Gernot Ladstaetter, Participant

Born in Salzburg, Austria, Gernot Ladstaetter was raised in Switzerland, the United States, and France, before returning to his roots to study Telecommunication- and Systems-Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences. Among the first, he majored in cyber security and went on to work for Lufthansa in Frankfurt, Germany. Here, he became a member of the esteemed Chaos Computer Club (CCC), immersing himself in the ever-evolving cyber security community. At Lufthansa, Gernot started working in the IT Security department before moving on to the Aircraft Security domain, which also led him to a 9-month mission with Rockwell Collins in Pomona, California. Armed with a CISSP certification in 2005, he was recruited by Airbus, where he played a pivotal role in securing cabin systems within the aircraft engineering department. His leadership skills flourished as he built and led teams, tackling the security challenges of in-service aircraft, and industrial systems across the entire Airbus Group. His expertise extended to supporting all business functions on cyber security within their respective domains. In a challenging pivot, Gernot assumed the role of Chief of Staff to the Airbus Chief Security Officer, where he navigated the strategic helm of security initiatives. His tenure witnessed the orchestration of seamless collaborations, reinforcing Airbus’s commitment to safeguarding its assets. Since December 2022, Gernot has steered the North America Security and Crisis Management organization at Airbus. His strategic foresight and operational acumen position him as a key architect in navigating the complex landscape of security challenges. Beyond the world of security and crisis, Gernot is a devoted spouse and father of two amazing daughters. Gernot loves spending time with the family outdoors and is currently in training for the 2024 United Airlines New York City Half Marathon where he aspires to successfully compete against his wife.