Board of Directors

2013/2014 SETP EXECUTIVE ADVISOR

Doug Benjamin (F)

Boeing

Doug Benjamin grew up in La Crosse, WI.  He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1978, completed USAF pilot training, and became a T-38 instructor pilot.  He then flew operationally as a fighter pilot on the F-106 and the F-16.  He attended EPNER (French Test Pilot School), and was assigned to the USAF Test Pilot School as an instructor.  He subsequently moved to the F-16 Combined Test Force, testing all F-16 models.  After staff and acquisition schools, he served in the Flight Test Division of the F-16 Systems Program Office.  During his next assignment, he flew on and commanded a variety of classified programs, including the Boeing Bird of Prey technology demonstrator.  He flew 21 of its 38 flights, including envelope expansion, mission utility and tactical applications.  Doug retired from the Air Force in 2000 and became an Engineering Test Pilot with Boeing Commercial Airplanes in Seattle, where he has flown on multiple 737, 747, 757, 767, 777 and 787 development and certification programs.  He is currently the Boeing Chief Pilot for Military Transport, with responsibilities covering Tanker, Airlift and Airborne Battle Management.  He was project pilot for the 747-based Airborne Laser, and was the pilot for its first-ever shoot down of a boosting ballistic missile.  He flew first flight of the P-8A Poseidon, and is currently flying on the P-8I program.  He has over 9400 hours flying time in over 90 aircraft types; FAA type ratings in nine aircraft, and is current on all Boeing models, as well as the T-33 and T-38.  He has a BSAE from the US Air Force Academy, a MAS from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a MBA from the University of Phoenix.  Doug was the General Chairman for the 2004 Symposium and Banquet; the Northwest Section Representative from 2004-2006, and has served as the Society’s Legal Officer, Treasurer and Secretary, as well as on the Membership Committee.  As Legal Officer, he worked on formulating a Society position to the European Aviation Safety Administration’s proposed licensing of test pilots and flight test engineers.  He has presented papers at multiple symposia.  He was inducted as an “Eagle” by the Flight Test Historical Foundation at its 2004 “Gathering of Eagles”, and awarded a retroactive Kincheloe Trophy in 2007 for work on the Boeing Bird of Prey.  He’s been a member of the Society since 1996 and was named a Fellow in 2008.

Doug’s vision for the Society is to diversify and strengthen the Society by increasing our influence outside of the traditional test centers populated by alumni from traditional recognized test pilot schools.  A significant number of pilots involved in flight test never had the opportunity to go to a recognized test pilot school, yet are still doing the work.  This is particularly so for those associated with civil aircraft certification.  They can receive benefits by becoming more closely associated with the Society’s practices and values, and the Society will be enriched by their contributions and viewpoints.

MAURICE “MOE” GIRARD (AF)
CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY

Maurice “Moe” Girard is a Senior Engineering Test Pilot for the Cessna Aircraft Company, responsible the flight test activities on new and sustaining aircraft in the Engineering Flight Test Department.  After graduating from the University of Western Ontario (BS in Physics) in 1982, he joined the Canadian Air Force where his first two tours of duty were as an Instructor Pilot (CT-114 Tutor) and Fighter Pilot (CF-18 Hornet).  He was then selected to attend to US Navy Test Pilot School (Class 103) where he graduated with distinction.  The next nine years saw Moe engaged in over fifty flight test programs as lead Project Pilot and Project Officer, including F/A-18 Flutter Testing, Weapons Safe Separation, Departure Testing, Flight Control Computer software (with NASA Dryden), CT-113 (T-Bird) Avionics Upgrade and Ejection Seat Trails.  During this busy time, Moe also obtained a MS in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee, Space Institute.  In 2002, Moe retired from the Canadian Air Force and joined the Cessna Engineering Flight Test department as a Senior Engineering Test Pilot where he has spent the last eight years extensively involved in every aspect of the Citation Sovereign, Mustang and CJ4 prototype aircraft development and certification flight test programs.  He has logged over 7,200 hours in over 60 different models of aircraft.  Moe has been very active in the Society since joining in 1996; he has presented numerous papers on a yearly basis and is the recipient of the Ray Tenhoff award.  He is an Associate Fellow of SETP and is the current and past Chairman of the SETP Central Section (3 years as Chairman, 2 as Secretary).  Moe is also Vice Chairman of the Flight Test Safety Committee and was Chairman for the Inaugural European Flight Test Safety Workshop (London), the Inaugural North American Flight Test Safety Workshop (Ottawa) and was the Chairman for the 3rd Annual European Flight Test Safety Workshop (London).  He is married and has four children.
Strategic Vision:
a. Promote flight test safety in all disciplines related to flight testing,
b. Increase core SETP membership,
c. Increase participation of SETP members and non-members in Section, National and International Events

20010/2011 SETP VICE PRESIDENT
DAVID NILS LARSON (AF)
NASA

Nils grew up In West Virginia and West Africa leaving home at 17 to attend the US Air Force Academy. He graduated in 1986 with a degree in Astronautical Engineering.  After USAFA he attended pilot training at Williams AFB in AZ and ended up staying there as an instructor pilot in the T-37.  He left Williams and headed for Beale AFB to become a U-2 pilot.  After flying the U-2 for three years, he attended the USAF Test Pilot School graduating in Class 95A, The Spindoctors.  Since no one knows what to do with a test pilot with a T-37/U-2 background, he tested F-15s with the 445th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB.  In the 445th Nils also tested the T-38C and was the Chief Test Pilot for the airworthiness testing on the Schweizer RU-38 Twin Condor.  He left Edwards to become the Air Force exchange instructor at the US Naval Test Pilot School, where he served as Operations Officer and the Senior Fixed Wing Instructor Pilot teaching in the F-18, T-2C, U-6 and X-26. After that it was back to the high desert of California for him and his wife, where he became the commander of U-2 Flight Test and Depot at Plant 42 in Palmdale.  Nils finished his Air Force career as the Deputy Operations Group Commander at Edwards AFB, retiring and moving down the street to work for NASA at the Dryden Flight Research Center flying the F-15B, NF-15B, F-16, F-18, ER-2, T-34, and T-38. 

Nils has served as the SETP Secretary, East Coast Section Secretary/Treasurer, Vice-President and President; was a judge for the papers presented at the SETP International Symposium; served on the membership committee and is currently the Vice President of the Society.  Nils is impressed with the strengthening of the sections and their symposia; and the movement to use technology like the wiki-site and on-line voting.  He would like to see the Society and its Foundation expand into opportunities with education and would like to see a mentor program to get new members more involved with the Society.

My career has been truly unique and blessed, but the greatest blessings in my life have been my wife, Kirsten, and sons, Cooper and Finley.

2012/2013 SETP EXECUTIVE ADVISOR
STEVE RAINEY (AF)
BOEING

Steve Rainey is a 1980 Engineering Mechanics graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and attended UPT at Vance AFB and flew F-4’s at Ramstien AB, GE. He conducted F-16 & F-4 flight test at Eglin AFB from 1988-1990 prior to attending TPS.  Tests included safe separation, asymmetric flying qualities, and weapons tests.  Steve received his Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Miami in 1990 and graduated from the US Naval Test Pilot School in 1991 (Class 99). From 1991-1994 he was assigned to Edwards AFB as an F-16 CTF Flight Commander & Primary Test Pilot for all F-16 avionics testing, night attack systems, flying qualities with external chin pods, HARM targeting system, High Angle of Attack FAM IP.  From 1994-1996 Steve did his time in purgatory at the F-22 Program Office.  This paid off because he was then selected to be the first F-22 Operations Officer responsible for setting up initial operations.  He was the first USAF pilot to fly the F-22 Raptor; “firsts” include: 1st flight at Edwards AFB, 1st in-flight APU start, 1st in-flight engine shutdown/restart, 1st Air Refueling, 1st Loads test, 1st emergency landing gear extension.  He conducted all categories of Raptor flight test and was then selected to be the 411th Flight Test Squadron Commander at the F-22 CTF.  Steve retired in 2000 and was an American Airlines pilot for three years.  His next position was as a Civil Service F-16 pilot at Edwards conducting test and chase.  In 2005, The Boeing Company hired him as their test pilot on the F-22 program and regularly conduct F-22 flight test in all categories.  He is currently the only dual-qualified F-22 & F-16 Instructor/Evaluator Pilot. He flew the first F-22 Loads test mission carrying Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs).  Steve’s Raptor flight tests include Loads, flying qualities, engine tests, jet wake encounter tests, RVSM qualification testing, weapon safe separation tests, integrated weapon release tests, crosswind landing tests, avionics testing, Integrated Systems Evaluations, and Climatic Lab tests.

Steve is an Assistant Scout Master with Troop 2222 in Santa Clarita, CA.  He was proud to serve the Society as the West Coast Section Chairman for almost three years (2005-2008) and is currently serving. As SETP President-Elect.  Steve’s vision would be to establish SETP as the international center of excellence for test planning, execution recommendations and reporting; attempting to standardize formats used at flight test centers around the world.