Instructor: Kent Nelson

No image available Biography: Kent Nelson is a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of VECTOR LLC Aviation and Flight Test Consulting Services. He is a flight test engineer and educator with over 45 years of experience in aircraft maintenance, DT&E, and OT&E on a multitude of aerospace weapons systems including B-52s, B-1s, B-2s, cruise missiles, and ICBMs. During his USAF career, Kent worked as a flight line maintenance officer supporting KC-97, B-52D/H, and UH-1F strategic operations. After graduating from USAF Test Pilot School he worked on the B-1A; served an exchange tour with the Canadian Forces at the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment, CFB Cold Lake Alberta; and served as a requirements officer at HQ Strategic Air Command on several systems including the Air Launched Cruise Missile, the B-1A, and classified programs. He was Deputy Chief of Flight Test Instrumentation at Edwards AFB; Deputy Director, B-2A OT&E; and Director, Test & Evaluation at HQ SAC responsible for three dedicated OT&E test squadrons with more than 660 people. He retired from the Air Force as a Colonel after 25 years of service. He has been an instructor at the USAF Test Pilot School and a contract instructor at National Test Pilot School. Kent has a B.S in mechanical engineering (Aero Option) from University of Wyoming and an M.S in Systems Management from USC. He is a USAF Test Pilot School Distinguished Graduate and Outstanding Flight Test Engineer. Kent is a Senior Member of the Society of Flight Test Engineers.

Course taught by this instructor:
Introduction to Operational Test and Evaluation

Classes by this instructor


Operational Test and Evaluation: User-Centric Systems Testing

This OT&E course is designed to introduce students to the language, processes and assorted tools to estimate, plan, accomplish risk assessment, provision, conduct, analyze and report on operational tests.
September 16-20, 2024, San Diego Marriott Mission Valley