Fiscal Year 2026-02 Test Pilot School Selection Panel Results
This MARADMIN announces the results of the Fiscal Year 2026-02 Test Pilot School Selection Panel, which convened on 28 August 2025. Seven Marine officers were selected as primary selectees to attend U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Classes 170 and 171, and U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School Class 27A, with five additional officers selected as alternates. Primary selectees must accept their selection within 10 days of this message release and should expect to report between February 2026 and December 2026 depending on their class assignment.
Issued: September 30, 2025
1. The Fiscal Year 2026-02 (FY26-02) Test Pilot School (TPS) Selection Panel convened on 28 August 2025 to select officers to attend U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School (USAFTPS) Class 27A and U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) Classes 170 and 171. 2. Primary selectees. Results are listed alphabetically. 2.a. The FY26-02 panel selected the following officers for assignment to USNTPS Class 170 (read in four columns): NAME RANK MOS TYPE Bergthold, Matthew J. Capt 7565 H-1 Dillon, James M. Maj 7518 MUX-T Westland, Paul K. Maj 7566 H-53 2.b. The FY26-02 panel selected the following officers for assignment to USNTPS Class 171 (read in four columns): NAME RANK MOS TYPE Forchhammer, Patrick P. Capt 7565 H-1 McAndrew, Abraham L. Maj 7532 V-22 Webb, Charles K. Capt 7557 C-130 2.c. The FY26-02 panel selected the following officer for assignment to USAFTPS Class 27A (read in four columns): NAME RANK MOS TYPE Gachowski, Michael J. Maj 7523 F-18 3. Alternate selectees. Results are listed alphabetically. The FY26-02 panel selected the following officers as alternates (read in four columns): NAME RANK MOS TYPE Cheever, Tyber K. Capt 7318 MUX-T Jeffries, Thomas H. Capt 7518 F-35 Krawec, Nicholas B. Capt 7532 V-22 Nickel, Dalton J. Capt 7523 F-18 Singleton, Zerbin M. Maj 7565 H-1 4. The primary selectees are to accept via email to their monitor listed in paragraph (9) NLT 10 days after the release of this message. No action is required on the part of alternates. The alternates will be contacted if a fleet-up is required. 5. Reporting timelines. 5.a. The officers selected for USNTPS Class 170 should expect to report to Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River IAW the below timelines (read in two columns): MOS NLT Date 7565 1 May 26 7566 1 May 26 7518 1 Feb 26 5.b. The officers selected for USNTPS Class 171 should expect to report to NAS Patuxent River IAW the below timelines (read in two columns): MOS NLT Date 7565 1 Nov 26 7532 1 Oct 26 7557 1 Aug 26 5.c. The officer selected for USAFTPS Class 27A should expect to report to USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards CA IAW the below timelines (read in two columns): MOS NLT Date 7523 14 Dec 26 6. Officers who submitted packages but were not selected are encouraged to re-apply in the future. Marine Air Detachment (MAD) Patuxent River (PAX) does not retain packages, and interested officers will need to submit entire applications in accordance with future messages. 7. Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Officers selected are required to have at least a Class II Up Chit prior to reporting to NAS Patuxent River due to in-flight training requirements. 8. Officers selected must have a current Tier 5 investigation or Tier 5 reinvestigation with eligibility for Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) before transferring to this command. If the applicant does not have the aforementioned eligibility, then the command supporting the applicant will initiate a request for eligibility, requesting interim TS/SCI eligibility and ensuring the eligibility request has been accepted and is being processed. 9. Manpower Management Officer Assignments points of contact: Fixed Wing Majors Monitor Major Adam Chase Comm: (703) 784-9267 Email: adam.l.chase@usmc.mil Fixed Wing Company Grade Monitor Captain Maverick Santamaria Comm: (703) 784-9267 Email: maverick.santamaria@usmc.mil Rotary Wing Majors Monitor Major Brandon Thompson Comm: (703) 784-9267 Email: brandon.k.thompson@usmc.mil Rotary Wing Company Grade Monitor Captain Alexander Lee Comm: (703) 784-9267 Email: alexander.j.lee@usmc.mil Executive Officer, MAD PAX River Lieutenant Colonel Michael Shull Comm: (301) 342-1421 Email: michael.j.shull8.mil@us.navy.mil 10. This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve. 11. Release authorized by BGen Fridrik Fridriksson, Director, Manpower Management Division.