Edward C. Aldridge Jr.
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 Aldridge | |
|---|---|
| United States Secretary of the Air Force | |
| In office April 6, 1986 – December 16, 1988 Acting: April 6, 1986 – June 8, 1986 | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Russell A. Rourke |
| Succeeded by | Donald Rice |
| 9th Director of the National Reconnaissance Office | |
| In office August 3, 1981 – December 16, 1988 | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Robert J. Hermann |
| Succeeded by | Martin C. Faga |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edward Cleveland Aldridge Jr. August 18, 1938 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Texas A&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, 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.