Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., addresses AFOTEC 301 operational test course students during his visit to the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Aug. 12, 2021. Brown visited the course where both Air and Space Force students are taught how to plan, execute and report operational testing throughout the acquisition of combat capability.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., addresses AFOTEC 301 operational test course students during his visit to the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Aug. 12, 2021. Brown visited the course where both Air and Space Force students are taught how to plan, execute and report operational testing throughout the acquisition of combat capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andrew Jogi)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

CSAF visits AFOTEC at Kirtland AFB, promotes accelerating changePublished Aug. 17, 2021
                    
                    By Katherine C. Gandara
                    
                    
                    Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center
            **KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS)  --**Air Force Chief of Staff **Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.** and his wife, Sharene, visited the **Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center** during a trip to **Kirtland Air Force Base**, Aug. 12.
Brown visited the AFOTEC 301 operational test course where both Air and Space Force students are taught how to plan, execute and report operational testing throughout the acquisition of combat capability.
Brown talked about AFOTEC ‘s **test mission** and how it fits into his **strategic vision** for shaping the Air Force into the future.
“To address the challenges that endanger our national security, the transition to the future of the Air Force must start today,” Brown said. “AFOTEC is a part of determining where we want to be tomorrow by looking at how we test today in regard to agile combat employment. We don’t want to wait until there’s a crisis to determine that we should have done something. It’s not about what we could do, but what we’re going to do to bring the warfighter the capabilities that help them in the future fight.”

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., talks with Russ Foos, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center training chief, before visiting students at the AFOTEC 301 operational test course that teaches students how to plan, execute, and report operational testing throughout the acquisition of combat capability.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., talks with Russ Foos, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center training chief, before visiting students at the AFOTEC 301 operational test course that teaches students how to plan, execute, and report operational testing throughout the acquisition of combat capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andrew Jogi)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Russ Foos, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center training chief, receives a coin of excellence from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., during CSAF’s visit to the center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Aug. 12, 2021. Brown visited the course where both Air and Space Force students are taught how to plan, execute and report operational testing throughout the acquisition of combat capability.Russ Foos, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center training chief, receives a coin of excellence from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., during CSAF’s visit to the center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Aug. 12, 2021. Brown visited the course where both Air and Space Force students are taught how to plan, execute and report operational testing throughout the acquisition of combat capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andrew Jogi)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Dr. Stephanie Smith, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center historian, receives a coin of excellence from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., during CSAF’s visit to the center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Aug. 12, 2021. Brown visited the course where both Air and Space Force students are taught how to plan, execute and report operational testing throughout the acquisition of combat capability.Dr. Stephanie Smith, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center historian, receives a coin of excellence from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., during CSAF’s visit to the center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., Aug. 12, 2021. Brown visited the course where both Air and Space Force students are taught how to plan, execute and report operational testing throughout the acquisition of combat capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andrew Jogi)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res


After addressing the students, Brown met with **Maj. Gen. Jim Sears**, AFOTEC commander and senior staff to hear about how AFOTEC is meeting the challenge of accelerating change through the test enterprise.
“AFOTEC is focused on driving innovation, leveraging resources, and minimizing test redundancies,” Sears said. “We have a common goal with all our stakeholders to assure the best acquisition programs are delivered to the warfighters. AFOTEC, as the Air Force’s independent operational test agency, has been the focal point for providing truth to the warfighter and acquisition communities for more than four decades.
“AFOTEC strives to be involved with programs as early as possible because we believe early involvement is critical to the success of a program, Sears said. “The “O” in AFOTEC ensures all testing and evaluation is done from the perspective of operators employing weapon systems in an operationally realistic environment.”
Brown wrapped up his visit by sharing how AFOTEC’s continuing efforts to turn innovation into action are key to providing the capabilities the Air Force needs today to win tomorrow.

"AFOTEC is focused on driving innovation, leveraging resources, and minimizing test redundancies.”Maj. Gen. Jim Sears

“Speed of relevance links AFOTEC’s operational test and evaluation contributions to the Air Force priorities that develop and field systems,” Brown said. “AFOTEC directly influences the acquisitions and capabilities delivered to warfighters.”
During the visit, Brown recognized two of AFOTEC’s exceptional performers: Russell Foos, AFOTEC training chief, and Dr. Stephanie Smith, AFOTEC’s historian.
“AFOTEC promotes a culture of **empowered Airmen**delivering mission success in an environment that promotes respect, trust, integrity, and professional and personal growth and development,” Brown said. “It was great to visit AFOTEC and see first hand how Team AFOTEC is accelerating change for the warfighter.”AFWN 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



AFOTEC 



Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center 



CSAF 



Gen. CQ Brown Jr. 



Operational Test and Evaluation 



visit 



ACOL 



Accelerate Change or Lose 



Kirtland AFB 



Test Enterprise 



Air Force Global Strike Command 



AFGSC Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil