Arnold W. Bunch, Jr.
Major General, U.S. Air Force
Commander, Air Force Test Center
Edwards Air Force Base, CA.
Arnold W. Bunch, Jr., was commissioned in 1984 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He completed undergraduate pilot training in 1985 and then completed operational assignments as an instructor, evaluator and aircraft commander for the B-52 Stratofortress. Following graduation from the Air Force Test Pilot School, Bunch conducted developmental testing in the B-2 Spirit and B-52 and served as an instructor in each. Additionally, he has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Commander of the Air Force Security Assistance Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.
In his current assignment, Major General Arnold W. Bunch, Jr., is the Commander, Air Force Test Center, headquartered at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. He directs a $31 billion enterprise of more than 18,000 military, civilian and contractor personnel across Edwards AFB, Eglin AFB and Arnold AFB. The AFTC provides developmental test and evaluation of experimental and research manned and unmanned air, space and cyber systems for military services, DARPA, NASA and international partners, in addition to operation of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.
Education
1984 - BS degree in Civil Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO.
1991 - Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL.
1994 - Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, California State University Fresno.
1996 - Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS.
2000 - Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC.
Assignments
1. July 1984 - July 1985, Student, undergraduate pilot training, Columbus Air Force Base, MS.
2. August 1985 - December 1985, Student, B-52 Combat Crew Training School, Castle AFB, CA.
3. January 1986 - June 1990, Standardization and Evaluation Instructor Aircraft Commander, 325th Bomb Squadron, Fairchild AFB, WA.
4. July 1990 - June 1991, Student, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, CA.
5. July 1991 - June 1992, Test Pilot, 6512th Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, CA.
6. July 1992 - June 1995, Test Pilot, 420th Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, CA.
7. June 1995 - June 1996, Student, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS.
8. July 1996 - July 1999, Chief, B-1 Test and Evaluation, B-1 System Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.
9. August 1999 - June 2000, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC.
10. June 2000 - July 2002, Commander, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, CA.
11. August 2002 - April 2003, Chief, Senior Officer Management, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.
12. April 2003 - June 2004, Deputy Chief, Combat Forces Division, the Pentagon, Washington, DC.
13. June 2004 - January 2006, Director, Munitions Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Eglin AFB, FL.
14. January 2006 - May 2008, Commander, 412th Test Wing, Edwards AFB, CA.
15. June 2008 - March 2010, Vice Commander, Air Armament Center, Eglin AFB, FL.
16. March 2010 - June 2011, Director and Program Executive Officer for the Fighters and Bombers Directorate, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.
17. June 2011 - June 2012, Commander, Air Force Security Assistance Center, AFMC, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.
18. June 2012 - present, Commander, Air Force Test Center, Edwards AFB, CA.
Flight Information
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,500 hours
Aircraft flown: B-52, B-2, KC-135, F-16, T-38 and others
Medals and Awards
Legion of Merit (3 Awards)
Meritorious Service Medal (6 Awards)
Aerial Achievement Medal (2 Awards)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
Effective Dates of Promotion
Second Lieutenant: 30 May 1984
First Lieutenant: 30 May 1986
Captain: 30 May 1988
Major: 1 December 1995
Lieutenant Colonel: 1 September 1998
Colonel: 1 June 2004
Brigadier General: 7 May 2010
Major General Frocked
(Data current as of April 2013)
