Oleson Named Sikorsky Flight Test Engineering Senior Manager

I am pleased to announce Robert (Duane) Oleson has accepted the role of Flight Test Engineering (FTE) Senior Manager, based in West Palm Beach, FL.  Duane will officially move into his new role effective August 10, 2020. 

As the FTE Senior Manager, Duane will be responsible for providing senior level technical leadership and management for the flight test engineering team in West Palm Beach, FL. The flight test engineering team consists of approximately 100 flight test engineers and technicians in disciplines including Structures & Dynamics, Powerplants, Performance, Handling Qualities & Flight Controls, and Special Projects groups as well as Flight Test Data Processing and Telemetry operations.  Duane will provide leadership and resources for all flight test programs, to ensure technical, cost and schedule objectives are achieved, and risks are successfully identified and mitigated.  Duane will manage the flight test engineering department staff levels to meet multiple, simultaneous flight test programs, including off-site testing locations while also focusing on maintaining a highly engaged and efficient team.   Additionally, Duane will work closely with Cliff Liles, Pax River FTE Senior Manager, to ensure the West Palm Beach and Pax River engineering teams remain aligned to consistently execute flight test programs. 

Duane has more than 24 years of experience within Sikorsky Aircraft and specifically flight test engineering which make him uniquely qualified for this role.  Duane began his career in 1996 and has held positions of increasing responsibility since that time including ground test engineer, flight test engineer, flight test engineering resource manager, and most recently as the acting flight test engineering manager since 2018.  Duane is also a model development safety committee member and ODA unit member flight test analyst.  Duane earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  In addition to being a private pilot, Duane also attended the National Test Pilot School and completed the accelerated flight test engineering program.

Please join me in congratulating Duane and wishing him much success in this critical role.  I also want to sincerely thank Duane for his dedication and support as the acting flight test engineering manager.