We are thrilled this evening to welcome the programs founder, dan pedderson. He went on to become the senior officer in the group of nine men who formed the navys legendary Top Gun Program at navy air station in march 1969. He served in combat during the vietnam war with the flying crews. He retired as a captain having accumulated 6,100 flight hours and 1,005 carrier landings. For those of you who know his story from the 1986 movie top gun, you will be happy to know that he is producing a sequel which is scheduled to be released in 2020. Peddersons book is available for purchase and signing following this conversation. And here to keep the conversation moving is larry burke, cure ator of u. S. Naval aviation at the national air and space museum. So now please welcome dan pedderson and larry burke. You ready to go . Im going to take about ten minutes to just set the stage here for larry and i to go back and forth in final preparation for the questions coming from you. The assumption is
Off your cell phone or anything that might make noise during the program. Thank you for doing that. This past march marked the 50th anniversary of the u. S. Navy Fighter Weapons program. We are thrilled this evening to welcome the programs founder, dan pederson. He entered the u. S. Navy in 1953 and went on to become the senior officer in the group of nine men who formed the legendary Top Gun Program at Naval Air Station miramar in march of 1969. He served in combat during the vietnam war with the flying crews on the uss hancock and three on the uss enterprise. He retired as a captain, having accumulated 6100 flight hours and 1005 flight carrier landings while flying 39 different types of aircraft. For those of you who know pedersons story from the 1986 movie, top gun, Jerry Bruckheimer is producing, top gun maverick, a sequel in 2020. His book is available for purchase and signing following this conversation. Here to keep the conversation going is larry burke, curator of Naval Aviatio
In his illustrated talks, he offered a firsthand account of the real story behind its development. The Smithsonian Associates hosted this event. Lauren good evening. Im Lauren Rosenberg with the Smithsonian Associates. And id like to welcome you to this program. To members, im so glad that youre here. Its your support that makes events like this possible. And if youre joining for the first time, an equally warm welcome and invitation to explore the wide range of programs we offer. Now is your perfect time to talk off your cell phone or anything that might make noise during the program. Thank you for doing that. This past march marked the 50th anniversary of the u. S. Navy Fighter Weapons program. We welcome the programs founder, dan pederson. He entered the u. S. Navy in 1953 and went on to become the senior officer of nine men to form the legendary Top Gun Program at Naval Air Station miramar in march of 1969. He served in combat during the vietnam war with the flying crews on the uss
Our nations past. It is different but it is very pretty appear. Announcer up next, the first officer in charge and cofounder of the u. S. Navy Fighter Weapons school discusses his book, top gun, and american story. Hehis illustrated talks, offered a firsthand account of the real story behind its development. The Smithsonian Associates hosted this event. Good evening. With theen rosenberg Smithsonian Associates. I would like to welcome you to this program. Its your support that makes events like this possible. If you are joining for the first time, and equally warm welcome and invitation to explore the wide range of programs we offer. Now is your perfect time to talk anythingcell phone or that may make noise. This patch this past march marked the 50th anniversary of the u. S. Navy fighter weapon program. We welcome the programs founder, Dan Patterson dan pederson. He formed he served in combat during the hancockwar on the uss and three on the uss enterprise. He retired as a captain, hav
Institute, this is one hour. [indiscernible] im honored to have with us to have with us the assistant secretary of the navy, the navy comptroller, Russell Rumbaugh. Weve been friends and colleagues for many years. He has worked in a variety of positions at dod, on the hill, and think tanks, and he most recently came into the department of the navy from aerospace corporation. Previously he had worked at the Simpson Center and other places here in d. C. , the Congressional Research service for many years, and he began his career as a u. S. Army infantry officer. You dont talk about that with the navy folks. Navy i will ask you a few things about the army budget and how much the navy took from them this year. [laughter] its a pleasure to have him here for this discussion. We will also be taking discussion from the audience in the room and online. So, when we turn to that, if you are online you can go ahead and start asking questions on the site where i get to read the questions off the ip