The State of SFTE - A Presidential Perspective

The SFTE Symposium- One Year into my term as Prez.   My message to members below. 

Enlightenment. Inspiration. Innovation. Energy.

Those were my key takeaways from the 56th SFTE International Symposium in Savannah.

From CRM to test techniques to AI, every session reminded us how vital flight test engineers are to the safe, effective, and visionary development of aerospace systems. The speakers’ insights challenged us to keep learning, keep sharing, and keep looking out for one another in this inherently Risky Business.

The SFTE Coastal Empire Chapter hosted an outstanding event in part to a dedicated FTE Chaska Moon who steered it to success despite the government shutdown challenges.

Congratulations to all our Award Recipients – your work exemplifies SFTE’s mission to advance the art and science of flight testing.  

Gradulations the newest SFTE Fellows, Paul Koks and Guy Gratton 

The SFTE “tent” is expanding — welcoming testers from every discipline and organization. We are in reality, if not yet in name, the Society of Flight Test Engineering. Three Flight test leaders attending their first SFTE symposium told me how impressed they were by the technical rigor, professionalism, diversity, and vitality of our members. One summed it up perfectly:

“It isn’t a bunch of old guys telling stories about themselves.”

They’re already planning to bring more FTEs to the 2026 Symposium (Oct 26-30 in Las Colinas, Texas).



SFTE’s greatest challenge remains equipping every flight test engineer with the competencies, skills, and professional development needed to excel. Our NTPS and ITPS scholarship programs, and recognition of the USAF 412th Test Wing as the first to meet SFTE Recommended Practices, are leading steps toward that goal.

Together, we can elevate standards, strengthen influence, and ensure the continued excellence and safety of flight testing worldwide.  

Wonder where SFTE will be in 2035?