Arthur Ernest "Ernie" Fitzgerald (July 31, 1926 – January 31, 2019) was an American engineer, a member of the Senior Executive Service in the United States Air Force, and a prominent U.S. government whistleblower.

[1][2] Following service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Fitzgerald earned a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from the University of Alabama in 1951.

While employed at the Pentagon Fitzgerald testified to Congress in 1968 and 1969 about the concealed cost overruns and the technical problems of the Lockheed C-5A transport airplane.

[5] As a congressional witness before the Joint Economic Committee, he rejected the advice of Air Force officials and testified with candor and transparency about billions of dollars in avionics program cost overruns and other technical problems.

"[citation needed] In executing the president's order, Fitzgerald was ultimately terminated by Defense Secretary Melvin Laird.