Brig. Gen. Mark Massaro serves as the Commander, Air Force Test Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Edwards Air Force Base, California. He directs the Air Force’s developmental test enterprise of military, civilian and contractor personnel across Edwards AFB, California; Eglin AFB, Florida; and Arnold Engineering Development Complex, Arnold AFB, Tennessee. The AFTC develops, tests, and evaluates air, space, and cyberspace systems to deliver war-winning capabilities for the military services, defense agencies, and international partners. He organizes, trains, and equips the Center’s test-ready forces, including operating the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and advocates and secures resources for operations, sustainment, and base operating services necessary for test organizations, mission support workforces, and to meet Major Range and Test Facility Base responsibilities in support of national defense interests.
Brig. Gen. Massaro received his commission in 1998 as a distinguished graduate from Reserve Officer Training Corps, Detachment 165, at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He attained qualifications as a mission qualified F-16 instructor and evaluator pilot before attending the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, California. He served as an Experimental Test Pilot at Eglin AFB, Florida and Edwards AFB, California conducting F-16 and F-35 flight tests. His commands include the 412 Operations Support Squadron, Edwards AFB, California; 495th Fighter Group (Active Associate), Shaw AFB, South Carolina; a Data Masked unit; and the 96th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, Florida. He also served on Air Combat Command and Headquarters Air Force staffs.
Brig. Gen. Massaro deployed in support of Operation Allied Force, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. He is a Command Pilot with more than 2,260 flight hours in more than 30 aircraft and has flown more than 100 combat hours in the F-16.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Civil Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
2005 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala
2007 Master of Science, Flight Test Engineering, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
2010 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, by correspondence
2011 Distinguished Graduate, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2013 Air War College, by correspondence
2018 Senior Acquisition Course, Defense Acquisition University
2018 Distinguished Graduate, Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1998–June 1999, Adjutant, 81st Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
2. June 1999–December 2000, Student Pilot - Distinguished Graduate, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
3. December 2000–February 2001, Student Pilot, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Moody AFB, Ga.
4. March 2001–November 2001, F-16 Student Pilot, F-16 Basic Fighter Qualification Course, 61st FS, Luke AFB, Ariz.
5. November 2001–June 2004, F-16 Flight Lead, Assistant Weapons Officer, Scheduler, 389th FS, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
6. June 2004–December 2006, F-16 Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, Flight Commander, 309th FS and 56th Operations Group, Luke AFB, Ariz.
7. December 2006–December 2007, Student Test Pilot, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
8. December 2007–July 2010, F-16 Experimental Test Pilot, Assistant Director of Operations, 40th Flight Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
9. July 2010–June 2011, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. June 2011–June 2013, F-35 Chief of Test and Mission Systems Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
11. June 2013–May 2015, Director of Operations, F-35 Experimental Test Pilot, 461st Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
12. June 2015–June 2017, Commander, 412nd Operations Support Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
13. July 2017–June 2018, Student, Eisenhower School for National Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D.C.
14. June 2018–June 2019, Deputy Chief, Policy, Programs, and Resources Division, Air Force Test and Evaluation, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. June 2019–June 2020, Chief, Policy, Programs, and Resources Division, Air Force Test and Evaluation, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. June 2020–July 2022, Commander, 495th Fighter Group (Active Associate), Shaw AFB, S.C.
17. August 2022–June 2024, Commander, Data Masked
18. July 2024–June 2026, Commander, 96th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
19. June 2026–present, Commander, Air Force Test Center, Edwards AFB, Calif.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,260
Combat hours: 110
Aircraft flown: F-35A/B/C, F-16, T-38 and more than 30 other types
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with nine oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Combat Action Medal
AETC Commander’s Trophy, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (2000)
Defense Acquisition University Award for Excellence in Research and Writing (2018)
Distinguished Alumni Award Georgia Institute of Technology Ivan Allen College (2022)
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Acquisition Professional Development Program - Test and Evaluation: Level III – Legacy, Practitioner
Acquisition Professional Development Program - Engineering and Technical Management: Foundational
Acquisition Professional Development Program - Program Management: Level I - Legacy
Acquisition Professional Development Program - Engineering: Level I - Legacy
PUBLICATIONS
“The Quest for Rapid Acquisition.” Defense Acquisition Magazine, November - December 2019
(Current as of July 2026)