On Monday, NASA announced Bradley Flick, director of NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, will retire Thursday, March 19, after a nearly 40-year career advancing aeronautics and flight research.<\/p>\n
Flick began his NASA journey in 1986 as a flight systems engineer and rose through the ranks to lead the center. His career spanned historic achievements by NASA, bookended by the groundbreaking X\u201129<\/a> forward-swept wing aircraft and the first flight of the X\u201159<\/a> quiet supersonic technology aircraft and including many other experimental flight research and airborne science projects in support of NASA and the nation.<\/p>\n \u201cBrad\u2019s career reflects the kind of disciplined engineering and steady leadership NASA relies on to tackle difficult problems,\u201d said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. \u201cFor nearly four decades, he contributed to some of the agency\u2019s most challenging flight research efforts\u2014from the X-29 through the first flight of the X-59\u2014and helped strengthen the team and capabilities at Armstrong along the way. NASA is grateful for his service and the example he\u2019s set for the next generation of engineers and flight test professionals.\u201d<\/p>\n After earning a bachelor\u2019s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Clarkson University, Flick joined NASA, working on the\u00a0F\/A-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle<\/a>\u00a0project. In 1988, he moved to the Operations Engineering branch, where he played a lead role in developing experimental systems including thrust vectoring control, emergency electrical and hydraulic systems, and the spin recovery parachute system. He also served as mission controller for about 100 HARV research flights.<\/p>\n He later earned a master\u2019s degree in engineering management from Rochester Institute of Technology, which supported his progression through increasingly responsible leadership roles. Before his appointment as center director on Dec. 5, 2022, following a period as acting director, Flick held leadership positions spanning engineering and operations, including Flight Systems branch chief, acting associate director for Flight Operations, center chief engineer (where he chaired the Airworthiness and Flight Safety Review Board), deputy director and director for Research and Engineering, and deputy center director.<\/p>\n Flick\u2019s leadership and technical expertise shaped flight research at NASA. His work advanced aeronautics and pushed the boundaries of aviation technology. As NASA continues to lead innovations in sustainable aviation and supersonic flight, his contributions will remain an integral part of that legacy.<\/p>\n Troy Asher will serve as acting center director, effective Friday, March 20. Asher previously served as director, Flight Operations, at NASA Armstrong.<\/p>\n For more about NASA\u2019s missions, visit:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n -end-<\/p>\n Bethany Stevens \/ Cheryl Warner
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
bethany.c.stevens@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n