VSAT's Personnel
VSAT has attracted a cadre of recognized experts in several complementary fields, making it the most viable firm for analyzing and supporting all phases of training system acquisition from concepts of operation to test and evaluation. VSAT’s world-class experts work synergistically and cooperatively to meet the needs of the customer by understanding the customer’s needs and providing the most effective solutions to the requirements, fairly taking into consideration all factors. We have no preconceived solution to peddle. Our key employees include:
Richard J. Heintzman
Mr. Heintzman, VSAT founder and President, has extensive experience in the development of flight simulators and other training devices, in both Government and industry. He manages all aspects of VSAT’s technical, business, and personnel activities. He has directed efforts to develop methods for determining simulation fidelity requirements for combat simulation using engineering principles and operational crew expertise. Mr. Heintzman is currently conducting research and developing programs which apply military methods to private sector training applications.
MORE
John F. Lethert
Mr. Lethert serves VSAT as Executive Vice President. He has managed VSAT’s proposals for the KC-X Training Systems Requirements Analysis, SBIR N07-034, Military Training Systems Acceptance Test & Evaluation, SBIR N07-033 Advanced Aircraft Simulator Flight Fidelity Evaluation Measures and SBIR N04-027, A Fidelity Analysis Tool for F-35 JSF Training Systems. He was also Principal Investigator on SBIR AF02-068, Distributed Mission Training Requirements and Capability Analysis, where he developed concepts for using computer-based questionnaires to evaluate simulators and isolate problems with them.
MORE
William L. Curtice III
Mr. Curtice is VSAT's Vice President for Development. He is responsible for Independent Research and Development (IRAD). He also serves as staff advisor and consultant on all major VSAT programs. Previous to his employment by VSAT, he was employed by the USAF in various capacities relating to Air Force acquisition and development of training systems and devices, and in application of modeling and simulation to analysis of war-fighting capabilities.
MORE
Ellen G. Dyson
Ellen G. Dyson serves as the Director of Contracts and Administration, responsible for VSAT’s contractual, financial, and security functions. She came to VSAT from an outstanding civilian career in Air Force security administration.
Robert P. Bateman, PhD
Dr. Bateman is an expert in the widely diverse fields of human engineering, psychology, safety, and aviation. Dr Bateman is leading the analysis of Air Refueling Operator Training requirements for VSAT’s KC-135 TSRA and providing safety and human engineering support to Centrifuge and Research Chamber Acquisition support programs. He was VSAT’s Principal Investigator for SBIR N04-027 A Fidelity Analysis Tool for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Training Systems where he developed tools to determine aircrew and maintenance device fidelity and analyze current and future system effectiveness.
MORE
Frank C. Gentner
Mr. Gentner is an expert in Manpower, Personnel, and Training (MPT) and Human Systems Integration (HSI). He is the VSAT technical coordinator for the KC-X TSRA authoring and editing several product reports and interfacing with the prime contractor and government personnel. He also coordinates VSAT efforts on the Centrifuge and Research Altitude Chamber Acquisition Support Program assisting in developing requirements and managing experienced consultant for source selection.
MORE
Robert A. Lillie
Mr. Lillie is VSAT’s expert on current systems engineering policies and procedures as well as Distributed Mission Operations (DMO). He provided VSAT’s inputs the System Requirements Documents, System Engineering Plans, and Test and Evaluation Master Plans on the Centrifuge and Research Altitude Chamber Programs. He provided assessments of the Navy and Lockheed Martin Test Procedures used for F-35 Simulator on for SBIR N07-034, Military Training Systems Acceptance Test & Evaluation, and he chaired a key meeting that resolved contentious issues on the KC-X TSRA task list.
MORE
EDWARD A. MARTIN, PhD
Dr. Martin is a Senior Training Systems Analyst with VSAT, and is the Principal Investigator on an innovation research program to develop a low cost means of providing onset acceleration cues to a pilot as part of real time immersive training in a flight simulator; in support of the Joint Strike Fighter.
MORE
Randall L. Olson
Mr. Olson has broad experience in simulation and modeling of many aircraft and missile systems. He is currently the Principal Investigator on SBIR N07-034, Military Training Systems Acceptance Test & Evaluation which is supporting F-35 simulator testing. He also led VSAT’s analysis of problems with the C-17 Weapons System Trainer Control Loading System for the Training Systems Product Group and was a major contributor on the VSAT’s support of the COBRA force-cueing seat development.
MORE
Gary B. Reid
Mr. Reid has managed VSAT’s efforts on SBIR N04-027, A Fidelity Analysis Tool for F-35 JSF Training Systems and designed computer based questionnaires to support evaluations of simulator fidelity to support that SBIR. He is currently designing computer based questionnaires to support KC_X TSRA. He established a partnership between VSAT and Wright State University to support VSAT’s Teen Driver Initiative. He has used his university contact to recruit and train several interns who have invaluable to VSAT’s activities.
William H. Schelker
Mr. Schelker is a nationally-recognized expert in both constructive modeling and real-time simulation. At VSAT he has developed the key concepts and software architecture for MAST-ES, VSAT simulator evaluation system. This system, developed under SBIR N07-034, Military Training Systems Acceptance Test & Evaluation, is being used for F-35 simulator testing. He recognized that much of VSAT’s expertise applied could be to training of firefighters; he convinced VSAT to pursue this idea, and developed an interface with the local fire department. He was a key player in VSAT’s technical evaluation of a simulator to support our Teen Driver Initiative.
MORE
David A. Shumway
Mr. Shumway is VSAT’s expert in integration of training psychology and behavioral sciences with engineering development, to create full-spectrum training systems including curricula, media, and devices. He was a major contributor to all aspects of our efforts on SBIR AF02-068, Distributed Mission Training Requirements and Capability Analysis, and SBIR N04-027, A Fidelity Analysis Tool for F-35 JSF Training Systems.
MORE
David E. Stahre
Mr. Stahre is an Aircrew Operations Analyst with VSAT. He contributes to all VSAT programs with his extensive experience and expertise in managing and certifying both civilian and military training systems. Based on his specific C-141 experience in the US Air Force’s Air Mobility Command (AMC), his contributions to the USAF’s new tanker program, the KC-X, will be invaluable.
MORE
Donald E. Stark
Mr. Stark is VSAT ‘s expert in the development of processes and procedures for determining maintenance training requirements. He defined approaches to evaluate the fidelity required for maintenance training on SBIR N04-027, A Fidelity Analysis Tool for F-35 JSF Training Systems. His work as an aircraft mechanic brings practical experience to VSAT in its work on aircraft maintenance training.
MORE
Lawrence T. Wade
Mr. Wade is a current licensed pilot with over 6000 hours in military and civilian aircraft. He is leading VSAT efforts to define the pilot training requirements for the KC-X Training System Requirements Analysis (TSRA) including the definition of the tasks to be trained and the training objectives. He supported VSAT’s efforts on SBIR N04-027, A Fidelity Analysis Tool for F-35 JSF Training Systems, by developing approaches for media selection, and he has been invaluable to numerous VSAT programs and proposals by providing a pilot’s perspective.
MORE
Did You Know?
VSAT's personnel have extensive experience in research, developement, operation, analysis, specification, test, evaluation and modification of training systems, flight simulators, maintenance trainers, and mission training capabilities. VSAT's personnel were instrumental in the development of US Department of Defense and Air Force policies, procedures, and standards for training system acquisition.