Bunch readies for departure with 'fini flight'

  • Published
  • By Kenji Thuloweit
  • 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Maj. Gen. Arnold W. Bunch Jr., Air Force Test Center commander, took to the skies one last time over Edwards AFB May 27. Bunch took his final proficiency flight in a B-52 Stratofortress; his primary airframe.

As AFTC commander, he directed a $31 billion enterprise of more than 18,000 military, civilian and contractor personnel across Edwards AFB, Eglin AFB, Florida, and Arnold AFB, Tennessee. The AFTC provides developmental test and evaluation of experimental and research manned and unmanned air, space and cyber systems for military services, DARPA, NASA and international partners; in addition to operation of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.

While here, Bunch oversaw the AFTC's portion of Air Force Materiel Command's 5-Center restructuring in 2012, which brought Eglin and Arnold under the AFTC. Bunch has said that the AFTC is now an "enterprise that covers the whole spectrum."

AFTC is accomplishing the "business of test" in similar, yet very different ways at each site. One of the major goals in the coming months is to achieve as much standardization of site-focused processes and procedures as possible.

Bunch will relinquish command of the AFTC to Brig. Gen. David Harris, current commander of the 96th Test Wing at Eglin, who has been selected for promotion to major general and to command the AFTC. The change of command ceremony will be held later this month.

Bunch has been selected for reassignment as Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.