SAVANNAH, Ga., February 7, 2013 — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has appointed Dan Nale to the position of senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, effective April 1. He will succeed Pres Henne, who will retire March 31. Nale will oversee the company's Engineering, Flight Operations and Program Management Organizations as well as aircraft development, reporting to Larry Flynn, president, Gulfstream.
Most recently, Nale served as vice president, Advanced Aircraft Programs, where he was responsible for overseeing the development of next-generation Gulfstream aircraft. Previously, as vice president, Engineering, Nale was responsible for several design- and engineering-related organizations, including Structures, GV Propulsion, Auxiliary Power Unit, Fuel Systems, Environmental Control and Pressurization Systems. As vice president, Mid-Cabin Programs, a position he took over in March 2003, he was responsible for managing the Gulfstream G100, G150, G200 and G280 programs. Before joining Gulfstream, he worked as a stress engineer on the space shuttle wing program for Grumman Aerospace Corp.
“Dan started his Gulfstream career in 1985 as a structural analysis engineer and has held increasingly responsible engineering positions within the company over the past 28 years,” said Flynn. “I have complete confidence in Dan’s ability to lead the vast team of 1,675 engineers, scientists and designers who are responsible for the industry-leading research and development undertaken at Gulfstream.”
Nale, a Georgia-registered professional engineer (P.E.), holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from The Citadel in Charleston, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Mercer University in Macon, Ga. He also holds a single engine private pilot license.
Henne, who turned 65 in 2012, joined Gulfstream in 1994. He is credited with leading the teams responsible for the design, development, test and certification of the Gulfstream V and G550 aircraft, which earned Robert J. Collier trophies from the National Aeronautics Association in 1997 and 2003, respectively. The trophy is awarded annually for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in North America.
Most recently, Henne oversaw the development of the company’s much-anticipated G650, one of the world’s most sophisticated business-jet aircraft. The G650, which entered service in 2012, was designed with technological advances such as a digital fly-by-wire system, triplex flight management systems, auto emergency descent and enhanced and synthetic vision systems. Henne also supervised the design and development of the G280, an aircraft that has been noted for its best-in-class performance, cabin comfort and technology.
“Over the past 15 years or so, Gulfstream Aerospace has introduced six new products; launched a number of industry-leading product enhancements, including the Gulfstream Enhanced Vision System and Synthetic Vision – Primary Flight Display; and received the Robert J. Collier trophy twice. We also established a strong engineering organization as well as a Research and Development Center campus with four office buildings and a dedicated state-of-the-art lab building," Flynn said. “These accomplishments are due, in part, to Pres’ leadership, innovation and knowledge of the aerospace industry. His retirement is well-deserved.”
Said Henne, “It’s amazing how 44 years in the aircraft design and development business have flown by. It has been an honor to be part of the teams that developed the G650, G550, GV, G450, G280 and G150.”
Henne earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering with highest undergraduate honors from the University of Illinois in 1969 and a master’s degree in engineering from California State University at Long Beach in 1974. Henne is a Fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. His awards include the AIAA 1996 Engineer of the Year Award, the AIAA 2001 Hap Arnold Award for Excellence in Aeronautical Program Management, the 2005 University of Illinois Alumni Award for Distinguished Service, a 2012 Living Legend of Aviation Award from the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, the AIAA 2012 Reed Aeronautics Award and a 2012 Aviation Week Laureate Award.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, is 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 2,000 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 new large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G280®; the large-cabin, long-range Gulfstream G450®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550® and the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650®. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales®. The company employs more than 12,500 people at 12 major locations. We invite you to visit our website for more information and photos of Gulfstream aircraft at www.gulfstream.com.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about the company is available on the Internet at www.generaldynamics.com.
