U.S. Naval Test Pilot School

06/16/2026

06/16/2026

06/15/2026

Congratulations to ’s Class 168!

On June 12, we celebrated 34 new developmental test pilots, flight officers, and engineers who completed the rigorous 11 month program at . The ceremony, held near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, honored graduates from across the U.S. military and international allies.

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronaut and USNTPS Class 125 alum Capt. Reid Wiseman delivered the keynote, emphasizing the demands graduates will face in their careers and the courage, determination, and professionalism required to meet them. He highlighted USNTPS’s legacy of producing the nation’s trailblazers in flight and space exploration and underscored the school’s reputation for tackling high‑risk missions with unmatched safety and expertise.

🏅 Highlights included:

• Maj. Nicholas DeLuca (U.S. Marine Corps) – Captain Willie McCool Outstanding Student Award as well as the Syd Sherby Leadership Award
• Capt. Robert Colpitts (Royal Canadian Air Force) – Empire Test Pilots School Thesis Award

👏 Bravo Zulu to Class 168 – the future of flight test is in great hands!

Read more about the graduation here: https://bit.ly/4gmnRaW

06/11/2026

As part of a visit to PAE Aviation and Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Mr. Norman Knight, Director of NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Flight Operations Directorate, and Col. Anne McClain (USNTPS Class 143) stopped by USNTPS to discuss shared challenges, explore cross‑training opportunities, and experience our world‑class academics and flight instruction.

The visit included flights in both a variable-stability UH‑60L Black Hawk with instructor Lt. Col. Brandon Dotson and an F/A‑18F Super Hornet with instructor Lt. Cmdr. Jonathan Williams, highlighting the technical expertise and partnerships that power our nation’s test and evaluation enterprise.

06/10/2026

Here at USNTPS, we educate pilots, flight officers, and engineers in the conduct of developmental flight test so they can lead cutting-edge evaluations.

Nearly 100 of our graduates have become NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronauts.

We are proud to be part of Naval Test Wing Atlantic, where the U.S. Navy’s most comprehensive flight testing gets done.

05/27/2026

🌍 Did You Know?

USNTPS trains not only U.S. aircrew and engineers but also students from 17 partner nations around the world. International aircrew and engineers attend both long and short courses, bringing global perspectives into every classroom and cockpit. These graduates strengthen coalition test & evaluation capabilities and build lasting partnerships across the worldwide T&E community.

The International Military Student Officer (IMSO) supports each international student from application through arrival and serves as their liaison throughout training, ensuring a smooth and successful experience.

For more information, visit our website: https://www.navair.navy.mil/nawcad/usntps.

05/21/2026

🔓 Unlock the other side of USNTPS.

Everyone knows about our long courses - but fewer realize there’s another way to level up your test & evaluation skills.

USNTPS Short Courses are built for aircrew, engineers, and scientists who want foundational knowledge and practical skills without stepping away from the job for 11 months. Each course dives into the fundamentals of safe, effective test planning, ex*****on, analysis, and reporting - the real-world skills the T&E community relies on.

Students choose from four focused tracks:
· Fixed Wing Stability & Control
· Rotary Wing Performance, Stability & Control
· Unmanned Aerial Systems
· Mission Systems

Hands-on exercises, demo flights or simulator events, and a classroom full of military, civilians, contractors, and foreign partners mean you’re not just learning, you’re building connections across the global T&E enterprise.

If you’re ready to sharpen your edge and expand your network, USNTPS Short Courses are where you start. 🌐

For more information, visit our website and click on the “courses” tab: https://www.navair.navy.mil/nawcad/usntps.

04/29/2026

Did you know? 🤔

The U.S. Army partners with USNTPS to train its experimental pilots and flight test engineers, providing aircraft such as the UH‑60L Black Hawk to support our rotary‑wing track, which is the only program of its kind in the U.S. military.

🚁 If you’ve flown in the Black Hawk, what’s one thing you’ll never forget about it?

04/13/2026

Last week, the flight test community, including USNTPS alumni, gathered with the family and friends of Lt. Cmdr. Raymond O’Hare at NAS Patuxent River to honor him during the dedication of the Navy’s new MQ‑25A Stingray test hangar.

The ceremony was filled with emotion as loved ones, colleagues, and classmates shared stories and reflected on the lasting impact O’Hare had on everyone he touched, from those who served and learned alongside him to the family and friends who continue to carry his legacy forward.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/4swsge0