Bojana Nikolic

Dr. Bojana Nikolic is a distinguished aerospace engineer with more than 25 years of experience advancing hypersonic technologies, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and thermal-fluid systems. She currently serves as a Hypersonic CFD Modeling and Simulation Subject Matter Expert at Gray Analytics, where she provides technical and advisory support to the Department of Defense (DoD) and its agencies, including DARPA, MDA, TRMC, and JHTO. Her work has been instrumental in evaluating, developing, and guiding cutting-edge national security programs, particularly in the areas of hypersonic vehicle testing and propulsion research.

A lifelong learner and innovator, Dr. Nikolic holds both a Ph.D. and M.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Arizona State University, as well as a Dipl. Ing. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Belgrade. Her academic journey was marked by advanced research in turbulence modeling, aero and gas dynamics, and stability analysis—laying the foundation for a prolific career in both research and applied defense technologies. Before joining Gray Analytics, she held key positions at Teledyne Brown Engineering and Raytheon Missile Systems, where she led modeling, simulation, and systems integration efforts on major hypersonic programs, including the Tactical Boost Glide (TBG) vehicle for DARPA.

Beyond her technical achievements, Dr. Nikolic is an AIAA Senior Member and has contributed to national initiatives such as the University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics as an Industrial Advisory Board Member. A dedicated mentor and educator, she has also shared her expertise through teaching and collaboration with academia and government laboratories. Balancing her analytical mind with artistic expression, she is also a talented pianist and harpist—embodying a rare blend of precision, creativity, and passion that continues to define her impact on aerospace innovation.

• Arizona State University - Ph.D., M.S.

• DODSPAR Award for Excellence (2003)
• Advanced Employee Excellence in Art Award

• AIAA Senior Member
• University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics (UCAH)