Board Members 2007-2011
Larry G. “Hoss” Pearson
BIOGRAPHY
After graduating from San Antonio College, Larry G. "Hoss" Pearson began his career in the United States Navy as a Naval Aviation Cadet in Pensacola, Florida, where he was commissioned and received his Wings of Gold in January 1967.
His first assignment was to Fighter Squadron VF-191 at NAS Miramar in San Diego, California, where he flew the F-8 Crusader in combat cruises aboard USS TICONDEROGA (CVA 14) and USS ORISKANY (CVA 34).
After earning his Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering (MSAE) at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, he returned to NAS Miramar and made two deployments with Fighter Squadron 211 aboard the USS HANCOCK (CVA 19).
Captain Pearson is a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland. During his tour as a test pilot at the Pacific Missile Test Center, Point Mugu, California, he participated in numerous projects, flying eight different aircraft including the F-14, F-4, F-8 and F-86.
He then reported as Flag Lieutenant to Commander Seventh Fleet, home ported in Yokosuka, Japan, and forward-deployed in the flagships USS OKLAHOMA CITY (CG 5) and USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC 19). Following that tour, Captain Pearson took the helm as Commanding Officer of the Black Knights of Fighter Squadron 154 at NAS Miramar, making two extended deployments aboard USS CORAL SEA (CV 43), including an around-the-world cruise in 1983.
In November 1983, Captain Pearson assumed command of the US Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels. During his two-year tour as leader of the "Blues", the team presented 158 air shows throughout the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico flying the A-4F “Super-Fox” Skyhawk.
After leaving the Blue Angels, Captain Pearson took command of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Four (VX-4) at Point Mugu, with twenty-two fighter aircraft, F-14, F-18 and F-4’s, and over 500 personnel. The squadron pursued 57 active projects including the F-14A+, F/A-18C, and AIM-54C+ and extensive Tactics Development projects for all three primary fighter aircraft and oncoming new weapons systems.
Captain Pearson served in the Aviation Plans and Analysis Office as Strike Warfare Plans Analyst on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, DC.
His final tour in the US Navy was as Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Miramar ("FIGHTERTOWN USA"), during this tour, he also flew as a flight instructor in the F-14A, B, and D models and helped develop the courseware and tactics for the new Super Tomcat, F-14D.
Since his retirement from the US Navy, Captain Pearson has remained actively involved in aviation, flying both flight tests and air shows, and came full circle to fly the F-8 Crusader once again in both arenas. As a civilian test pilot, he has participated in several high priority Department of Defense test projects, including the B-2 Stealth Bomber Program and the F-22 Stealth Fighter Program, flying seven different types of aircraft.
Captain Pearson has logged more than 8,500 flight hours in more than 66 different types of aircraft, 820 carrier landings, and 158 combat missions (coincidentally the same number of air shows he flew with the Blue Angels). He is an Associate Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, where he served for many years on the membership committee.