Air Force photograph by Kyle LarsonBrig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander, addresses the audience during his commander’s call Feb. 1, 2017, in the base theater.
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, commander of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., updated Team Edwards on test programs, highlighted recent accomplishments and thanked everyone on base for their hard work and dedication in accomplishing the mission at two commander’s calls held Feb. 1 in the base theater.
“Every weapons system in our inventory gets birthed at Edwards and that’s why what we do is so important. That’s why what we support is so important. You are the future of air power for our nation, so we can’t fail,” Schaefer said.
Edwards continues to be a busy workforce with testing being done to enhance almost every airframe in the Air Force inventory, including all three service variants of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Among some of the test programs the general highlighted were the F-16 Automatic Air Collision and Avoidance System; preparations for F-35 Initial Operational and Evaluation Testing; continued testing with the new KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling tanker; and continual upgrades to the bomber force. The 412th Maintenance Group continues to maintain 75 aircraft with 15 different airframes.
Schaefer also applauded the work of the 412th Electronic Warfare Group who have been instrumental in recent B-2 and B-52 electronic warfare testing and also the work in supporting the development of a flight simulator for the F-35 JSF Program. The group has also done testing with the KC-46, which will replace the Air Force’s 60-year-old fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers.
Schaefer lauded the work of the base support workforce including the 412th Civil Engineering Group that oversaw the moving of the F-22 Raptor Integrated Test Force to a new compound on the flightline to make space for future programs coming to Edwards.
Other accomplishments noted were the expansion of pharmacy hours and the recognition of having one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of Year at the 412th Medical Group. The 412th Mission Support Group graduated 27 new members of the Blue Eagles Honor Guard, who provide services throughout Southern California. The group also implemented a credit card service at the dining facility and expanded the Airman Leadership Class to include more students, including civilians, which is first for Air Force Materiel Command.
Air Force photograph by Kyle LarsonA Team Edwards staff sergeant asks Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander, a question during a commander’s call Feb. 1, 2017, in the base theater. The session ended with a question and answer period from the audience.
Schaefer also highlighted the expansion of U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School classes from 20 students to 24 beginning this summer.
“We crank out 40 test pilot school graduates a year. There’s an amazing amount of demand for our test pilot graduates. I have unfilled positions here for TPS graduates. But, there’s a huge demand at all levels. At command levels, at combatant command levels; space command wants TPS grads and we have pull from Headquarters, U.S. Air Force for TPS grads. Increasing class size to 24 still won’t satisfy the demand of the world for TPS graduates.”
Chief Master Sgt. Todd Simmons, 412th TW command chief, also spoke and emphasized to enlisted supervisors to ensure Airmen are aware of changing Air Force policies regarding tattoos, professional military education and new rules for recruiting Airmen.
Schaefer concluded the commander’s calls with information he took away from a recent conference of wing commanders presided over by Gen. David Goldfein, Air Force chief of staff. Schaefer spoke on both Air Force and 412th TW strategic goals and the Air Force’s desire to revitalize the squadron, which “is the focus of our Air Force.”
“It’s how we develop people. It’s how we build our skills. It’s where we take care of families, and we need to make sure they’re resourced correctly. That is the foundational organization for our Air Force,” Schaefer said.
