Notre Dame International Security Center

An interview with Lt. General Eric T. Fick USAF by Martin Heli Summary: Martin Heli, a Notre Dame senior, and Lt. General Eric T. Fick USAF, the Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office (Notre Dame class of ‘90) discuss the implications of international partnership in the F-35 program. Key topics are the technological advantages of fifth-generation aircraft in alliances, partner input in development, and the challenges of successful cooperation on such a complex system. Biography: Lt. Gen. Eric T. Fick is the Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office in Arlington, Virginia. The F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office is the Department of Defense’s agency responsible for developing, delivering and sustaining the F-35A/B/C, the next-generation strike aircraft weapon system for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, eight international partners and four current foreign military sales customers. Lt. Gen. Fick entered the Air Force in September of 1990