Edward Cleveland Aldridge Jr. was born in Houston, Texas, the son of Lillie Idell (Née Radford) and Edward Cleveland Aldridge. Aldridge received a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering from Texas A&M University in 1960 and a Master of Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Careeredit
STS-62-A crew portrait, with Aldridge (left, back row)
Aldridge played a key role in the late stages of the U.S.'s Cold War with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) by ensuring continued U.S. military access to space. From 1981 to 1988, he served as Director of the National Reconnaissance Office—the U.S. Government agency in charge of designing, building, launching, and maintaining America's intelligence satellites.[2] Uncomfortable with the U.S.'s sole dependence during that time on the Space Shuttle for launch of heavy systems, he initiated a second launcher, the Titan IV, from Martin Marietta with an order for 10 vehicles in 1985.[3] When the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded during its launch the following year, the U.S. military was able to continue its assured access to space despite the Space Shuttle's two year grounding.
Aldridge was confirmed as the Pentagon's top weapons buyer on May 8, 2001. As the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, he had responsibility for acquisition, research and development, logistics, advanced technology, international programs, environmental security, nuclear, chemical, and biological programs, and the industrial base.
In 2002, during his time as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, he authorized the acquisition of the F-35's before critical developmental testing was finished and stated the F-35 was "setting new standards for technological advances" and "rewriting the books on acquisition and business practices." His successor voiced a different opinion in 2012. "This will make a headline if I say it, but I'm going to say it anyway," Frank Kendall said. "Putting the F-35 into production years before the first test flight was acquisition malpractice. It should not have been done." As of 2012, the military has spent $373 million to fix planes already bought; the ultimate repair bill for imperfect planes has been estimated at close to $8 billion.[4]
He served in a variety of jobs, including:
Secretary of the Air Force
President of McDonnell Douglass Electronic Systems Company
In 2005, Aldridge received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award,[5] by the Space Foundation. The award is in recognition for individuals who have made substantial contributions to space technology, information, themes, or resources.
Referencesedit
^Laurie, Clayton. Leaders of the National Reconnaissance Office 1961–2001. Office of the Historian, National Reconnaissance Office. 1 May 2002.
^. www.nro.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-11-02. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
edward, aldridge, edward, pete, cleveland, aldridge, born, august, 1938, aerospace, engineer, former, government, official, defense, department, also, selected, payload, specialist, space, shuttle, mission, scheduled, launch, july, 1986, mission, canceled, aft. Edward Pete Cleveland Aldridge Jr born August 18 1938 is an aerospace engineer and former government official in the U S Defense Department He was also selected as a payload specialist for the Space Shuttle mission STS 62 A scheduled to launch in July 1986 The mission was canceled after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in January 1986 and Aldridge never flew Pete AldridgeUnited States Secretary of the Air ForceIn office April 6 1986 December 16 1988Acting April 6 1986 June 8 1986PresidentRonald ReaganPreceded byRussell A RourkeSucceeded byDonald Rice9th Director of the National Reconnaissance OfficeIn office August 3 1981 December 16 1988PresidentRonald ReaganPreceded byRobert J HermannSucceeded byMartin C FagaPersonal detailsBornEdward Cleveland Aldridge Jr 1938 08 18 August 18 1938 age 85 Houston Texas U S Political partyRepublicanEducationTexas A amp M University College Station BS Georgia Institute of Technology MS At the Department of Defense in the 1980s Aldridge served as the Under Secretary of the Air Force from 1981 to 1986 Director of the National Reconnaissance Office 1981 1988 1 and the Secretary of the Air Force from 1986 to 1988 Under President George W Bush he was the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Technology and Logistics from 2001 to 2003 From 1989 to 1992 he was president of the Electronic Systems Company division of McDonnell Douglas and later CEO of The Aerospace Corporation Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Affiliations 4 Awards 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and education editEdward Cleveland Aldridge Jr was born in Houston Texas the son of Lillie Idell Nee Radford and Edward Cleveland Aldridge Aldridge received a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering from Texas A amp M University in 1960 and a Master of Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology Career edit nbsp STS 62 A crew portrait with Aldridge left back row Aldridge played a key role in the late stages of the U S s Cold War with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics USSR by ensuring continued U S military access to space From 1981 to 1988 he served as Director of the National Reconnaissance Office the U S Government agency in charge of designing building launching and maintaining America s intelligence satellites 2 Uncomfortable with the U S s sole dependence during that time on the Space Shuttle for launch of heavy systems he initiated a second launcher the Titan IV from Martin Marietta with an order for 10 vehicles in 1985 3 When the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded during its launch the following year the U S military was able to continue its assured access to space despite the Space Shuttle s two year grounding Aldridge was confirmed as the Pentagon s top weapons buyer on May 8 2001 As the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Technology and Logistics he had responsibility for acquisition research and development logistics advanced technology international programs environmental security nuclear chemical and biological programs and the industrial base In 2002 during his time as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Technology and Logistics he authorized the acquisition of the F 35 s before critical developmental testing was finished and stated the F 35 was setting new standards for technological advances and rewriting the books on acquisition and business practices His successor voiced a different opinion in 2012 This will make a headline if I say it but I m going to say it anyway Frank Kendall said Putting the F 35 into production years before the first test flight was acquisition malpractice It should not have been done As of 2012 the military has spent 373 million to fix planes already bought the ultimate repair bill for imperfect planes has been estimated at close to 8 billion 4 He served in a variety of jobs including Secretary of the Air Force President of McDonnell Douglass Electronic Systems Company President and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation Adviser to the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks in Helsinki and Vienna Senior manager with the LTV Aerospace Corp Senior management associate in the U S Office of Management and Budget Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Strategic Programs Vice President of National Policy and Strategic Systems Group for the System Planning Corporation Air Force Undersecretary for guiding and supervising the National Reconnaissance Office and the Air Force space programAffiliations editAffiliations included President and Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Member Defense Science Board Member National Academy of Engineering National director Air Force Association Member of the board of directors of the United States Air Force Academy FoundationAwards editDepartment of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service AwardIn 2005 Aldridge received the General James E Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award 5 by the Space Foundation The award is in recognition for individuals who have made substantial contributions to space technology information themes or resources References edit Laurie Clayton Leaders of the National Reconnaissance Office 1961 2001 Office of the Historian National Reconnaissance Office 1 May 2002 NRO Directors www nro gov Archived from the original on 2021 11 02 Retrieved 2021 10 12 U S Bids Farewell to Venerable Titan Rocket Line SpaceNews 2004 06 29 Retrieved 2021 10 12 The Pentagon s F 35 The Most Expensive Weapon Ever Built TIME 2013 02 14 Archived from the original on 2013 02 14 Retrieved 2021 03 12 Symposium Awards National Space Symposium Archived from the original on February 3 2009 Retrieved January 31 2012 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Edward C Aldridge Jr Spacefacts biography of Edward C Aldridge Jr www dau mil Appearances on C SPANGovernment officesPreceded byAntonia Handler Chayes Under Secretary of the Air Force3 August 1981 June 9 1986 Succeeded byJames F McGovernPreceded byRobert J Hermann Director of the National Reconnaissance Office3 August 1981 December 16 1988 Succeeded byMartin C FagaPreceded byRussell A Rourke Secretary of the Air Force acting April 8 1986 June 8 1986June 9 1986 December 16 1988 Succeeded byJames F McGovern acting Preceded byJacques S Gansler Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Technology and Logistics10 May 2001 23 May 2003 Succeeded byMichael W Wynne acting Portal nbsp Biography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward C Aldridge Jr amp oldid 1210971017, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
