Thomas Morganfeld

2011

Distinguished Alumni

Thomas A. Morgenfeld

Tom Morgenfeld graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering and received his master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1973. A fighter pilot in Vietnam, he flew 90 combat missions and amassed more than 500 carrier landings. He became a test pilot and flew top secret missions in Soviet MiG jets. Morgenfeld then joined Lockheed and helped develop the F-117 and YF-22 fighter jets. In 1991, he became a Chief Test Pilot for the Lockheed Skunk Works and performed the first flight in the X-35 Joint Strike Fighter. He has over 7,000 hours in more than 80 different aircraft. At HHS, Morgenfeld was captain of the first soccer team, and also earned the Eagle Scout award through Explorer Post 509. He has received numerous awards throughout his distinguished career, including being inducted into the Lancaster, CA (Edwards Air Force Base) Aerospace Walk of Honor in 2004. In 2011 he was elected to Board of Trustees for the National Test Pilot School.