Reserve test pilot earns AFA President's Award Published May 2, 2016 ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- 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.