"setting new standards for technological advances" and "rewriting the books on acquisition and business practices." His successor voiced a different opinion in 2012. "This will make a headline if I say it, but I'm going to say it anyway," Frank Kendall said. "Putting the F-35 into production years before the first test flight was acquisition malpractice. It should not have been done." As of 2012, the military has spent $373 million to fix planes already bought; the ultimate repair bill for imperfect planes has been estimated at close to $8 billion. He served in a variety of jobs, including: Secretary of the Air Force President of McDonnell Douglass Electronic Systems Company President and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation Adviser to the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks in Helsinki and Vienna Senior manager with the LTV Aerospace Corp., Senior management associate in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Strategic Programs Vice President of National Policy and Strategic Systems Group for the System Planning Corporation Air Force Undersecretary for guiding and supervising the National Reconnaissance Office and the Air Force space program Affiliations Affiliations included: President and Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Member, Defense Science Board Member, National Academy of Engineering National Director, Air Force Association Member of the Board of Directors of the United States Air Force Academy Foundation Awards Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award In 2005, Aldridge received the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award, by the Space Foundation. The award is in recognition for individuals who have made substantial contributions to space technology, information, themes, or resources. References External links Spacefacts biography of Edward C. Aldridge Jr. www.dau.mil United States Secretaries of the Air Force 1938 births Living people Texas A&M University alumni Georgia Tech alumni C. E. Byrd High School alumni Directors of the National Reconnaissance Office George W. Bush administration personnel Texas Republicans American nonprofit chief executives United States Under Secretaries of Defense Reagan administration personnel