Excellence in Survivability: Nick Gerstner

By: Ron Dexter

The Joint Aircraft Survivability Program Office (JASPO) is pleased to recognize Mr. Nick Gerstner for his Excellence in Survivability. Currently serving as the Air Systems Team Leader and overseeing all aircraft survivability programs for the SURVICE Engineering Company’s Dayton Area Operation (DAO), Nick is an accomplished vulnerability analyst, project leader, manager, mentor, and vulnerability subject-matter expert (SME). He has been providing the survivability community with critical computational, analytical, and test support on a wide range of acquisition and research programs for nearly 18 years.

An Ohio native, Nick began his survivability career as a college intern at SURVICE in 2001. From his initial work building BRL-CAD and FASTGEN models to his current leadership and SME roles, Nick has repeatedly proven himself and demonstrated a keen ability to understand “big-picture” problems and thoughtfully sort through the details to arrive at effective solutions.

After his indoctrination to vulnerability modeling and simulation (M&S) with FASTGEN and the Computation of Vulnerable AReas Tool (COVART) on the B-2 program in 2001 and 2002, it was clear that Nick possessed not only the technical aptitude for conducting detailed and accurate analyses but also the skill to effectively communicate his thoughts and ideas to improve analyses and the processes necessary to conduct them. Thus, Nick quickly earned a role assessing the Army’s top-priority RAH-66 Comanche helicopter, supporting SURVICE subcontracts from both Sikorsky and Boeing. During this time, he continued to hone his skills in geometry modeling and was one of the pioneers for developing a process to efficiently convert manufacturer CATIA models into BRL-CAD and FASTGEN target descriptions. This process resulted in the next generation of detailed target description models, models that retained the details of the original manufacturer’s design but without the unnecessary geometry contours and features that are known to slow analysis code run times.

The long list of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft that Nick has influenced over the years includes the S-92, S-97, H-60, RAH-66, CH-47, CH-53E, CH-53K, CH-148, CRH, F-16, AV-8B, KC-46, C-27, F-16, F-35, and multiple foreign systems. He has also participated in numerous turbine engine vulnerability programs (such as General Electric’s F-136 and GE38-1B) and weapon programs, including developing characterization data for projectile threats (under the Air Force Pedigree program). In addition, his many customers have included Sikorsky, Boeing, General Electric (GE), General Atomics, Bell, LifePort, SAIC, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), NAVAIR PMA-261, the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Combat Effectiveness and Vulnerability Analysis Branch (AFLCMC/EZJA), and the 704 TG-OL/AC.

In addition to his engine and platform acquisition programs, Nick also leads and conducts research and development programs and specialized design studies and analyses. For example, he was SURVICE’s project lead for a CH-53E Urgent Need requirement to design and evaluate a critical systems armor package in conjunction with NAWCWD. As part of the CH-53E armor team, Nick conducted an armor panel location and design optimization study, providing recommendations and corresponding protection level options for several armor package designs. In recognition of these and other efforts, the Government and contractor team was presented with two Navy Gold Star awards.

Nick has also served as SURVICE’s program and technical lead on the CH-53K program (under subcontract to Sikorsky Aircraft), which dates back to concept studies before the CH-53K was a program of record. He has been influential in the vulnerability design, evaluation, and test of the helicopter and continues to successfully lead the COVART M&S contractor team, as well as play a key role in integrating live fire test and evaluation (LFT&E) data into the M&S processes and applying M&S tools for pre-test and post-test analysis.

Likewise, on the KC-46 development and acquisition program, Nick worked in conjunction with Boeing and AFLCMC/ EZJA to evaluate vulnerability, support LFT&E, and conduct nontraditional studies for Crew and Passenger Survivability (CAPS), as well as low-energy laser vulnerability evaluation. He led the development of an OCA methodology that was approved and implemented by the Air Force on subsequent programs. He also led the aircraft’s test and analysis efforts to update fire P_d/h development by innovatively integrating LFT&E results into COVART, in near real time. This information was used to create a more accurate survivability posture of the aircraft in the specification compliance vulnerability analysis. For this and related work, the KC-46 Program Office presented Nick and the other members of the Survivability team with multiple recognitions.

Nick has also become recognized for his expertise in the test and evaluation aspects of vulnerability, performing a wide range of test planning, on-site test oversight and guidance, post-test data reduction, and integration of test data into the M&S processes to validate analyses and enhance accuracies. Not many individuals in the survivability discipline can be said to have such wide-ranging experience and expertise in both M&S and T&E, for both fixed-and rotary-wing aircraft, and for both Government and industry customers. Without a doubt, this unique combination makes Nick one of the current experts and leaders in the survivability discipline.

Nick’s proven technical expertise, however, is matched only by his willingness and ability to train others in the craft. Throughout his career, he has selflessly mentored newer (and even experienced) vulnerability analysts and answered requests for input and suggestions on a multitude of survivability-related programs. He has also conducted numerous formal and informal training sessions with industry partners looking to grow their in-house survivability capabilities.

As far as his education goes, Nick earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Dayton and a master’s degree in engineering management from Ohio University. In addition, he has published more than 100 vulnerability reports, developed multiple award-winning poster papers, and delivered numerous survivability-related presentations at national conferences.

Finally, when not at work, Nick spends time with his wife and three young children, enjoying sports, boating, camping, and other outdoors activities. Congratulations, Nick, for your Excellence in Survivability and for your past, present, and future contributions to the aircraft survivability community.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mr. Ron Dexter is the SURVICE Engineering Company’s Vice President for Air Force and Navy Sectors. He has more than 30 years of experience in aircraft and munitions survivability and lethality, including nearly a decade of that at Sikorsky Aircraft. In addition, he currently serves as President of the DaytonDefense organization, is a board member of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Combat Survivability Division, and is a former Chairperson of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Survivability Technical Committee.