Palmdale, California middle school STEM students were treated to a mathematics talk conducted by Brig Gen Douglas Wickert at Edwards Air Force Base on June 27, 2025. The Dick Scobee Auditorium at Test Pilot School was the setting for the morning mathematics program attended by students in the 412th Test Wing’s PRIME program at Edwards. PRIME is an acronym for Promoting Relevance and Interest in Mathematical Experiences. (Air Force photo by Todd Schannuth)
Before an aircraft ever flies, before a weapon system is put through its paces in the open air, it meets reality in a quieter, more controlled setting: ground test. But donât let the name fool you. This isnât just about data collection. This is where design decisions live or die. Where digital theory becomes physical fact. And at the Air Force Test Center, ground test is where the digital thread starts to become anchored in reality.
