Space Test Fundamentals Class Had 32 Students

The Air Force Test Pilot School graduated the latest class of Space Test Fundamentals professionals during a ceremony at base theater on Edwards Air Force Base, California. The small, unique class of 32 graduated at the end of August.

STF Class 21-2 call themselves the first “production” class in reference to an aircraft’s development and procurement cycle with STF Class 21-1 as the “prototype.”

“We are excited to continue to develop and evolve the course to meet the United States Space Force’s needs to produce adaptive, critical-thinking test professionals to conduct full-spectrum test and evaluation of space weapons systems,” said Colonel Sebrina Pabon, Test Pilot School commandant.

The students worked for three months to accomplish their training objectives which included training in flight-test fundamentals, systems test, space science application, advanced space system test and evaluation, and gaining experience and exposure to the centers of space operations and testing.

The class took on different case studies, met with industry leaders, listened to guest speakers, and visited sites that are currently operating in the space environment.

The graduation ceremony’s speaker was Space Force Colonel Michael Hopkins, a NASA astronaut. He most recently served as commander on the Crew-1 Space-X Crew Dragon spacecraft. 

“You now have a unique talent and skill set,” Hopkins said. “Unique not only for Space for and the Army, but for the US military as a whole…When you take your backgrounds and you take these test fundamentals that you learned and put them together, that results in a very unique cadre that has an extremely important role to play…for our nation.”

FMI: www.edwards.af.mil