Alfred P. "Paul" Metz is the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Chief Test Pilot for the F-22 Advanced Tactical Fighter. He made the first flight of the F-22A Raptor aircraft on September 7, 1997.
Metz entered the USAF in 1968 and flew operational combat missions in the F-105G Wild Weasel in Southeast Asia.
He graduated from the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in 1976 and remained at Edwards, conducting avionics, flying qualities, engine and flutter tests on the F-5E/F. In 1978, he became an instructor pilot at the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland.
Metz joined Northrop Aircraft in 1980 as an Engineering Test Pilot. He conducted flight tests on the F-5E/F, the F-20 and the Antonov Colt. In October 1985, he was appointed Chief Test Pilot for Northrop Aircraft, supervising flight tests of the F-20 Tigershark, the RF-5E Tiger Eye Reconnaissance Aircraft, the QF-86F Sabre and other programs. He made the first flight of the YF-23A Advanced Tactical Fighter in August 1990.
Metz has logged over 7,000 hours and has more than 37 years of experience flying more than 70 aircraft types including the F-86, F-105, F-4, F-5, F-15, F-20, YF-23 and F-22.
He was honored with two Distinguished Flying Crosses and six Air Medals for his combat flights over North Viet Nam. He is a Fellow and Past President of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
Metz received a Bachelor's Degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the Ohio State University, Summa Cum Laude, in 1968. His graduate studies have been in Aeronautical Engineering at Ohio State and California State University in Fresno and Aviation Safety at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California.
Paul Metz was born in Springfield, Ohio in 1946 and lives in Fort Worth Texas with his wife, Linda Rae. They have three sons, Aaron, Ryan and Jason.