David Gerdes Email & Phone Number

Huntsville, Alabama, United States

Senior manager responsible for SLS core stage and exploration upper stage flight control avionics.

Huntsville, Alabama, United States

Space Launch Systems Hardware/Software Integration and Test Manager

United States

SLS Avionics Mission Systems

Huntsville, Alabama, United States

Assists programs with system engineering best practices, engineering documentation development, requirements development/verification and model-based system engineering.

Huntsville, Alabama Area

Provided the engineering leadership to a team representing multiple skill areas, which include internal and external resources and customers on an ACAT ID early development TMRR missile program. Served as chief of staff to an executive IPT leader and his six managers. Served as a primary interface to the program’s finance, supplier management, and integrated scheduling teams. Assisted and advised senior management on budgetary, schedule, and earn value management actions and issues. Responsible for the development of weekly programmatic/EVM briefing materiel to executive leadership. Assisted in building the monthly briefings to Air Force customer. Tracked and reported programmatic risk. Responded to changes to SOW, assesses the impact and negotiates proposed changes to determine modifications to the deliverables, resources, costs and schedules. Leads project execution to complete the work statement. Identified performance metrics. Planed, identified, and coordinated resources required over the life of the project or program. Defined plans for risk mitigation and opportunity. Compared actual results to baseline plan to assess project performance, efficiencies, productivity and lessons learned. Provided technical, business and integration leadership for the development and execution of project or team plans.

Huntsville, Alabama Area

Served as a member of the Army Material Command – Army Reserve Element, reflagged under Army Futures Command as part of the 75th Innovation Command. Responsible for driving operational innovation, concepts, and capabilities to enhance the readiness and lethality of the Future Force by leveraging the unique skills, agility and private sector connectivity, in direct Support to Army Futures Command and its developmental priorities. Member of the Combat Capabilities Development Detachment, which specifically provides expertise in Army Acquisitions, DoD Budgets, Army research/development capabilities and Army organic manufacturing and engineering capabilities.

Aberdeen Proving Grounds Md

Assistant Product Manager for Fire Support Command and Control (FSC2). Responsible for the Precision Fires - Dismounted/Mounted (PF-D/M) [Pocket-sized Forward Entry Device(PFED), Increment II (Inc II)] software application in support of field artillery dismounted and mounted platforms. Responsible for cost, schedule, performance, and risk mitigation parameters for development, integration, test, and implementation of the software application while operating within the Mobile Hand Held and Mounted Computing environment. Leads a diverse team of Government civilians and contractors. Implements efficiencies by leveraging Better Buying Practices and PEO C3T initiatives to deliver capabilities in a fiscally constrained environment. Manages an annual budget of $8-13 million. Deploys as needed to CONUS and OCONUS locations to evaluate product performance and to address customer needs. Achievements:• Lead the program through a successful operational test and logistics demo. • Achieved materiel release for the program in February 2018 with first fielding scheduled for the following spring.• Reduced weapons system cost from $22k to $8k per system and currently spearheading a government development effort that will further reduce costs to approximately $3k per system.• Achieved the first limited deployment decision and full deployment decision of an information technology box system in Program Executive Officer – Command, Control and Communications Tactical.• Lead or assisted in the development and staffing of a myriad of acquisition documents [e.g. Statements of Work (SOW), Acquisition Strategies, Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP), Life Cycle Sustainment Plan (LCSP)].• Received approval for the development of a follow on block of software.

Savannah, Georgia Area

Commanded the Aviation Maintenance Company assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, tasked with building a team that is adaptable, dependable and resilient. Responsible for the health, welfare, training and combat readiness of between 170 and 310 Soldiers across 17 different military occupational specialties capable of worldwide deployment in support of the Battalion's air, and ground sustainment requirements. Maintained the operational readiness of 34 aircraft, 70 pieces of rolling stock and the associated ground support equipment. Responsible for the management of scheduled, unscheduled and phase maintenance for the Battalion in order to sustain maximum combat power to support the division's ground forces. Provided Soldiers and families the required resources they need in order to develop and to succeed in garrison, combat and their civilian lives.Achievements:• Deployed combat support packages of Soldiers and equipment in support of missions in Europe, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan while maintaining an increased mission load at home station, all while never dropping a mission due to maintenance shortfalls• Brought a fleet a ground combat vehicles that were critically behind on maintenance ahead of schedule to include bringing our fleet of critical refuel vehicles from inoperable to fully mission capable. • Lead the charge in reducing helicopter repair part overstock; streamlined supply operations, reduced logistical footprint, and increased the army’s logistical flexibility in accordance with DoD directives by reducing stock overages by $12M and returning them to the army supply system.• Served as flight mission approval authority, a duty rarely delegated to the maintenance company commander displaying the command’s trust in my decision and risk management skills.

3Rd Combat Aviation Brigade - Hunter Army Airfield Savannah, Ga

Company Executive Officer and Headquarters Platoon Leader for B Co. 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) in Afghanistan and at Hunter Army Airfield. Accountable for serving in the Commander's stead in his absence and responsible for ensuring the execution and communication of his intent. Ensured the Aviation Support Company (ASC) provides premier downed aircraft recovery team and phase maintenance capabilities to the 3rd CAB. Responsible for the training, combat readiness, safety and welfare of 373 Soldiers, NCO's and Officers and 191 contract maintenance personnel. Ensured that every ASC Soldier is disciplined, physically and mentally prepared to fight, with the will to survive and win in garrison and combat. Entrusted with the maintenance, security and employment of equipment valued at $25 million, while also serving as a day, night and night vision goggle CH-47F helicopter pilot.Achievements:• Assumed most of the command duties in combat for over a month when my commander was pulled to serve as battalion’s second in command while a replacement was inbound.• Spearheaded a footprint reduction effort in Afghanistan which returned 385,000 serviceable helicopter parts worth $58M back to the army supply.• Leveraged organic assets to repair helicopter turbine engines slated to go back to the US from Afghanistan for repair saving the army millions of dollars in logistical costs. • Executed five highly successful and varied downed aircraft recovery missions in enemy territory in Afghanistan. • Served as the government furnished equipment hand receipt holder in Afghanistan r for contractor maintenance equipment.

Fort Rucker Alabama

Professional Military Education course further developing officers' skills to prepare them to serve as company commanders and staff officers. The course primarily focuses on developing officers' familiarity with the military decision making process.

Fort Rucker Alabama

Professional Military Education course which focuses on teaching Army officers about aviation maintenance. This includes an in-depth understanding of aviation maintenance regulations, maintenance management, computer systems, reporting, forms and records.

2Nd Combat Aviation Brigade-Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-Do, Korea

S-3 Operations Officer for a forward deployed Aviation Support Battalion comprised of nearly 700 Soldiers and 320 family members, with more than 45 ground vehicles and an annual budget of over $2.1 million dollars. Responsible for planning, coordinating, synchronizing, managing. and executing Battalion sustainment operations and training events in support of full spectrum aviation operations throughout the Korean peninsula. Served as the commander's operational advisor and senior operational liaison to the Second Combat Aviation Brigade and the Second Infantry Division. Manages the Operations (S-3) and Intelligence (S-2) sections consisting of three Officers, six Non -Commissioned officers, and six Soldiers. Supervised unit contingency operations and battle tracking from the Battalion Emergency Operations Center. Maintain RL1 Day and Night proficiency as a CH-47D Pilot in Command.Achievements:• Published over 200 Operations Orders (OPORDS), which are documents that serve as the detailed guide and plan for all battalion level operations.• Planned, briefed, and executed two battalion quarterly and one annual training brief outlying the battalion training and operational plan for the quarter/year.• Successfully planned and executed battalion convoy live fire training. • Planned and successfully participated in three theater level training exercises to prepare the unit for conflict on the Korean Peninsula.• Personally revamped the battalion Sharepoint site drastically improving training efficiencies and reporting.• Chaired the weekly battalion training meeting where training resources and plans were synchronized throughout the battalion.• Personally updated and validated the battalion Tactical Standard Operating Procedures.

2Nd Combat Aviation Brigade-Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-Do, Korea

Served as the Component Repair Platoon Leader in the only Aviation Support Company (ASC) on the Korean Peninsula. Responsible for the health, welfare, training, readiness, and leadership of 70 Soldiers, and 13 Korean Nationals. Supervised the work flow and completion of all shop works orders. Trained and evaluated the performance of all soldiers conducting major component repairs for the 602nd Aviation Support Battalion, supporting over 90 aircraft of four types; CH-47, UH-60A/L and AH-64. Maintained the operational readiness of 14 tactical vehicles, 20 GSE items, 75 individual and crew served weapons and one maintenance hangar. Served as Arms Room Officer for the largest arms room in the division. Also performed duties as a CH-47D pilot in command.Achievements:• Served as the arms room officer and hand receipt holder for the largest arms room in the 2nd Infantry Division, responsible for the security, tracking and maintenance of hundred of rifles, handguns, machine guns, grenade launchers, night vision systems and other critical mission equipment.• As officer in charge, successfully executed the battalion and brigade convoy live fire exercises, the first in years to be executed by the brigade.• Served as the company executive officer for multiple successful field operations to include serving as commander forward on a battalion training exercise when the commander was recalled from the field to serve as an accident investigator.

2Nd Combat Aviation Brigade-Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-Do, Korea

Flight Platoon Leader in the only permanently deployed CH-47D Heavy Lift Helicopter Company in the United States Army providing combat, combat support, and combat service support to the 2nd Infantry Division, Eighth United States Army and the Combined Forces Command in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Responsible for the maintenance, accountability, and combat readiness of 4 CH-47D Helicopters, one Humvee, and associated support and communications equipment valued at over $50 million. Supported the execution of a 2,400 hour flying program and an annual flight budget of $11.5 million. Ensured that 18 Soldiers are prepared to rapidly respond to fight as members of the combined and joint team and win under any conditions within the theater of operations.Achievements:• Platoon hand receipt holder responsible for $50 million worth of equipment to include four CH-47D helicopters.• Managed a 2,400 company flying hour and maintenance program in a high operational tempo environment that once successfully achieved more flight hours in one month with our 12 CH-47D’s than the rest of the brigade’s 78 aircraft combined.• Served as air mission command for multiple high visibility missions to include the first successful CH-47D flight in support of the recovery effort for the Korean Cheonan Pohang-class corvette combat ship which was sunk near the highly contested Northwest Islands.

2Nd Combat Aviation Brigade-Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-Do, Korea

Served as the Executive Officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, forward deployed to the Republic of Korea with 150 Soldiers. Responsible for the coordinating company staff actions between the Commander/First Sergeant and the Brigade Administrative Office and Supply Section. Responsible for the tracking and reporting the maintenance status of 45 vehicles, 45 trailers and 20 generators. Responsible for monthly reporting to the Department of the Army on equipment, personnel and training readiness. Served as the company movement officer, responsible for the logistics of all Brigade headquarters moves and deployments. Served as a CH-47D helicopter pilot. Achievements:• Responsible for the brigade administrative office, company supply section, company staff actions and company readiness reporting to the Department of the Army. • Responsible for the accountability, storage, and requisition of the company’s go to war and training ammunition.• Company Motorpool Officer responsible for over 100 vehicles resulting in a 95% operational readiness rate. • Unit Movement Officer responsible for company load plans and the successfully movement, setup, and execution of three brigade field exercises.

Fort Rucker, Alabama

Student at US Army Flight School consisting of the necessary ground the flight training in order to qualify as an Army Aviator.Graduated #1 in my class in the most competitive branch in the Army.

Urbana-Champaign, Illinois

Simulations research and development: Assisted in the development of an agent based fort to port deployment simulation for the US Army in conjunction with software engineers at Argonne National Laboratory. The simulation was used to identify overages and bottlenecks in the Department of Defense force projection system by simulating the deployment of forces down to the individual soldiers and equipment from their home installation to the air/sea port of debarkation. The program was further developed to aid in base planning and design.Was awarded the student employee of the semester.