An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Reserve test pilot earns AFA President's Award

  • Published
Lt. Col. Michael S. Bess is the recipient of the 2015 Air Force Association Outstanding Reserve Aircrew Award (President's Award).

Bess is an F-15E Strike Eagle operational test and evaluation pilot and lead F-15E Combat Hammer evaluation pilot with the 926th Operations Group, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

According to the award citation, Bess, directed the effectiveness evaluation of all F-15E air-to-ground munitions in the Air Force inventory. He also designed and led numerous evaluations of Air Force assets in the protection o f naval carrier group elements and innovatively tested the effectiveness of air-to-air missiles against ground targets.