Priority 1 Air Rescue promotes Kolby Gaertner to simulation product role

Priority 1 Air Rescue has named Kolby Gaertner Associate Product Manager, Simulation, a new role that consolidates leadership of its mission simulators and hoist training towers across the U.S. and Europe. The move is meant to support customers including the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force, NATO and search-and-rescue operators.

Why it matters: - Priority 1 Air Rescue is putting one manager over two core simulation lines that serve military, government and SAR customers. - The role is designed to align engineering, sustainment and future development across the company’s U.S. and European training footprint. - The change affects systems used by the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force, Army National Guard, NATO forces, law enforcement agencies and commercial search-and-rescue operators.

What happened: - Priority 1 Air Rescue named Kolby Gaertner Associate Product Manager, Simulation. - The company said the role is newly created. - Gaertner will lead the Advanced Aircrew Mission Simulators and Hoist Procedural Training Towers as a single product line across the United States and Europe. - The announcement was made Oct. 9, 2026, from Mesa, Arizona.

The details: - Gaertner now owns the full lifecycle of the AAMS and HPT systems. - His scope includes engineering, integration, sustainment, configuration management, readiness and future development. - The systems include simulator fabrication and construction, Instructor Operator Station hardware, networks and training devices. - He will oversee SAR and aerial gunnery simulation software, simulated weapons and sensors, and crew-served and precision weapon trainers. - The listed training systems include synthetic M240, M134 Minigun, GAU-19, HK417 and Barrett .50 caliber sniper rifle systems. - Sustainment responsibilities include planning, spare parts management and reducing single points of failure. - Critical components under his oversight include Collins Aerospace and Breeze-Eastern rescue hoists, hoist pendants, power control interface units and related equipment. - Gaertner joined P1AR in 2023 as Products Manager. - He holds two degrees from the University of Missouri: a B.S. in Business with an emphasis in Management and a B.S. in Economics. - He later also served as Quality Manager for Synthetic Training Systems. - That experience gave him direct familiarity with both the AAMS and HPT systems. - P1AR said the systems currently support the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force, Army National Guard, NATO forces, state and local law enforcement agencies and commercial SAR organizations.

Between the lines: - The appointment signals P1AR is trying to tighten control over product development and operational support as its simulation business spans multiple regions and customer types. - Combining simulators and hoist towers under one product leader could make the company faster at updating hardware, software and maintenance planning. - The company is also emphasizing continuity and reliability, which matters in mission-critical training environments. - Executive Chairman Jon McLaughlin said Gaertner’s hands-on knowledge and interpersonal skills make him the right person to lead the product line.

What's next: - Gaertner is expected to help shape P1AR’s next generation of simulation technology. - P1AR said the role will support growth in its global training presence. - The company plans to bring additional simulation capability to customers worldwide. - P1AR’s broader mission remains “Training the Aircrews Who Save Lives.”

The bottom line: - P1AR is consolidating leadership over its simulator and hoist-training businesses under a single product manager as it expands its global training operations.