Naval Test Wing Pacific
Naval Test Wing Pacific
NTWP is responsible for all Naval aviation developmental aircraft testing and flight test support on the West Coast with 43 aircraft, 668 Officers, Enlisted, Civilians and Contractors assigned.
Mission
We are professionals executing flight test and flight test support to advance the delivery of critical capability to the warfighter.
Vision
To advance excellence in test and evaluation, ensuring the readiness and superiority of naval aviation in a Great Power Competition.
Captain David M. Halpern
Commodore, NTWP
Captain David Halpern is a native of Middletown, New York, and a 2000 graduate of the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. He also holds a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology and an Executive MBA from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Designated a Naval Flight Officer in 2002, Halpern has served in key leadership and operational roles, including command of VAQ-133 aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 75) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Freedom's Sentinel. He previously served as Department Head with the “Lancers” of VAQ-131, completing a deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). He also served as a Junior Officer with the “Gray Wolves” of VAQ-142, deploying to Bagram, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and to Iwakuni, Japan.
His shore tours include serving as Deputy Program Manager PMA-230 (F/A-XX), Chief Operational Test Director at VX-9, followed by roles at the Joint Warfare Analysis Center and test and evaluation positions at VX-23, where he worked on platforms including the EA-18G Growler, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-6B Prowler and X-47B Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle.
In July 2023, he assumed the duties of Commander, Naval Test Wing Pacific. Halpern has over 2,900 flight hours, 400 carrier landings, and numerous personal decorations, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and Air Medal Strike/Flight (four awards). His career and service have been made possible by the unwavering support of his loving wife, Nancy, and his family.
Andrew Anderson
Technical Director, NTWP
Andrew Anderson, a native of Northbrook, Illinois, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois.
In 2001, Anderson began his career with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Patuxent River, Maryland, working as a flight test engineer at the Rotary Wing Test Squadron. There he worked as a fly-by-wire flight controls test engineer, providing support to the MV-22B Integrated Test Team for all of their electrical and hydraulic flight control systems, including trouble shooting and software regression flight testing.
Anderson was selected to attend the United States Naval Test Pilot School in 2005, where he graduated with class 128.
Following test pilot school, he was designated the rotary-wing fly-by-wire technical subject matter expert, responsible for conducting digital fly-by-wire regression tests, which included handling qualities, structural, aero-servo-elastic, performance, and engine integration testing.
In 2012, Anderson joined the CH-53K Integrated Test Team as the air vehicle lead responsible for developing all aeromechanical tests for the CH-53K prior to first flight. In that position, he led a group of Naval Air Systems Command and contractor flight test engineers in Florida through first flight and initial operational testing. In 2015, Anderson took over the role of CH-53K lead test engineer responsible for all developmental tests of the aircraft leading the team through over 1,000 flight hours and transitioning the team from Florida to Patuxent River, Maryland.
In 2019, Anderson transferred to the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in Point Mugu, California, where he serves the technical director for Naval Test Wing Pacific.
Naval Test Wing Pacific
NTWP is responsible for all Naval aviation developmental aircraft testing and flight test support on the West Coast with 43 aircraft, 668 Officers, Enlisted, Civilians and Contractors assigned.
Mission
We are professionals executing flight test and flight test support to advance the delivery of critical capability to the warfighter.
Vision
To advance excellence in test and evaluation, ensuring the readiness and superiority of naval aviation in a Great Power Competition.
Captain David M. Halpern
Commodore, NTWP
Captain David Halpern is a native of Middletown, New York, and a 2000 graduate of the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. He also holds a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology and an Executive MBA from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Designated a Naval Flight Officer in 2002, Halpern has served in key leadership and operational roles, including command of VAQ-133 aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 75) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Freedom's Sentinel. He previously served as Department Head with the “Lancers” of VAQ-131, completing a deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). He also served as a Junior Officer with the “Gray Wolves” of VAQ-142, deploying to Bagram, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and to Iwakuni, Japan.
His shore tours include serving as Deputy Program Manager PMA-230 (F/A-XX), Chief Operational Test Director at VX-9, followed by roles at the Joint Warfare Analysis Center and test and evaluation positions at VX-23, where he worked on platforms including the EA-18G Growler, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-6B Prowler and X-47B Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle.
In July 2023, he assumed the duties of Commander, Naval Test Wing Pacific. Halpern has over 2,900 flight hours, 400 carrier landings, and numerous personal decorations, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and Air Medal Strike/Flight (four awards). His career and service have been made possible by the unwavering support of his loving wife, Nancy, and his family.
Andrew Anderson
Technical Director, NTWP
Andrew Anderson, a native of Northbrook, Illinois, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois.
In 2001, Anderson began his career with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Patuxent River, Maryland, working as a flight test engineer at the Rotary Wing Test Squadron. There he worked as a fly-by-wire flight controls test engineer, providing support to the MV-22B Integrated Test Team for all of their electrical and hydraulic flight control systems, including trouble shooting and software regression flight testing.
Anderson was selected to attend the United States Naval Test Pilot School in 2005, where he graduated with class 128.
Following test pilot school, he was designated the rotary-wing fly-by-wire technical subject matter expert, responsible for conducting digital fly-by-wire regression tests, which included handling qualities, structural, aero-servo-elastic, performance, and engine integration testing.
In 2012, Anderson joined the CH-53K Integrated Test Team as the air vehicle lead responsible for developing all aeromechanical tests for the CH-53K prior to first flight. In that position, he led a group of Naval Air Systems Command and contractor flight test engineers in Florida through first flight and initial operational testing. In 2015, Anderson took over the role of CH-53K lead test engineer responsible for all developmental tests of the aircraft leading the team through over 1,000 flight hours and transitioning the team from Florida to Patuxent River, Maryland.
In 2019, Anderson transferred to the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in Point Mugu, California, where he serves the technical director for Naval Test Wing Pacific.
