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Rick Searfoss shares with only a handful of people in history the sublime experiences of actually flying in space. In his career he has led many different teams, including commanding the most complex science research space mission ever, the STS-90 Neurolab flight on Columbia. He also piloted two other space flights, including a joint Russian-American mission to the Mir space station.

Prior to becoming an astronaut Colonel Searfoss was a fighter pilot and test pilot in the U.S. Air Force, with over 5600 hours flying time in 70 different types of aircraft. A distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School, his recent test flying work includes flying the EZ Rocket technology and Rocket Racer prototype demonstrator aircraft as test pilot and Director of Flight Operations for XCOR Aerospace. Rick is currently the only tri-qualified liquid-propellant rocket pilot in the world.

As the Chief Judge for the $10 million Ansari X Prize, Rick built and led the judging team that developed the verification methodologies and protocols to validate the successful accomplishment of all the X Prize requirements. He has also held executive level positions in the aerospace industry and consults regularly for numerous entrepreneurial space companies such as the Zero Gravity Corporation.

Rick is a high-content expert speaker on leadership, teamwork, innovation, and peak performance. His extensive leadership experience and work with some of the most innovative companies of the new millennium enable him to fulfill his mission of sharing the teamwork, leadership, and innovation lessons of human space flight while bringing the wonders of Space to Earth for all to enjoy.

His numerous awards include the Harmon, Fairchild, Price and Tober Awards as the number one overall, academic, engineering, and aeronautical engineering graduate in his USAF Academy class, National Science Foundation Fellowship to Cal Tech, USAF Squadron Officer's School Commandant's Trophy as top graduate, Tactical Air Command F-111 Instructor Pilot of the Year, Outstanding Young Men of America, Air Force Commendation Medal and Meritorious Service Medals, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Legion of Merit.

Rick resides in California with his wife and daughters, who have always graciously and patiently supported his flying, space, and storytelling habits!

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