Ross Elder

Ross Elder is a United States Air Force officer and experimental test pilot who, in 2025, was selected as mission commander for NASA's second Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) mission, a 378-day Mars mission simulation conducted to inform planning for future human missions to Mars.

Elder's Air Force career has included service as an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot, developmental test pilot, and instructor at the United States Air Force Test Pilot School. As a developmental test pilot, he participated in testing of the F-35 Lightning II and F-15EX Eagle II and in the Combat Artificial Intelligence Technology Demonstration (CAITD), which evaluated autonomous flight capabilities using the XQ-58A Valkyrie.

Early life and education

Elder grew up in Williamstown, West Virginia, where he graduated from Williamstown High School.[1] [2] He attended the United States Air Force Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in astronautical engineering.[2]

He earned a Master of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs before attending the United States Air Force Test Pilot School as a member of Class 20-B, where he earned a master's degree in flight test engineering.[3]

Military career

Elder was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force and served as an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot flying combat missions in support of U.S. military operations.[3] He was selected to attend the United States Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, graduating as a member of Class 20-B.[3] He subsequently became a developmental test pilot, conducting flight testing of advanced military aircraft and weapons systems.[3]

Elder's flight test work has included developmental testing of the F-35 Lightning II and F-15EX Eagle II, as well as participation in the Combat Artificial Intelligence Technology Demonstration (CAITD), which evaluated autonomous flight capabilities using the XQ-58A Valkyrie.[4][3] He later served as developmental test lead for the Viper Experimentation and Next-generation Operations Model–Autonomy Flying Testbed (VENOM-AFT), an Air Force program that modified F-16 Fighting Falcons for autonomous flight testing.[5]

He later served as Director of Operations for the 461st Flight Test Squadron before becoming an instructor at the United States Air Force Test Pilot School.[3]

As of 2025, Elder has accumulated more than 1,800 flight hours, including approximately 200 combat hours, and had flown more than 35 military aircraft types.[3][6]

CHAPEA Mission 2

In September 2025, NASA selected Ross Elder as mission commander of the second Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) mission.[7][8] On October 19, 2025, the crew entered Mars Dune Alpha, a 3D-printed habitat at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, beginning a planned 378-day simulated Mars mission.[8][7]

As commander, Elder leads a four-member crew conducting scientific research, simulated extravehicular activities (EVAs), robotic operations, habitat maintenance, and other operational tasks designed to support NASA's planning for future human missions to Mars.[8]

Awards and honors

In 2024, Elder was among the recipients of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Aerospace Excellence Award as a member of the United States Air Force Combat Artificial Intelligence Technology Demonstration Team.[9] The award recognized the team's demonstration of artificial intelligence-enabled autonomous flight using the XQ-58A Valkyrie.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "The Martian Chronicles: Williamstown man chosen to lead simulated Mars mission". The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  2. 1 2 "This Is Home: Major Ross Elder, the next Chuck Yeager". WTAP. 2021-01-22. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "From tester to subject: Air Force Test Pilot School instructor commands Mars mission". Eglin Air Force Base. United States Air Force. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  4. ↑ Lipton, Eric (2023-08-27). "A.I. Brings the Robot Wingman to Aerial Combat". The New York Times. Retrieved 2026-07-16.
  5. ↑ "F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing". Eglin Air Force Base. United States Air Force. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  6. ↑ Schogol, Jeff (2025-09-15). "A-10 combat pilot prepares for 378-day NASA Mars simulation". Task & Purpose. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  7. 1 2 "Inside the Mars mission crew's year in quarantine". The Times. 2025-10-19. Retrieved 2026-07-16.
  8. 1 2 3 "NASA Announces CHAPEA Crew for Year-Long Mars Mission Simulation". NASA. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  9. 1 2 "2024 AIAA Awards Gala Held in May". American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. AIAA. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
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