News Release
GULFSTREAM APPOINTS GERARD SCHKOLNIK AS DIRECTOR, SUPERSONIC TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS
SAVANNAH, Ga., March 13, 2006 – Gulfstream Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has appointed Gerard Schkolnik as director of its supersonic technology programs. In addition to overseeing Gulfstream’s ongoing research into sonic boom suppression, Schkolnik will direct the company’s research of structural concepts and advanced materials, propulsion integration and supersonic aerodynamics as they apply to supersonic flight.
“Gerard brings with him impressive experience in supersonic aircraft research,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, programs, engineering and test, Gulfstream. “I look forward to applying that experience to our research into sonic boom suppression and other technologies supporting supersonic flight.”
Schkolnik joins Gulfstream with nearly 20 years of aerospace experience in flight research, development, test and evaluation. For the past 15 years, he has worked for NASA at the agency’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. While there, he managed or supported 18 flight-test projects, including the F-15 testbed support of the Shaped Sonic Boom experiment and the Center’s Supersonic Flight Demonstrations programs. A founding member of Dryden’s planning and business development directorate, Schkolnik served as the center’s representative to several aerospace corporations and government agencies, including Naval Air Systems Command, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Prior to his tenure with NASA, Schkolnik served as an aerodynamics, flying qualities and stability control engineer at the Air Force Flight Test Center, also at Edwards AFB. While there, he worked on the B-2 program and the F-15 STOL demonstrator, and numerous other models of fighter jets, accruing more than 200 flight hours as a flight-test engineer. Schkolnik, who holds a patent disclosure for the “Adaptive Method to Control and Optimize Aircraft Performance,” has authored several publications and received numerous engineering awards.
Schkolnik graduated as a Rodman Scholar from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland. Schkolnik is a senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world’s most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 1,500 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150™; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G200™; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G350™; the large-cabin, long-range G450™; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G500™ and the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550™. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Financial Services Division and Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales®. The company employs more than 7,900 people at seven major locations. We invite you to visit our Web site for more information and photos of Gulfstream aircraft at www.gulfstream.com.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 72,200 people worldwide and had 2005 revenue of $21.2 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. More information can be found online at www.generaldynamics.com.
