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Todd Ericson
Todd Ericson in 2014
Born1969 (age 54–55)
Barrington, Illinois, U.S.
StatusActive
NationalityAmerican
Other names
  • "Leif"
  • "Swede"
Alma materUSAF Academy
University of Maryland
OccupationTest pilot
AwardsAir Medal (7)
Space career
Virgin Galactic Commercial Astronaut Candidate
RankColonel, USAF

Todd C. Ericson (born 1969) is a retired United States Air Force (USAF) officer, test pilot, commercial astronaut candidate, and vice president of safety and test at Virgin Galactic, a private spaceflight company that is developing sub-orbital space tourism flights.

Early life and education

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Ericson was born in 1969 in Barrington, Illinois.[1]: 354  His father, Clyde, was an experienced aviator who flew for the US military, commercial airlines, and as a private pilot.[2][3] As members of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), father and son built a single seat, strut-braced low-wing monoplane known as a Stits Playboy when the younger Ericson was just fourteen years old. On this sixteenth birthday, Ericson soloed in this aircraft and earned his private pilot license.[4][5]

In 1988, Ericson began his freshman year as a "doolie"[6] at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado,[7]: 267  where he continued to pursue his love of aviation. He joined the academy's aviation club and was one of twelve cadets chosen for the competition flying team. The academy's flying team is a unit of the 557th Flying Training Squadron and competes against other US universities in events sponsored by the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA). During Ericson's years at the academy, the cadets flew a modified Cessna 150 and Cessna T-41A's aircraft.[8]: 388  NIFA national safety conference (SAFECON) competitions are held yearly and are hosted at different locations throughout the country. Each SAFECON consists of multiple competitive events both on-ground and in-flight.[9] Ericson competed in several of the contests and placed fourth in the Instrument Flying Rules (IFR) Precision Flying Event.[10][11]

 
USAFA 1991 Flying Team. Ericson is kneeling front right

Two years later, as a junior, Ericson took first place and achieved a perfect score in the same event.[12][13] The 1990 competition was held at the University of Illinois at Champagne, where Ericson was presented with the Harold S. Wood Award for Excellence.[4][14] The award, named after the founder of NIFA,[15] recognizes a university flight team's student pilot for both scholastic accomplishment and community involvement.[16] Ericson's goals included flying jet fighters and eventually joining the space program.[4][12] In 1991, during his senior year, he was assigned as the Cadet In Charge (CIC) of the academy's competitive flying team.[1]: 232  As a member of Cadet Squadron 09, Viking Nine, "Swede" Ericson graduated from the USAFA with a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering[1]: 354  and a commission in the United States Air Force.[1]: 485  He was also presented with the Langley Award as the outstanding cadet in Aeronautical Engineering.[17] President George H. W. Bush presented the graduation address to the class.[1]: 486  From 1994 to 1996, Ericson attended the University of Maryland and earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from University of Maryland.[17]

Military career

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In 1992, Ericson attended jet training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, as part of Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) class 92-07.[17][18] ENJJPT is conducted by the 80th Flying Training Wing and is the world’s only multi-national program to train North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) combat pilots.[18] Ericson received the Air Training Command Commander's Trophy as the top graduate in his class.[17] This trophy is presented on behalf of the Order of Daedalians and recognizes outstanding achievement in academics and flying operations.[19]

Flying the F-16, Ericson accumulated over 230 combat hours as part of Operation Allied Force that forced the withdrawal of Yugoslav armed forces from Kosovo. He was awarded seven air medals for his actions in the 1999 conflict. In 2001, Ericson attended the Empire Test Pilots School's 60th Fixed Wing course at at MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, England. He graduated at the top of his class thereby earning the school's McKenna Trophy.[17] Ericson returned to the US and served as a test pilot for F-16 radar upgrades at Edwards Air Force Base in California.[20]

 
An F-16 from the 416 FLTS participates in a Red Flag Exercise at Nellis Air Force Base in February 2009.

In 2008, Ericson was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assigned as commander of the 416th Flight Test Squadron (FLTS) in charge of flight testing improvements to the F-16.[21] In 2009, he led the 416th FLTS in the squadron's first ever deployment to the Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base. Ericson described the exercise as "the most thorough, integrated evaluation of an F-16 software release in the 30-year history of the combined test force" and called out the unique opportunity to "evaluate the interoperability of our five M5.1+ F-16 Fighting Falcons with other aircraft, such as F-22 Raptor, B-2 Spirit and MQ-1 Predator".[22] In 2010, the 416th FLTS attention to safety was acknowledged by the Air Force Safety Center with a Flight Safety Plaque. Ericson thanked the Combined Test Force for achieving this goal while simultaneously executing over thirty different programs.[23]

After his tour with the 416th FLTS, Ericson attended the USAF Air War College and earned a master's degree in strategic studies. He was the distinguished graduate for 2011 and was presented with the General Charles Horner Award that recognizes the most original paper related to nuclear issues.[17][24] Ericson's paper was entitled, Towards a Fail-Safe Air Force Culture: Creating a Resilient Future While Avoiding Past Mistakes.[25] In 2011, he was assigned as the chief of safety for the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB. On January 3, 2012, he participated in the 412th Test Wing's "Back in the Saddle" event to start the new year with a renewed focus on safety. Ericson stressed the flight test community's role in identifying risks and finding ways to keep them from reaching operational units.[26] His final USAF assignment was Operations and Maintenance Group commander at Edwards AFB where he supervised over 600 personnel.[27] After twenty-three years of military service, Ericson retired from the USAF.[17]

Civilian career

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Virgin Galactic

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In 2014, Ericson accepted a test pilot position with Virgin Galactic, a commercial spaceflight company. He joined a small group of very experienced pilots that planned to fly commercial customers and space science missions on suborbital spaceflights.[17][28] On July 31, 2014, Ericson was a member of the mission control team for a powered test of the VSS Enterprise when the spacecraft was destroyed in an in-flight breakup.[29]

  •   Done (July 24, 2014) Virgin Galactic ... announced today that Todd ‘Leif’ Ericson ... , has joined the company’s cadre of space pilots.[17]
  •   Done Ericson is a member of Virgin Galactic's pilot corps.[28]
  • (Oct 31, 2014) Ericson, "The ultimate goal of making space accessible for humankind ... is certainly worth some personal risk and sacrifice.[30]
    • Ericson, "The test program is all about methodically and safely advancing to make sure the vehicle performs as it does."[30]
    •   Done will be working with Galactic’s chief pilot Dave Mackay and pilots Frederick ‘CJ’ Sturckow and Michael ‘Sooch’ Masucci as they prepare to fly Virgin Galactic’s first customers to space.[17]
  •   Done (Oct. 31, 2014) changes of personnel in Mission Control. Virgin Galactic pilot Todd Ericson was serving as test conductor for the first time.[29]
    • (Oct 31, 2014) Ericson’s prominent role was part of a gradual shift of operations to Virgin as Scaled prepared to turn SpaceShipTwo over to its customer in December. A number of personnel from Virgin Galactic and its subsidiary, The Spaceship Company, were at work stations in Mission Control for this flight test.[29]
  • (Nov 1, 2014) Virgin Galactic pilot Todd Ericson talks with National Transportation Safety Board acting Chairman Christopher Hart and investigators at the SpaceShipTwo crash site in Mojave, Calif.[31]
  • (Nov 1, 2014) Ericson supported NTSB investigation of the crash of SpaceShipTwo.[32]
  • (January 11, 2015) Todd Ericson named as Virgin Galactic's new vice president of safety and test.[27]
  • (January 11, 2015) responsibilities extend across the full range of the company’s activities: the manufacture and testing of both the second SpaceShipTwo and LauncherOne satellite launch vehicle and flights of the WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft.[27]
  • (June 9, 2015) Ericson is VG pilot and VP of safety and test.[33]
    • (???) Was Chief of Safety for AFTC.[33]
    • (???) Operations and Maintenance Group Commander.[33]
    • (???) 230 combat hours in F-16 during Operation Allied Force earning seven Air Medals.[33]
    • (2015) 23 years of military and aviation safety experience.[33]
    • (2015) 8,500 flight hours in 90 aircraft types.[33]
  • Ericson is Virgin Galactic's VP of Safety and Test and member of pilot corps.[34]
    • Came to Virgin Galactic after 23 years in USAF.[34]
    • Flew F-16s and C-21s.[34]
    • Last 14 years of career involved flight test of F-16 and other (classified) aircraft.{{r|VG 2015b}.
    • His tasks at VG are no different than what he did for the USAF.[34]
    • Flight test is just the tip of the testing iceberg.[34]
  • (before September 8, 2016) Todd Ericson, the former Air Force test pilot, had become Virgin Galactic’s vice-president for safety.[28]
  • (September 8, 2016) In September, VSS Unity was piloted by Mark Stucky and Dave Mackay, while Virgin Mothership Eve was flown by Mike Masucci and Todd Ericson. The nearly four-hour flight gave the company data to move another step closer to commercial space travel and prepared VSS Unity for its first free flight on Dec. 2, piloted by the same crew. “Unity performed remarkably well for its first flight".[35]
  • (Feb 24, 2017) Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo rocket plane glided through its third free-flying test run today, and although it hasn’t yet lit up its engine, there was a high-powered crowd to fuel the excitement at California’s Mojave Air and Space Port.[36]
  • (Feb 24, 2017) The pilots for the WhiteKnightTwo carrier solo plane during Friday's test flight were Todd Ericson and Kelly Latimer.[37]
  • (July 26, 2018) Virgin Galactic sent its SpaceShipTwo rocket plane, VSS Unity, to its highest-ever altitude today during its third powered test flight — setting the stage for a full-powered push across the boundary of outer space.[38]
  • (July 26, 2018) Todd Ericson and Kelly Latimer piloted WhiteKnightTwo.[38]
  • (July 26, 2018) VG test pilots broke Mach 2 this morning, as VSS Unity took her third rocket-powered supersonic outing in less than four months. into the Mesosphere (170,800 ft) for the first time. The carrier aircraft, VMS Eve, was piloted today by Todd Ericson and Kelly Latimer.[39]
  • (Aug 1, 2018) at a meeting of the Air Line Pilots Association here, Todd Ericson, vice president of safety and flight test at sister company Virgin Galactic said a series of “envelope expansion” test flights of the 747 with the pylon was scheduled for the coming weeks. The company then plans to carry out a series of captive carry test flights with a model of the LauncherOne rocket, culminating in a test where the rocket is dropped.[40]
  • (July 10, 2019) The small satellite launch company Virgin Orbit successfully completed a key drop test of its LauncherOne vehicle July 10, the last major step in the development program of the company’s novel launch service.[41]
    • steady progression of test flights with its “flying launch pad” Cosmic Girl and LauncherOne vehicle
    • Virgin Orbit released a fully built, fully loaded — although inert — LauncherOne rocket from Cosmic Girl, a modified Boeing 747
    • takeoff from the Mojave Air and Space Port at Mojave, Calif.,
    • The flight was piloted by Virgin Orbit’s Chief Test Pilot Kelly Latimer and Todd Ericson, both of whom also fly for Virgin Orbit’s sister company, Virgin Galactic.
  • (July 10, 2019) Virgin Orbit completed a successful drop-test from its 747-400 carrier vehicle.[42]
    • chief test pilot Kelly Latimer and Todd Ericson – both retired US Air Force flyers – take the modified aircraft, aptly named “Cosmic Girl”, from Mojave Air and Space Port to a drop zone 35,000ft over the Pacific Ocean
    • drop-test not only validated the design of the modified 747 (named Cosmic Girl)
    • demonstrated the effectiveness of the launch system – which can rely on regular airstrips instead of launch pads to send satellites into space
    • Ensuring that rocket and aircraft separate cleanly in the critical few seconds after release was the primary purpose of the exercise
    • LauncherOne, built by Virgin Orbit at its Long Beach, California factory, is carried from take-off under the left wing and released from a steep climb
  • (July 10, 2019) VO successfully completed a key drop test of its LauncherOne vehicle, the last major step in the development program of the company’s novel launch service.[43]
    • test flight began with a takeoff from the Mojave Air and Space Port at Mojave, CA, at 8:43 A.M. Pacific; the drop itself occurred at 9:13 A.M. Pacific from an altitude of 35,000 feet over a testing range at Edwards Air Force Base.[43]
    • primary purpose of the test was to monitor the few critical seconds just after release, to ensure the rocket and aircraft separate cleanly and to observe how the rocket freefalls through the air.[43]
    • The flight was piloted by Virgin Orbit’s Chief Test Pilot Kelly Latimer (Lt. Col. USAF, Ret.) and Todd Ericson (Col. USAF, Ret.), both of whom also fly for Virgin Orbit’s sister company, Virgin Galactic.[43]
  • (April 29, 2021) [Ericson] subsequently resigned [after February 2019 discovery of structural damage] as Virgin Galactic's vice president of safety because he'd lost faith in the safety regime.[44]

Organizations

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  • An associate fellow of SETP and president of SETP during 2016-2017 term.[45]
  • In 2013, he was the SETP west coast section representative and member of board of directors.[46]
  • Ericson a member of the EAA.[5]

Personal life

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  • In 2017, son Isaac created a family tradition on his 16th birthday December 3 by soloing in the same Stits Playboy his father once did.[5]

Awards and decorations

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  • As of 2015, Ericson has 23 years military experience and accumulated over 8,500 flight hours in over 90 types of aircraft.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e 1991 Polaris (PDF). Colorado Springs, Colorado: United States Air Force Academy. 1991. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  2. ^ "Grass Roots: Chicago Area Safety Seminar" (PDF). International Women Pilots Magazine/99 News. Vol. 30, no. 2. Arlington Heights, Illinois: Aviatrix Publishing. March–April 2004. p. 29. ISSN 0273-608X. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  3. ^ Brotman, Barbara (September 30, 2014). "No mandatory retirement age, but pilots must pass FAA review every 2 years". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Collins, Richard L. (1990). "On Course: Creme De La Creme". AOPA Pilot. Vol. 33, no. 2. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. p. 108.
  5. ^ a b c Esau, Megan (January 5, 2017). "Isaac Ericson – Solo Milestone". eaa.org. Oshkosh, Wisconsin: Experimental Aircraft Association. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  6. ^ "USAF Academy Acronym List" (PDF). Colorado Springs, Colorado: United States Air Force Academy. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  7. ^ 1988 Polaris (PDF). Colorado Springs, Colorado: United States Air Force Academy. 1988. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  8. ^ 1989 Polaris (PDF). Colorado Springs, Colorado: United States Air Force Academy. 1989. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  9. ^ "National SAFECON Results". National Intercollegiate Flying Association. 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  10. ^ McClellan, J. Mac (July 1988). "Short Final: College Exam". Flying Magazine. Vol. 115, no. 7. New York, New York: Diamandis Communications. p. 106. ISSN 0015-4806. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  11. ^ "SAFECON 1988 Official Competition Results". National Intercollegiate Flying Association. 1988. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  12. ^ a b "NIFA Safecon Winners". Flying Magazine. Vol. 117, no. 8. New York, New York: Diamandis Communications. August 1990. p. 94. ISSN 0015-4806. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  13. ^ "SAFECON 1990 IFR Precision Flying Event". National Intercollegiate Flying Association. 1990. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  14. ^ "SAFECON 1990 Harold S. Wood Award". National Intercollegiate Flying Association. 1990. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  15. ^ "GAMA Announces Winners of Two Prestigious Aviation Scholarships". General Aviation Manufacturers Association. May 16, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  16. ^ "Touch 'n' Go". Airman. Vol. 34, no. 7. United States Air Force. July 1990. p. 4. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Virgin Galactic Announces Todd Ericson As Space Pilot". Virgin Galactic. July 24, 2014. Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (ENJJPT)". Sheppard Air Force Base. United States Air Force. October 17, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  19. ^ Frost, Capt. Mahalia (August 9, 2019). "SUPT student soars to commander's trophy". Air Education and Training Command. United States Air Force. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  20. ^ "USAF Tests Radar Precision Mapping Capability Of F-16" (Press release). Fort Worth, Texas: Lockheed Martin. April 3, 2003. Retrieved May 2, 2020 – via Defense Aerospace.
  21. ^ "Colonel Sheesley assumes command of 416th FLTS". Edwards Air Force Base. United States Air Force. June 24, 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  22. ^ Reyes, Senior Airman Julius Delos (February 20, 2009). "First time for AFMC at Red Flag exercise". United States Air Force. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  23. ^ Thuloweit, Kenji (March 17, 2010). "Safety first, two Edwards Squadrons win awards". Edwards Air Force Base. United States Air Force. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  24. ^ "Gen. Charles A. Horner Award". Air University. United States Air Force. 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  25. ^ Ericson, Todd (October 2012). "Toward a Fail-Safe Air Force Culture: Creating a Resilient Future While Avoiding Past Mistakes" (PDF). Air University. Air War College. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  26. ^ Mowry, Laura (January 9, 2012). "Test Wing leaps 'Back in the Saddle' with focus on safety, teamwork, fitness". Edwards Air Force Base. United States Air Force. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  27. ^ a b c d Messier, Doug (January 11, 2015). "Virgin Galactic Has New Vice President of Safety". Parabolic Arc. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  28. ^ a b c Schmidle, Nicholas (August 20, 2018). "Virgin Galactic's Rocket Man". The New Yorker. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  29. ^ a b c Messier, Doug (November 11, 2015). "A Good Light, Then a Fatal Mistake". Parabolic Arc. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  30. ^ a b Davenport, Christian (November 19, 2018). "Virgin Galactic's quest for space". Washington Post. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  31. ^ Halsey III, Ashley (November 12, 2014). "NTSB: Pilot unaware of co-pilot's mistake that may have caused Virgin Galactic crash". Washington Post. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  32. ^ Sugarman, Joe (June 2019). "Thinking Outside the Black Box: New technologies may offer alternatives to today's flight recorders". Air and Space. National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  33. ^ a b c d e f "Virgin Galactic - Introducing our Pilot Corps". YouTube. Virgin Galactic. June 9, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  34. ^ a b c d e "Virgin Galactic - An Introduction to Testing". YouTube. Virgin Galactic. November 17, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  35. ^ "Mojave—thinking outside the box". Aerotech News. December 30, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  36. ^ Boyle, Alan (February 24, 2017). "Star-studded cast watches Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo glide through test flight". GeekWire. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  37. ^ Malik, Tariq (February 25, 2017). "Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Aces 3rd Glide Test Flight". Space. Future US. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  38. ^ a b Boyle, Alan (July 26, 2018). "SpaceShipTwo rocket plane pushes the envelope in third supersonic test flight". GeekWire. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  39. ^ "Into the Mesosphere at Mach 2.4". Virgin Galactic. July 26, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  40. ^ Foust, Jeff (August 28, 2018). "Virgin Orbit performs LauncherOne aircraft flight tests". SpaceNews. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  41. ^ "Virgin Orbit completes key drop test ahead of orbital test flight". Aerotech News. July 12, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  42. ^ Thisdell, Dan (July 11, 2019). "Virgin Orbit drop test is prelude to first spaceflight". Flight International. Retrieved April 30, 2020 – via FlightGlobal.
  43. ^ a b c d "Virgin Orbit completes key drop test ahead of orbital test flight". Mojave Desert News. July 11, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  44. ^ Schmidle, Nicholas (April 29, 2021). "Want to take more risks? Surround yourself with test pilots and skydivers". Washington Post. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  45. ^ "Past Presidents of SETP". The Society of Experimental Test Pilots. 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  46. ^ "SETP Great Lakes Symposium Program" (PDF). The Society of Experimental Test Pilots. May 16, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
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