The Tactical Engineer Development Program held its annual graduation ceremony for the eighth cohort of the TEDP at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division China Lake on May 19.

This year’s graduating class was comprised of 14 NAWCWD teammates from China Lake and Point Mugu.

The TEDP program is becoming more popular, but with that popularity it is becoming harder to be accepted to the program with only 14 available seats.

“Once again this year saw more applications than the course’s available 14 seats,” said Ian Anderson, TEDP Supervisor.

TEDP started nine years ago after Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division leadership funded a new training approach for the Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation workforce.

One of TEDP’s goals is to teach the students about the operational language of the warfighter and their viewpoints. With the understanding of the operational environment and operational language, the students can efficiently create systems that will support the warfighter.

This year the group traveled to Nellis Air Force Base, where the 57th Ops group helped train the students. In-house training in the latest capabilities and tactics of the F/A-18 was also provided by was provided by Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 9 and VX-31.

“What you have experienced and learned is critical. You have the knowledge, now you have to share that knowledge and work to keep it fresh and current,” said NAWCWD Commander Rear Adm. Keith Hash.

FY2022 TEDP Graduates are:

Michael Agacite, Zachary Alconero, Steven Betts, Loren Copeland, Daniel Collin, Danielle Jackson, Emily Johnson, Joseph Kromphardt, Jhan Marzan, Michael McDaniel, Wendy Raglin, Michelle Tang, Connor Wool, and Malcolm Wynn.