HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Lt. Col. Samuel Wright III knows a thing or two about flight.
He possesses more than 2,800 military flight hours as a development test pilot and evaluator pilot in more than 30 aircraft types. This experience, as well as the knowledge he has amassed throughout his Air Force career, should serve him well in his latest assignment.
Wright assumed leadership of the 586th Flight Test Squadron during a June 9 Change of Command ceremony at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
The 586 FLTS is a unit of Arnold Engineering Development Complex, headquartered at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn.
As commander of the 586 FLTS, Wright now leads a squadron responsible for planning, conducting and analyzing flight tests of advanced weapons and avionics systems.
Wright is a 2008 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he received his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. He earned a master’s degree in the same subject from Rice University in 2010 as an Air Force Institute of Technology student and received a Master of Science in flight test engineering from Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, in 2018.
He also completed Squadron Officer School and Air Command and Staff College, both located at Maxwell AFB.
From April 2010 to August 2012, Wright undertook Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Florida, and Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma.
Following this and an additional training stint at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Wright was assigned to the 69th Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. There he served as a flight commander and B-52 Stratofortress evaluator pilot, culminating in duties as Group Deputy Chief of Standardization and Evaluation.
Wright graduated from U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, in late 2018. Following this, he served as a B-52 test pilot and led B-52 avionics and weapons developmental testing as Assistant Director of Operations for the 419th Test Squadron at Edwards AFB.
From January 2021 to June 2024, Wright educated future test leaders at U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School while serving as multi-engine flight test instructor, Branch Chief and Technical Expert.
Prior to his most recent assignment, Wright served as Director of Operations for the 419 FLTS at Edwards AFB.
His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster.
Wright was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in April 2024.