Official NASA portrait of Troy Asher, director of NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center

NASA Armstrong Director: B-1B Record Pilot Troy Asher Takes Over

by | Oct 30, 2026 | Aviation World, News | 0 comments

In 2003, a US Air Force test pilot named Troy Asher flew a B-1B bomber to a string of world speed records. Twenty-five of them, according to NASA. On Thursday, 29 October 2026, NASA put the same pilot in charge of the place where America flies its strangest experimental aircraft.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman named Asher director of the Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards, California, the agency announced. Asher had been running the centre as acting director since March, when his predecessor Bradley Flick retired after almost 40 years at NASA.

The appointment puts a career test pilot at the head of NASA's home of flight research, at a moment when the agency says it wants to rebuild its line-up of X-planes.

Quick Facts

  • Announced: 29 October 2026, by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
  • New role: Director, NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards, California
  • Acting director since: March 2026
  • Predecessor: Bradley Flick, retired after nearly 40 years at NASA
  • Air Force career: 24 years; retired as a lieutenant colonel
  • Records: 25 world speed records in a B-1B bomber, set in 2003
  • NASA aircraft flown: F-15, F/A-18, Gulfstream III, X-56A; lead test pilot on SOFIA

From bomber records to NASA research jets

Asher spent 24 years in the US Air Force and retired as a lieutenant colonel. His résumé reads like a tour of Edwards: instructor at the US Air Force Test Pilot School, commander of the 419th Flight Test Squadron and director of the Bomber Combined Test Force, according to NASA.

He joined NASA in 2008 as a research test pilot and aerospace engineer. At Armstrong he flew the F-15, the F/A-18 and the Gulfstream III, flew science missions on the agency's DC-8 and was involved in testing the remotely piloted X-56A. He was also the lead test pilot for SOFIA, the Boeing 747SP that carried a large infrared telescope into the stratosphere.

NASA SOFIA Boeing 747SP flying observatory with telescope door open
SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, flies with its telescope door open. Troy Asher was the lead test pilot for the 747SP observatory. Photo: Carla Thomas / NASA

Before taking over as acting director, Asher ran Flight Operations at Armstrong. He holds a bachelor's degree in astronautical engineering from the US Air Force Academy and a master's in mechanical engineering from California State University, Fresno.

“He understands what it takes to turn ambitious ideas into successful flight tests.”
Jared Isaacman — NASA Administrator, announcing the appointment (NASA, 29 October 2026)

The X-plane job

Armstrong is NASA's Flight Test and Aircraft Operations Center of Excellence, and its desert ramp has hosted everything from the X-15 to today's quiet supersonic X-59. NASA says Asher will lead flight research, aircraft operations and the development of new aviation technologies, and help rebuild and expand the agency's portfolio of X-planes.

NASA X-56A remotely piloted research aircraft in flight
The remotely piloted X-56A flies over the desert near NASA Armstrong. The aircraft explored how light, flexible wings behave in flight, and Asher was among the pilots who tested it. Photo: NASA

That is a test pilot's kind of mandate. Isaacman said Asher's experience would help restore NASA's flight-test capabilities.

“Few people better understand the art and discipline of flight testing.”
Amit Kshatriya — NASA Associate Administrator and Chief Engineer (NASA, 29 October 2026)

NASA Armstrong's own video on the X-56 and active flutter control, one of the research programmes Asher flew on.

Armstrong has always been a test pilots' centre. With a 25-time record holder now officially in the corner office, its director is one too.

Sources: NASA, aeroTELEGRAPH, Wikipedia

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the new director of NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center?
Troy Asher was named director of NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on 29 October 2026 by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. Asher had served as acting center director since March 2026.
What speed records did Troy Asher set?
In 2003, while serving in the US Air Force, Troy Asher set 25 world speed records flying the Rockwell B-1B Lancer bomber, according to NASA. He spent 24 years in the Air Force and retired as a lieutenant colonel.
Which aircraft has Troy Asher flown at NASA?
Since joining NASA in 2008, Troy Asher has flown the F-15, F/A-18 and Gulfstream III, flew science missions on the DC-8, and was involved in testing the remotely piloted X-56A. He was also lead test pilot for the SOFIA 747SP airborne observatory.
Who did Troy Asher replace at NASA Armstrong?
Troy Asher succeeds Bradley Flick, who retired as director of NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in March 2026 after nearly 40 years at NASA. Asher led the center as acting director from March until his permanent appointment in October 2026.
What does NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center do?
NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards, California, is NASA's Flight Test and Aircraft Operations Center of Excellence. It conducts flight research, operates the agency's research aircraft and is central to NASA's X-plane programmes, including the X-59 quiet supersonic jet.
What was Troy Asher's Air Force career?
Troy Asher served 24 years in the US Air Force. He was an instructor at the US Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards, commander of the 419th Flight Test Squadron and director of the Bomber Combined Test Force before retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

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