New CC at AFOTEC Det. 1 Published July 27, 2015 By 412th Test Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Col. Steven M. Ross assumed command of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Detachment 1 July 24 in Hanger 1810. Ross comes from his previous assignment at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, where he was a flight test squadron commander. He assumed command of AFOTEC Det. 1 from outgoing commander, Col. Mark G. Hoelscher. AFOTEC's Detachment 1 is responsible for planning, conducting, and reporting on realistic, objective, and impartial operational test and evaluation of the Air Force's fifth-generation F-35 fighter. The detachment evaluates the operational effectiveness, suitability and mission capability of the F-35 Lightning II, and reports results in support of acquisition program major milestone decisions and combatant command fielding decisions.