44 captains, lieutenants selected for TPS Published Jan. 21, 2014 By Debbie Gildea and 412th Test Wing Public Affairs Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Forty-four Air Force captains and first lieutenants have been selected as primary or alternate U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School program attendees, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced Jan. 17. "Officers selected will fill classes beginning in July this year, said Maj. Miles Middleton, AFPC special assignments branch. The program exists to develop specially trained pilots, combat systems officers, flight test engineers and remotely piloted aircraft pilots to monitor, manage, and perform flight tests on research, experimental or production-type aerospace vehicles and weapon systems. USAF TPS at Edwards AFB is where the Air Force's top pilots, navigators and engineers learn how to conduct flight tests and generate the data needed to carry out test missions. Human lives and millions of dollars depend upon how carefully a test mission is planned and flown. The comprehensive curriculum of TPS is fundamental to the success of flight test and evaluation. "Program graduates have profound strategic impact on future combat capabilities, so selection is highly competitive," Middleton said. "Graduates are future senior leaders who will help shape our national security and identifying the right people for this opportunity was critical." Congratulations to the newest future test pilots. Class 14B starting July 7, 2014 Fighter Pilot Category Capt. Justin Elliot, 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron Capt. Timothy Fulkerson, 79th Fighter Squadron Capt. Joseph Schenkel, 77th Fighter Squadron Capt. David Schmitt, 1st Fighter Wing Capt. Robert Waller, 333rd Fighter Squadron Multi Engine Pilot Category Capt. Mason Hubbard, 48th Airlift Squadron Capt. Robert Jeffrey, 20th Bomb Squadron Capt. Timothy Lau, 23rd Bomb Squadron Capt. Scott Pontzer, 28th Bomb Squadron Combat Systems/Weapons System/Electronic Warfare/Officer Category Capt. Stephen Gary, 96th Bomb Squadron Capt. James McDonald, 343rd Reconnaissance Squadron Remotely Piloted Vehicle Category Capt. Matthew Rowan, 30th Reconnaissance Squadron Flight Test Engineer Category 1st Lt. Margaret Blackstun, Air Force Materiel Command Capt. Jennifer Fuka, 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron 1st Lt. Donald Koeniguer, U.S.A.F. Test Pilot School 1st Lt. Shawn Stephens, 445th Flight Test Squadron Capt. Brett Tillman, Air Force Institute of Technology Class 15A starting Jan. 5, 2015 Fighter Pilot Category Capt. Bryan Kelly, 393rd Bomb Squadron Capt. Glenn Meleen, 492nd Fighter Squadron Capt. Robert Waller, 333rd Fighter Squadron Multi Engine Pilot Category Capt. Russell Neice, 317th Operations Support Squadron Capt. Uri Shanske, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron Capt. Joshua Strafaccia, 5th Operations Support Squadron Combat Systems/Weapons System/Electronic Warfare/Officer Category Capt. Justin Wilson, 45th Reconnaissance Squadron Remotely Piloted Vehicle Category Capt. Daniel Fredberg, 42nd Attack Squadron Flight Test Engineer Category Civilian Matthew Alsleben, 586th Flight Test Squadron Capt. John Beilstein, 76th Space Control Squadron Capt. Brian Davis, Air Force Materiel Command 1st. Lt. Michael O'Connor, Space and Missile Systems Center Capt. Bryan Snyder, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Capt. John Tekell, 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron Capt. Phillip Woodhull, 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron US Naval Test Pilot School Selects Capt. Esther Anderson, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Capt. James Berninghausen, 56th Rescue Squadron