Charlotte Gerhart
Chief, Tactical SATCOM Acquisition Delta, MilComm & PNT Directorate, Space Systems Command
Ms. Charlotte Gerhart is the Chief, Tactical SATCOM Acquisition Delta, Military Communications and Position, Navigation, and Timing (MilComm & PNT) Directorate, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base (LAAFB), CA.
She is responsible for the acquisition, production, and fielding of tactical satellite communications capabilities for the Nation’s warfighters. Ms. Gerhart received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1993 from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Science in Systems Engineering in 2011 from the Naval Post Graduate School.
Ms. Gerhart began her career in 1992 working for the Aerospace Corporation supporting the US Air Force Phillips Laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico. During this time she worked on the development of various technologies for space systems in the areas of power, thermal control, and space debris modeling.
In 1994, she began working for Nichols Research Corporation supporting the US Air Force Research Laboratory, what was previously Phillips Laboratory. During this time she focused on the development and demonstration of satellite thermal management systems such as looped heat pipes and phase change materials.
In 1998, Ms. Gerhart joined the civil service supporting the US Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate. In this assignment she was responsible for managing the development and demonstration of space system technologies including thermal systems, structural systems, vibro-acoustic suppression, and laser communications systems.
In 2007, Ms. Gerhart moved to Los Angeles to support the SMC/MILSATCOM Transformational Satellite Program. She initially supported the satellite laser communications payload, transitioned to being responsible for the payload, and eventually was the satellite chief engineer.
In 2009, Ms. Gerhart moved to be the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) program as the manager of the WGS 7-10 program (also known as WGS Block II Follow-on), and later served as the Deputy Program Manager for the WGS program. From 2013 through 2018 she served as the WGS Program Manager delivering four satellites into operations with two more in work.
In 2018, Ms. Gerhart moved to the Remote Sensing Directorate to be the Chief of the Space Based Environmental Monitoring Division. In 2019, as part of the SMC 2.0 transition she was selected to be the Chief, LEO Division for the Space Production Corps in 2019.
In 2022, Ms. Gerhart transitioned to the newly formed MilComm & PNT Directorate and assumed leadership of the Tactical SATCOM Acquisition Delta. She has responsibility for the production and fielding of WGS 11+, the rapid acquisition and fielding of Protected Tactical SATCOM (PTS) Rapid Prototype payloads, Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES) Rapid Prototype, Army & Air Force Anti-jam Modem (A3M), Air Force Wideband Enterprise Terminal (AFWET), and Enterprise Management and Control (EM&C).