Thomas Chidester

About Thomas Chidester

I\'ll be retiring September 30, 2025! After that, look for me on Facebook!Tom Chidester joined the Federal Aviation Administration’s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) in December of 2005 to serve as Manager of the Human Factors Research Branch, and was promoted to Aerospace Human Factors Division Manager in August 2008. In 2013, he began acting as the Deputy Director of CAMI, and was selected permanently 2015. From 2001 to 2005, Tom served as the Director of the Aviation Performance Measuring System program at NASA Ames Research Center. Tom served as Manager of Human Factors and Safety Training for American Airlines from 1990 to 2001. Tom began his career in human factors research and training at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned Masters and Doctoral degrees in Psychology. Over the past 25 years, Tom has published research results and applications on such topics as using flight and self-report data to improve operations, improving pilots’ use of automated aircraft systems, improving classroom and simulator training for pilots, selection to improve leadership, and color vision requirements and testing for Air Traffic Controllers. His skills include managing research and development activities in Human Factors and safety data analysis, managing Human Factors research scientists, pilots, professional instructors, operational support personnel, and research contractors, coordinating and aligning management and union interests in developing safety partnership programs for airline operations, managing, analyzing and reporting safety data, investigating human performance issues in accidents, translating Human Factors research findings, concepts, and methods into usable operational tools, and communicating professional research, training courseware, and proposed programs. Tom’s current interests include color vision practical testing for pilots and air traffic controllers, translating lessons learned in aerospace human factors to medicine, and improving safety culture in medical service organizations.

Experience

1. Deputy Director, Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

   Federal Aviation Administration

   Mar 2015 — Present

   Provide oversight to daily administration of the Institue in collaboration with the Program Manager and staff. Manage the Safety Manangement System Operations Analysis team. Oversee Quality Management System functions for the Institute. Support Aerospace Medical and Human Factors Research.

Education

• University of Houston

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Psychology

  1978 — 1982

• The University of Texas at Austin

  Masters, Doctorate, Psychology

  1982 — 1986

Skills

• Aviation
• Cognitive Psychology
• Experimental Design
• Helicopters
• Airports
• Flights
• Radar
• Project Planning
• Military
• Safety Management Systems
• Aerospace
• Airlines
• Air Traffic Control
• Strategic Planning
• Systems Engineering
• Aeronautics
• Aerospace Engineering
• Piloting
• Program Management
• Air Force
• Commercial Aviation
• Statistics
• Analysis
• Aircraft
• Flight Safety
• Human Factors