Gernot LADSTAETTER

Head of Security and Crisis Management North America @ Airbus

Born in Salzburg, Austria, Gernot grew up across Switzerland, the United States, and France before returning home to study Telecommunication and Systems Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences . As one of the early students to specialize in security, he went on to work for Lufthansa in Frankfurt. There, he started in IT Security and later transitioned into the aircraft security domain, a move that led to an assignment with Rockwell Collins in Pomona, California.

After earning his CISSP certification in 2005, Gernot was recruited by Airbus, where he became a key contributor in securing cabin systems within the engineering organization. Over the years, he built and led teams responsible for addressing security challenges across in-service aircraft and industrial systems throughout the Airbus Group. His scope continued to expand as he guided business functions in integrating cybersecurity into their operations, helping them understand and manage risks within their respective domains.

Gernot later served as Chief of Staff to the Airbus Chief Security Officer, a role in which he supported strategic priorities, cross-functional programs, and enterprise-wide security initiatives.

Since December 2022, he has led the North America Security and Crisis Management organization at Airbus, where he oversees regional security strategy, crisis preparedness, governance, and coordination with Airbus global teams. His career reflects a consistent focus on bridging engineering, operational realities, and cybersecurity to strengthen resilience in one of the world’s most complex and globally connected industries.