A method and system for detecting a power level of a communication light beam is disclosed. In one embodiment, a fiber optic switch beam generation element generates a communication light beam that may be received at a beam splitter. The beam splitter may be configured to produce a reflected light beam that reflects a portion of the communication light beam, while permitting at least a portion of the communication light beam to propagate through the beam splitter. A reflected light beam detector may be used to detect the reflected light beam. The power level (e.g., light energy) of the communication light beam may then be calculated based on the light energy of the reflected light beam.