PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION, MD-The U.S. Naval Test Pilot School held graduation ceremonies for class 119 in the Cedar Point Officers' Club here June 15. Thirty-five students successfully completed an 11-month course of instruction and were designated as test pilots, test naval flight officers and test engineers.

Edward T. Schneider, a pilot for NASA's Johnson Space Center, was the guest speaker. Rear Adm. Timothy Heely, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division commander, presented diplomas to the graduates, which included members from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Army, civil service engineers, and international students from Canada, Finland and Spain.

Professor Emeritis Lou Schmidt from the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, presented master's degrees to four cooperative agreement students - Lt. Craig Grubb, Lt. Charles Hewgley IV, Lt. Michael Neuser and Lt. Cmdr. Michael VanGheem.

Retired Navy Capt. Michael Cosgrove, vice president of the Patuxent River Council of the Navy League of the United States, presented the Sid Sherby Leadership Award to Marine Corp Maj. Mitchell Cassell, class 119 leader. Cosgrove also presented the Outstanding Student Award to Lt. Timothy Hill. Lt. Benjamin Teich was presented the Outstanding Development Phase II Award from Royal Navy Commodore N. H. L. Harris, British Naval Attaché on behalf of the Empire Test Pilot School.

The curriculum at TPS is divided into three courses of instruction. Twenty-one students completed the requirements for the engineering test pilot course. The new test pilots include Navy Lieutenants Douglas Belvin, John Blocker, Marc Drobny, Todd Evans, Mathew Finney, Craig Grubb, Gerald Hansen, Michael Neuser, John Rousseau, Gregory Sleppy and Benjamin Teich. Marine Corps Majors include Mitchell Cassell, Patrick Lindauer and Christopher Mattie. Also graduating were Marine Corps Capt. Robert Bruder, Army majors Kerry Brunson and Dwight Robinson, Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Damon Bostick, Air Force Capt. Donald Grove, Canadian Air Force Capt. Kent Brooks and Spanish Air Force Capt. Jaime DeGandarillas.

Seven students completed the engineering test flight officer course. They are Navy Lieutenants Lonnie Fields, Frederic Goldhammer, Charles Hewgley, Timothy Hill, Paul Lanzilotta, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Michael VanGheem and Marine Corps Maj. Andre Mercier.

Seven students fulfilled the requirements for the test project-engineering course. They are Navy civil service employees Melissa Benish, Thomas Chaillou, John Fahnestock, Todd Lardy, Mathew Stepura and Alan Strom and Finish Air Force Capt. Mikko Korteoja.

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