Ltc. Karl B. Major USAF (Ret.)

To honor Karl B. Major, LTC USAF Ret. for his zeal, compassion, and drive to fulfill his childhood dream to become a pilot and continue his interest in space exploration and for exemplary service in the USAF.

Karl received a four-year AFROTC scholarship to Oklahoma State University, graduating in 1982 with honors in Aeronautical Engineering, and as Distinguished Graduate in AFROTC, earning a commission in the US Air Force Reserve. During basic pilot training at Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, he discovered his flying skills were best suited for C130 type aircraft. He served four years as a pilot in Search and Rescue / Special Operations Forces in the 41st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron and flew five life-saving missions. During this time he was appointed to the regular Air Force. He subsequently became an HC-130 Instructor pilot in the 1550th Flying Training Squadron, Kirtland AFB, NM. He was selected for Class 90A
- USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, CA, becoming an experimental Test Pilot at
Edwards for three years and Instructor, USAF Test Pilot School, for three years, Chief, of
Curriculum Development Branch, and Command Chief Pilot of C-23A Sherpa and evaluator/instructor pilot for same. At Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, he served as Chief of Test Evaluation and later Chief, Test Division - Flight Training Systems Program, and Investigating Officer for MQ-1 Predator Mishap Safety Board. He returned to Edwards AFB, CA as Chief, Flight Safety at Air Force Flight Test Center and served as Experimental Test Pilot for C-130J, C-130 AMP and EC-130J programs. As Chief, Flight Safety, he provided safety oversight during Space Shuttle landings at Edwards AFB and served as Investigating Officer for Mishap Safety Investigations Boards.

Currently, Karl Major is a civilian flight instructor at the USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, CA. He also does theoretical space physics research in his spare time.