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Wilbert D. "Doug" Pearson, Jr.

Doug Pearson is deputy general manager of National Aerospace Solutions, LLC, which provides test, operations and sustainment services to the Arnold Engineering Development Complex.  Previously, as an executive consultant he provided recommendations to industry and government senior leaders on subject matters related to biofuel, civilian and military flight tests, electronic warfare, space launch from aircraft, ground test infrastructure, and other issues. 

At Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Pearson succeeded in preparing and safely executing the first flight of the pre-production F-35 aircraft (December 2006), the B737 CATB (January 2007), the F-35B Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing, F-35A Conventional Takeoff and the F-35C Carrier variants. Other accomplishments included first F-35B zero airspeed hover and vertical landing, initial mission system operation on the CATB, supersonic flight, and aerial refueling of each variant

Pearson joined Lockheed Martin after completing a distinguished 34-year Air Force career, retiring as major general. As the Air Force Flight Test Center commander over 200 programs safely conducted testing; including the F/A-22, F-16, C-130J, F-117, Global Hawk, Air Borne Laser, CV-22, B-2, B-1, C-17, Electronic Warfare, and others. 

Pearson, an active, fully qualified civilian pilot, accumulated over 5,000 hours flying more than 100 different military and civilian aircraft.  He flew fighter aircraft in combat, operational training, and flight tests. On Sept. 13, 1985, he flew an F-15A test aircraft launching an anti-satellite missile that successfully intercepted and destroyed a satellite in Earth's orbit.  He remains the first and only pilot to destroy an orbiting satellite. In July 2002 General Pearson was given a special assignment by the secretary of the Air Force to personally lead and manage the F-22 flight test program.  

Pearson graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in aerospace engineering. He is a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Defense Systems Management College, Test Pilot School, and Fighter Weapons Instructor School (AF Top Gun), and completed many other military and civilian post graduate education and training courses.  He is a Fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.