s continued modernization efforts. This engagement demonstrates the school's increasing reach and the broader importance of early collaboration, which directly leads to reduced lead times in the testing schedule. These efforts are paving the way for advanced capabilities to be delivered to the warfighter at the speed of relevance.

"This trip was an excellent way to engage with Air University staff and students on the ongoing modernization efforts of the school, while further allowing us to educate future leaders on the latest breakthroughs in test and evaluation of autonomous systems," Agbeyibor said. "Further, these conversations reignited the importance of accreditation alignment to Air University as instruction at TPS adapts in real time to the broader changes in technology."

Students at U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School historically receive an accredited Master of Science in flight test engineering. In December 2025, the Space Test Course became the latest fully accredited program through Air University, with students from the U.S. Space Force receiving instruction through a focused space test concentration.