HONORING BRADLEY FLICK

HONORING BRADLEY FLICK

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 43 (Monday, March 9, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 43 (Monday, March 9, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E199] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING BRADLEY FLICK ______ HON. VINCE FONG of california in the house of representatives Monday, March 9, 2026 Mr. FONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary career of Bradley Flick, who, after nearly four decades of service advancing American aviation and aerospace innovation at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, will retire this month. Brad began his career in 1986 at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center, then called the Dryden Flight Research Center, as a flight systems engineer, helping lead research flights and experimental programs, such as the F/A-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV) project, that pushed the boundaries of aeronautics and strengthened our Nation's leadership in aerospace technology. Over the years, he served as mission controller on approximately 100 HARV research flights. Brad rose through the ranks as an engineer, chief engineer, and research leader, ultimately serving as Director of NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center--the Nation's premier civilian flight research institution. Known by his colleagues as a compassionate leader, Brad helped guide groundbreaking efforts in sustainable aviation and next-generation flight research. Under his leadership, Armstrong Flight Research Center advanced technologies that are shaping the future of flight--from NASA's all-electric experimental aircraft to research into quiet supersonic aviation that could transform how Americans travel. Brad often reflected on the legacy of those who came before him, noting that today's researchers are ``riding on the shoulders of legendary flight pioneers'' who made discoveries at Armstrong Flight Research Center over the last 75 years. With that perspective, he led his team with humility, purpose, and a deep belief that the next great aviation breakthrough was still waiting to be discovered. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to congratulate Brad Flick on his retirement and thank him for his decades of service to our Nation, to the aerospace community, and to the enduring spirit of American innovation that lives in the Aerospace Valley. ____________________