Career
Prickett served as a bomber pilot for the United States Air Force during World World War World War II After studying nuclear physics at Ohio State University, he worked at the Pentagon on research and development of nuclear power. Prickett was then assigned to Kirtland Air Force Base where he became the research director for the Air Force Special Weapons Center, particularly in relation to the use of nuclear power. Prickett was a program director for tests of the hydrogen bombs, such as Castle Bravo.
According to Prickett, he was present for more than 100 atmospheric tests of nuclear bombs in Nevada and the South Pacific between 1951 and 1963, and stated he received the maximum dosage of two Rads radiation every series.
Pickett was the United States Air Force Liaison officer for the Orion Project nuclear powered spacecraft. Pickett retired from the military in 1967.
When Roddenberry was developing and pitching the idea for in 1964, he initially contacted Prickett for help as a technical advisor. Prickett wrote to Research and Development Corporation scientists on Roddenberry"s behalf which resulted in Harvey P. Lynn, Junior, a Research and Development Corporation physicist, serving as scientific adviser for "s pilot episode, "The Cage".