1986 Charles E. Adolph
Charles E. "Pete" Adolph was the 1986 Kelly Johnson Award recipient for outstanding achievement in the field of Flight Test Engineering.
The following is the original text from the nomination of Pete for the award:
CHARLES E. "PETE" ADOLPH
Mr. Charles E. "Pete" Adolph is nominated for the 1986 Kelly Johnson Outstanding Achievement Award for a career of superior contributions to flight test engineering. As Technical Director of the Air Force Flight Test Center, Mr Adolph oversees the activities of the many hundreds of members of our profession which make Edwards AFB the premier flight test establishment in the world.
Pete began his flight test career in 1956 after graduating from St Louis University with his B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering. Following a brief stint with General Dynamics/Convair he joined the U.S. Air Force for a tour of duty at Edwards AFB and remained there as a civilian after leaving uniformed service. He served as engineer or project manager on a variety of tests including the F-100F, B-52/X-15 carrier, F-105B, T-38, B-52H, and F- 111A. Promoted to supervisory rank in 1966, Mr Adolph was responsible for technical direction of performance and flying qualities tests of aircraft including the F-15, F-4E, F-5B, UH-IN, and numerous classified activities. He taught dozens of flight test engineers the nitty-gritty of the business. In 1977 Pete expanded his horizons beyond performance and flying qualities testing into all aircraft systems plus development of the Range capabilities required to adequately test them. He was engineering project manager for the design, construction, and integration of the Ridley Flight Test Mission Control Center at Edwards in 1977-79 and then headed the Development Division from 1979-81. Promoted to the Senior Executive Service in 1982, Mr Adolph served as Technical Director, 6520 Test Group and then Air Force Flight Test Center Technical Director from December 1984 to the present. In these positions Pete has provided direction to and has overseen the tremendous growth in technical capabilities of the Flight Test Center, which has supported a doubling of test flying hours in the past three years.
Pete Adolph has contributed to our profession on the National scene as well. He was the Flight Test Center engineering representative for the preparation of MIL-F-8785B (ASG), Flying Qualities of Piloted Airplanes in 1967-68. He was the Air Force project officer for the development of Military Specification MIL-S-83691A (USAF), "Stall/Post-Stall/Spin Flight Test Demonstration Requirements for Airplanes" in 1971. He participated in numerous working groups including the Air Force Systems Command 1990 initiative, The National Parachute Test Range Relocation Working Group in 1977, and several Air Force Source Selection Boards.
A firm believer that the dynamism and vigor of young people is a key in keeping our country strong, Mr Adolph has taught at the college level since the mid-70's. In 1980 he authored a brochure on careers in Flight Test Engineering which the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics sponsored and distributed to colleges and universities throughout the United States. From 1982-85 Mr. Adolph served as the Western Region Cluster Group Leader for the Federal Presidential Management Intern program and received their 1986 Public Service Award (the first person outside the Washington DC area to be so honored).
Pete Adolph has actively contributed to the profession of flight test engineering through the professional societies. A charter member of the Society of Flight Test Engineer's Antelope Valley Chapter, he served as the Society's National President from 1975-78. He was also a member of the AIAA National Flight Test Technical Committee for three years. Currently he is the chairman of the Flight Test Techniques subgroup of the international Advisory Group for Aeronautical Reserach and Development (AGARD) Flight Mechanics Panel.
The dust never settles when Pete Adolph is around. Whether on the job (he authored 19 professional papers, reports and articles), in school (he earned two Master's degrees plus was a Stanford Sloan Fellow), teaching school, or participating in professional societies, he is always at the front of the pack.
A true leader, Charles E. Adolph is uniquely qualified to receive the 1986 Kelly Johnson Outstanding Achievement Award for a career of contributions to the profession of flight test engineering. The best part of all is--he's still doing so!