Petersen, Forrest Silas 'Pete'

American test pilot, 1952-1962. Flew the X-15.

BS, US Naval Academy, 1944. BS, aerospace engineering, US Naval Postgraduate School, 1952. MS, engineering, Princeton University, 1953. Born in Holdrege, Nebraska. Married with three children. Joined the X-15 program in 1958, making five flights before leaving the project in 1962. From 1962 Deputy Chief of Naval Material. Later Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare and Commander of Naval Air Systems Command. Retired from active duty in May 1980 with the rank of Vice Admiral. Died of cancer in Omaha, Nebraska.