Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center

WHAT WE DO The mission of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center is to inform the warfighter and acquisition through operational test. AFOTEC evaluates the capability of systems to meet Warfighter needs by planning, executing, and reporting independent operational assessments, tests, and evaluations. From concept development to system fielding, AFOTEC evaluates a system’s overall operational mission capability under realistic conditions. Our mission requires lock-step efforts with our acquisition partners focused on shortening the combat capability delivery timeline. AFOTEC’s first customer is the warfighter. There should be no operational surprises when the warfighter takes a weapon system into combat. As independent evaluators and operational testers the AFOTEC team continually asks: “Will the system work and will it work in a contested environment?” WHO WE ARE The AFOTEC team consists of more than 750 military, civilian, and contractor personnel that support the test and evaluation of more than 98 major acquisition programs valued at more than $907 billion. The “O” in AFOTEC ensures the focus is on operational testing in a realistic battlespace environment to make sure the warfighter gets the right tools to fight and win today’s and tomorrow’s battles. WHERE WE WORK AFOTEC is headquartered at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., with detachments in California, Florida, Nevada, and Utah as well as multiple geographically separated operating locations across the U.S. AFOTEC is in the right place at the right time to provide the right information to the warfighter and senior acquisition decision makers.