Todd Levine Captain Todd Levine - Mathematician

Hello! My name is Todd Levine, I'm an Air Force Officer, and I'm currently assigned as a navigator on the C-130 Hercules aircraft in the 52nd Airlift Squadron at Moody Air Force Base (AFB) in Georgia. I haven't always been a navigator; I've served as a test engineer in the past, and I'm going to go to test pilot school to be a test navigator for my next assignment. It's a VERY competitive position; only 2 people were selected this year. I'm very excited that I have this opportunity! Let me tell you how I got there...

I've always been a competitive person. I've always tried to do the thing that gave me the most options in life, even if it was harder. I figure you can always go back and take the easier way. When I was in high school, I had the goal to go to college. I was a good student in high school, and I was active in sports and the band as well (I played the trumpet). When I started looking at colleges, I was intrigued by the Air Force Academy program. I didn't want to go to college and get lazy, just getting by, and the competitive atmosphere at the Academy interested me. Looking at their program, it also looked as if I had a lot of options open to me. So I applied and was accepted. I decided to go and try my best. I thought that if I didn't like it, I could always apply to a civilian school later.

At the Academy, I majored in Applied Mathematics, with emphasis on computers and analysis of dynamical systems. I like to look at the mathematical definition of the way a system works and use math techniques and computers to figure out how the system would respond to an action. For example, if you pull the string at the end of a system of pulleys, math equations and analysis will tell you how high the block on the other end will rise! At the end of my Bachelor's degree, I had 2 opportunities to choose from: go to navigator school or go to graduate school for a Master's degree. I chose to delay going to navigator school to attend graduate school at Georgia Tech. and study for a Master's degree in Applied Math. When I finished there, however, the Air Force had stopped taking navigator students for a year. So I went to work as a test engineer.

My first assignment was to Eglin AFB at Fort Walton Beach, Florida, one of the largest test facilities in the Air Force. I was assigned as a scientific analyst working with munitions (bullets) for the AC-130 gunship. The AC-130 aircraft is a cargo plane (very similar to the one I fly in right now) that is outfitted with guns. It is used for special operations within the Air Force. I had 2 types of days as a test engineer. The first was a "normal" 8 to 5 day where I would sit at my desk all day working on the projects. My typical tasks included doing the analysis to determine the correct trajectory and range for the bullets, planning tests, documenting and interpreting the results of tests, and comparing the results with other studies or with the manufacturer's data. Planning the tests was always interesting; I would have to determine how many tests to run, the profiles, what kinds of data to collect, etc. The second type of day I could have was a "test" day. This day could start early, run late, or take place in the middle of the night! I would be out on the test range interacting with the ground and flight crews for the tests. It was also my job to monitor the tests and record the results. Sometimes I got to fly on the airplanes during the tests. One test I got to ride on 3 night missions watching the crews blow up cement blocks!

After a year as a test engineer, the Air Force reopened navigator training, and I had to make a decision - navigator or test engineer? My boss at Eglin tried to talk me out of navigator training and stay on as an engineer. I looked at the career possibilities of both positions. On the downside of being a navigator was the fact that the position is going away in the Air Force. Navigators are being replaced by computers and satellite navigational systems. I personally feel that celestial navigators like me, people who are trained to navigate using only the sun or stars, will not be in high demand after the year 2000. On the upside, I'D GET TO FLY, and be on the leading edge of the Air Force mission. As well, I could use my flying experiences to be a better engineer in the future if I chose to go back into testing.

I'm glad I made the decision to become a navigator. I like the flying, especially the low level flights. I'm currently assigned as a navigator on a C-130 airplane. It's a 4 engine turboprop, high-wing, cargo plane that flies with a crew consisting of a pilot, a co-pilot, a navigator, a flight engineer, and a loadmaster. I'm responsible for making sure we get where we're supposed to be when we're supposed to be there. In peacetime, my primary concern is avoiding weather problems; in combat, the navigator is also responsible for avoiding the bad guys! On a typical mission, the aircrew (or aircrews if we're flying in formation) meet for a briefing to discuss the mission, the weather, and safety issues. Then the officers do some additional flight planning, while the flight engineer and the loadmaster go out to pre-flight the plane. I pay close attention to the weather and where high winds or storms are predicted. These can affect how fast we can get somewhere or how we need to preform a "drop." A drop is where we release a pallet or parachutists from the back of the plane to land on a drop zone. The pallet can be loaded with supplies or equipment. I calculate the time control to ensure that we get to the drop zone usually within 10 seconds of our assigned time. I also compute the drop parameters, so that the pallet drops right where it is expected. High winds can really affect a drop! Once we're airborne, a navigator must be able to think on his or her feet. We must be able to adapt to ever-changing circumstances. We also decode messages and continue to plot our path to make sure we get where we're expected on time.

I'm really excited about my next assignment, test navigator. The training school is an 11 month program where I will get to fly on approximately 25 different aircraft. I'll learn a lot of aerodynamics, as well as how to develop a good test and how to write good reports. There will be a 2 week field tour of the different testing facilities, as well. When I'm done with the training, I will be assigned to a test facility based on the Air Force's needs. Some possibilities include going back to Eglin AFB, going to Palmdale, in California, or going to Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio. As a test navigator, I will help test new systems or modifications to existing systems for cargo or transport aircraft.

Will I stay in this career? It depends on how this next assignment goes. I like what I'm doing and it's very rewarding, but I'm not sure how some of the changes that may be coming will affect me. I'll have to see...

Questions for Todd:

What is your educational background?
High School Diploma
BS, Applied Mathematics, USAF Academy
MS, Applied Mathematics, Georgia Tech.

Where did you grow up?
Phoenix, Arizona
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Yes, I have 2 brothers. My older brother is a lawyer, and my younger brother is a school teacher and a baseball coach.
Is this the career you thought you'd be in, growing up?
No, not really. I was thinking about international relations as a career. I took Spanish and Japanese at the Academy, and almost majored in political science. But I decided to stay in applied math and go to Georgia Tech. instead.
Was your family supportive of your career choice?
My mother was, but my father didn't want me in the military. He had other plans for me.
Were you influenced by one or more of your teachers?
Yes, by 2 in particular. My Spanish teacher in high school, Mrs. Grundy, was very hard. She didn't accept anything less than a 100% effort. She would often ask for more. She would tell us that we should look beyond being a big frog in a small pond. She also took us on field trips. One of my math teachers, Mr. Kopke, made an impression on me, too. He would teach to the students, and he would help us enjoy the math. He taught us the mechanics of the problems, so that when I got to college, I could concentrate on the meanings behind the mechanics.
What kind of skills do you think people should have if they want a career in flying?
You should have good basic math skills. You should be able to multiply, divide, add, and subtract with your eyes closed. You need to pay attention to details, and you should have discipline. The ability to memorize is also helpful.
What is unique about you as a person?
I like challenges. I say that you should make a goal in life to never lose an opportunity by not trying; take the risk that you may fail. In the long run it will pay off. You can always fall back on what you already know and have accomplished, but you'll never move ahead unless you take the risk and put up the effort.
Would you recommend an aeronautics career to a young person?
Yes! It's challenging and a lot of fun, but being in the Air Force is more than a career decision. The military is a different way of life that, at times, will require you to put your country and your fellow soldiers before yourself and your family. That is something you should think about before entering the Air Force. This lifestyle is not for everyone and remember, there are similar careers in the civilian world where you can fly and "serve" your country, too.

Last modified: Fri June 5 01:58:52 CST 1998