KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Maj. Phillip Hoyt, a former Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center test director, has been awarded the 2020 National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Air Force Tester of the Year Award. Each year, the NDIA offers each military service the opportunity to recognize outstanding accomplishments in test and evaluation innovation and achievements.
Hoyt served as the Chief of the Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Test Branch at AFOTEC’s Detachment 2 located at Eglin AFB, Fla., from August 2018 to March 2021. During this time, Hoyt led multiple test agencies in developing and executing the test strategy for three aircraft type flight tests for the $55 million dollar Negatively Pressurized CONEX bio-containment patient transportation systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, he coordinated with the Department of State to develop and execute a test plan of the Portable Biocontainment Care Module to certify performance and safety for use on C-17 aircraft in just 30 days.
“Getting recognized at this level never happens without the support of a lot of individuals,” said Hoyt. “I’m forever grateful to everyone at AFOTEC Detachment 2 and Headquarters who supported our efforts. I also want to thank everyone within the Joint CBRND test and evaluation community and the medics who dedicated their time to make sure we knocked these evaluations out of the park. I truly feel that we kick-started the DoD’s pandemic response and our impact will be felt for years to come. I heard we were at 330 lives saved as a result of evacuations using biocontainment units and that number is only going to go up. Thanks to everyone.”
Hoyt is currently the Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight Commander with the 87th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
Hoyt and other NDIA Tester of the Year Award winners will be recognized by Dr. Raymond O’Toole, Acting Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, at the close of his keynote speech to the virtual Systems and Mission Engineering Conference on December 6, 2021
NDIA is a non-partisan, non-profit defense and national security association that is comprised of more than 1,500 corporations and 63,000 individual members. It was founded to educate its constituency on all aspects of national security. NDIA engages innovative leaders to promote the best policies, practices, products, and technology for warfighters to ensure the safety and security of our nation. Nominees for the Tester of the Year awards are evaluated on their superior work that significantly contributes to, or directly supports test and evaluation activities during the calendar year.
AFOTEC is a direct reporting unit under Headquarters, United States Air Force and is the Air Force’s independent test agency with a mission 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. AFOTEC’s mission requires lock-step efforts with acquisition partners focused on shortening the combat capability delivery timeline.