Leadership Transition at the National Test Pilot School
23 January, 2025
The Board of Trustees of the National Test Pilot School (NTPS) is pleased to announce the retirement of President James “JB” Brown at the end of
2024 and the appointment of Mr. Luca Campello as his successor, effective January 2025.
JB has been a cornerstone of NTPS leadership since 2016, initially serving as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer before being promoted to President in 2022. Under his guidance, NTPS has grown its reputation as a leader in flight test education and training. JB is retiring to his home in North Carolina with his wife, Lisa.
Luca Campello brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role as President of NTPS. Joining the school as a Flight Test Instructor in 2016, Luca has held various leadership roles, including Chief of Operations, Compliance Monitoring Manager, Chief Operating Officer and President of Flight Research International. A graduate of EPNER, Luca’s distinguished career includes over eight years as a fixed-wing test pilot with the Italian Flight Test Center, where he conducted testing and evaluation programs on platforms such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, Tornado IDS, T-346A, KC-767A, (K)C-130J, and C-27J. Luca resides in Palmdale, CA, with his wife, Gretchen, and their children. The NTPS community looks forward to his leadership and the continued advancement of our mission under his guidance.