New NLR Vice President Aerospace Vehicles

The NLR organisation has three divisions: Aerospace Systems, Aerospace Operations and Aerospace Vehicles. As of today, Bert Thuis will strengthen the NLR management team as Vice President Aerospace Vehicles. This means that Bert is taking over the position of Collin Beers.

We are pleased to inform you that per February 1, 2024, Bert Thuis has been appointed as Vice President of the Division Aerospace Vehicles of Royal NLR, succeeding Collin Beers. Next to this, Bert will be a member of the Board of Directors.

Bert has been working at NLR since 2004 as manager of the Structures Technology department and previously successfully led the division temporarily to replace Collin during his absence. In his new role, he is committed to safe, efficient and sustainable aviation. “When I started at NLR the focus of research was on reducing the weight of aerospace components by applying new materials and developing new manufacturing technologies”, explains Bert. “Nowadays, the focus is on increasing reproducibility by automatization and digitalization, reducing recurring costs and increasing sustainability. The civil aviation industry has set the ambitious goal for net zero emissions in 2050. Hence we are facing exciting times in the field of research and development to reach these environmental challenges and have to be open minded for disruptive ideas and concepts.“

According to Bert, another important pillar of our research concerns our commitment to the Dutch Ministry of Defence. “With the recently published ‘Dutch Defence Note’ as a guideline we will focus even more on themes such as Innovative Capacity and New Domains and on more European cooperation.”