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Fly More for Less: Innovative FTCOE Pipeline Overhaul Saves Millions, Wins General Spencer Award

  • Published
  • By Benjamin Faske
  • 19th Air Force Public Affairs
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas --  

The 19th Air Force Flying Training Center of Excellence (FTCOE) Curriculum team won the 2025 General Larry O. Spencer Innovation Team Award at the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) level during a ceremony here July 10.

Recognized for re-engineering the Air Force's Undergraduate Pilot Training pipeline, the team will now advance to compete at the Department of the Air Force level.

“The FTCOE team's work is a perfect example of how we must innovate to build the Air Force our nation needs," said Lt. Gen. Clark Quinn, AETC commander. "By applying data-driven discipline to our training pipelines, they didn't just find efficiencies—they unlocked capacity that directly fueled pilot production. They proved we can streamline training and maximize resources while maintaining the high standards required to produce combat-ready Airmen.”

The award honors the team’s monumental $7.7 million competency mapping enterprise initiative, which fundamentally re-engineered the Undergraduate Pilot Training pipeline. By shifting from legacy models to a data-driven "quality yardstick," the team unlocked a 20 percent increase in pilot production. Through rigorous forensic analysis, they eliminated thousands of redundant training hours—freeing up 35,000 flight hours and 2.2 million gallons of aviation fuel annually in the T-6 syllabus alone. These efficiencies were directly reinvested to increase pilot output at zero additional cost.

The team successfully consolidated over 270 previously disconnected syllabi into a cohesive framework. This data mastery directly enabled innovations like the F-35 "clutch" system, a flexible syllabus allowing commanders to maneuver around resource shortfalls while guaranteeing warfighter readiness.

"Receiving the General Spencer Award signifies the success the Curriculum Division has had in integrating 3 Branches into a cohesive whole, working collaboratively towards a common goal," said Christy Stephens, FTCOE Curriculum Division Chief. "It reflects our effectiveness in developing the flying training program for the USAF, ensuring smooth efforts across all phases of the pilot training pipeline. By assessing flying hours, reducing costs, and optimizing student progress, we were able to reach vital production numbers without sacrificing quality. For the members of this team, we can be proud that our daily work has resulted in something truly transformative."

Reflecting on the team's dynamic, Stephens added, "As the Division Chief, leading this team for the past year taught me the importance of fostering a collaborative environment through cross-functional integration, developing a unified vision and purpose, and seeing projects through for continuous improvement."

This "fly-more-for-less" model—now the premier playbook for curriculum development across the Department of the Air Force—was made possible by the relentless dedication of the FTCOE Curriculum team:

Christy Stephens, John "Hunter" Harvey III, James "Jimmy" Forrest, Patrick "Regal" Clements, Scott Saffran, Dustin "HOF" Hofegartner, Elizabeth "South" Eastman, James "BASS" VonAhnen, Bernie Lemay, Robert Gomez, Stan Pangrac, Steve Thurow, Richard Harris, Mike Wright, Mike Zimmerman, Gary Virtue, and Jodi Danielson.

Established in 2015, the annual Department of the Air Force award pays tribute to retired Gen. Larry O. Spencer, a former Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force who championed a culture of innovation through his "Every Dollar Counts" campaign. Given in both individual and team categories, the award recognizes Total Force military and civilian personnel who demonstrate exceptional creativity and efficiency in improving operational readiness, streamlining processes, and saving money.