Al Norman, a veteran Lockheed Martin experimental test pilot, was named chief test pilot for the F-35 program on 21 February 2011. Norman replaces former F-35 chief test pilot Jon Beesley, who retired 31 January 2011. Prior to joining Lockheed Martin in 1999, Norman served in the US Air Force for twenty-three years as a fighter pilot and test pilot. He left active duty in 1999 to become an experimental test pilot for Lockheed Martin on the F-22 program at Edwards AFB, California. Norman tested all aspects of the Raptor's flight regime while in the Combined Test Force at Edwards. In addition to flight test and production work on the F-22, he performed production and test work on all models of the F-16. He is also Lockheed Martin’s chief pilot for the T-50 program. Norman has more than 6,000 hours of flying time in more than seventy aircraft types.
