HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – A team here has been supporting Hanscom program executive officers and program managers for 19 years by being the access point to the test community.
Initially, the 46th Test Squadron’s Detachment 1 was established because so many Hanscom-based programs had, and continue to have, developmental test executed through the 46th Test Squadron. Detachment 1 has three main areas where it can provide assistance, according to its commander, Lt. Col. Corey Beaverson.
“We can be the front door for Hanscom to the Air Force Test Center for all manner of developmental test; we can also offer program test advice; or we can provide test expertise on a fee-for-service basis in the areas of command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or C4ISR; and information assurance, cybersecurity and program cyber-resiliency,” he said.
Regarding IA, cybersecurity and cyber-resiliency, Beaverson said they are growing areas that both the squadron and detachment are supporting in a few different ways.
The team assists program offices with preparation of documents and artifacts to garner approval to connect, test and operate from the approving official. However, the detachment also provides support on behalf of the Security Controls Assessor, by assessing documentation and artifacts provided by a program office as part of the accreditation package. Beaverson emphasized that they never do both for the same program.
Overall, the Test Squadron itself has approximately 600 personnel, with the Hanscom detachment historically having between 28 and 30, but the office is currently averaging 18 to 19.
Supporting Hanscom
The group has supported a vast array of Hanscom work, including for the Family of Advanced Beyond Line of Sight Terminals, or FAB-T; Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal, or Global ASNT; Upgraded Early Warning Radar; Theater Battle Management Control System; Deployable Radar Approach Control; Tactical Air Control Party-Modernization; Battlefield Airborne Communications Node, or BACN, and the Airborne Warning and Control System, AWACS.
According to Lt. Col. Timothy Helfrich, materiel leader who manages the BACN program, the 46th Test Squadron and its Detachment 1 at Hanscom have been supporting the BACN Joint Urgent Operational Need program since its beginning in 2009. The 46TS is the program’s designated Lead Developmental Test Organization in charge of executing all government developmental testing on the BACN system. In addition, an embedded test representative from Det1 resides in the BACN program office to support test management functional areas.
“BACN would not be able to flex as rapidly to the changing warfighter environment and requirements without the assistance of the 46th Test Squadron,” Helfrich said. “They are truly a key member of the BACN team.”
Another area where the group is providing support is the AWACS Diminishing Manufacturing Sources Replacement of Avionics for Global Operations and Navigation, or DRAGON, program. Collin Manzo, AWACS DRAGON Engineering and Manufacturing Development program manager, said that the 46th Test Squadron and its Detachment 1 provides system test support to develop and execute integrated test strategy between development contractors and government developmental and operational test organizations.
"They help the government identify and track the availability of test resources, risk factors and status of deficiency reports. They are instrumental in supporting and preparing the certification readiness process for Initial Operational Test and Evaluation or IOT&E," he said, adding that Detachment 1 has been providing system test support and leading his program’s integrated test team since 2011.
Full-service assistance
The detachment can assist with testing from planning and approach to executing and reporting.
“We can even help with ensuring the right information gets into contract language, from [Requests for Information] to [Request for Proposals] and [Contract Data Requirements Lists],” said Lou Hegger, C4ISR test engineer for the detachment.
Beaverson emphasized the team can even take a strategic look at programs from a test perspective at the division- or even PEO-level.
“We can help by seeing if the right questions from a test perspective are being asked, including, ‘Is the test piece of the acquisition strategy and overall approach sound?’” he said.
He also highlighted that program managers should reach out to the detachment even if they have only one question.
“We bring expertise in the test and evaluation area, and we offer varying degrees of assistance, from addressing a specific issue or question to a fee-for-service embed within a program office.”
Currently, a significant amount of support is for the Cyber Resiliency Office for Weapons Systems, often called CROWS, headquartered here at Hanscom. With the advent of National Defense Authorization Act Section 1647, requiring all weapons systems be evaluated for cyber resiliency, the 46th Test Squadron is the lead evaluator and test organization conducting cyber-resiliency evaluations for 27 weapon systems on behalf of CROWS.
“Previously we would look at programs to be effective and efficient,” said Dave Fleury, IA and cybersecurity lead for the detachment. “Now they have to be effective, efficient, secure and resilient. It adds another dimension.”
Heading to the future
And as the Air Force looks at new ways of acquiring items, and there’s a push to develop new capabilities to test cyber-resiliency and software and IT systems developed in an agile environment, at the beginning of fiscal year 2018, the 46 TS will become the 96th Cyberspace Test Group, or CTG. Detachment 1 here at Hanscom will become 96 CTG Det 1.
“We will continue to provide the same level of support,” said Beaverson. “The change should be transparent to our customers.”
Overall, the team just wants Hanscom personnel to know they’re here to help.
“We want to be the single face to the customer from a test perspective,” Beaverson said. “We’re here to support the three PEOs and their portfolios."