NASA Armstrong Chief Engineer
Eric N. Becker is the chief engineer at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Appointed to the position in May 2026, he promotes, represents, and explains the Armstrong airworthiness and flight safety review process to all potential users. He also is a resource to flight programs and projects to tailor and successfully execute the process.
Experience
Previously, Becker was chief of NASA Armstrong’s Systems Engineering and Integration Branch from March 2020 until his current position. Before that, he worked in various roles, including deputy director of Flight Operations; engineer for the Systems Engineering and Integration Branch and Operations Engineering Branch; and operations engineer for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy and the Autonomous Airborne Refueling Demonstrator.
He first came to NASA Armstong in August 2003 as a flight systems engineer on the C-17 Research Flight Control System, which included research into electronic health monitoring systems. He briefly left NASA from 2015 to 2018 to work as test director for the CH-53K developmental test program at the Naval Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Patuxent River, Maryland. After returning to NASA Armstrong in 2018, Becker worked on projects including the Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the National Airspace System and NASA’s Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenge, which became the agency’s Advanced Air Mobility project.
Becker’s career began in September 2002 as an aeromechanic flight test engineer at the Naval Warfare Center Aircraft Division, working on the UH-1Y and AH-1Z developmental test programs.
Education
He earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering in 2002 from San Jose State University in California, and a master’s degree in aerospace engineering and mechanics in 2003 from University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Before pursuing his degrees, he served as a U.S. Marine from 1990 to 1996.
Honors
Becker received the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal in 2009 and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal in 2024.
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