A generator control unit, GCU, that provides independent, redundant overvoltage protection for an associated generator, the GCU comprising: a protection signal processor that monitors an output voltage of the generator at a single point of regulation, POR, and executes software to detect overvoltage conditions based on the monitored output of the generator at the single POR and generates a first overvoltage fault signal in response to a detected overvoltage condition; a hardware-based overvoltage protection circuit that includes: a peak detector circuit that detects a peak voltage associated with the monitored output voltage at the single POR; and characterized by said hardware-based overvoltage protection circuit further including: a fast overvoltage detection circuit that compares the peak voltage to a first threshold value and generates a first fault signal in response to the peak voltage exceeding the first threshold value; a slow overvoltage detection circuit that compares the peak voltage to a second threshold value and generates a second fault signal in response to the peak voltage exceeding the second threshold value for a duration of time; a diode OR circuit that logically combines the first fault signal with the second fault signal to generate a second overvoltage fault signal; wherein the first overvoltage fault signal is combined with the second overvoltage fault signal in a Fault-OR circuit to generate a combined overvoltage fault signal that signals an overvoltage fault condition in the associated generator; and wherein the slow overvoltage detection circuit integrates the peak voltage over time when the second threshold value is exceeded to generate the second fault signal. a protection signal processor that monitors an output voltage of the generator at a single point of regulation, POR, and executes software to detect overvoltage conditions based on the monitored output of the generator at the single POR and generates a first overvoltage fault signal in response to a detected overvoltage condition; a hardware-based overvoltage protection circuit that includes: a peak detector circuit that detects a peak voltage associated with the monitored output voltage at the single POR; and characterized by said hardware-based overvoltage protection circuit further including: a fast overvoltage detection circuit that compares the peak voltage to a first threshold value and generates a first fault signal in response to the peak voltage exceeding the first threshold value; a slow overvoltage detection circuit that compares the peak voltage to a second threshold value and generates a second fault signal in response to the peak voltage exceeding the second threshold value for a duration of time; a diode OR circuit that logically combines the first fault signal with the second fault signal to generate a second overvoltage fault signal; wherein the first overvoltage fault signal is combined with the second overvoltage fault signal in a Fault-OR circuit to generate a combined overvoltage fault signal that signals an overvoltage fault condition in the associated generator; and wherein the slow overvoltage detection circuit integrates the peak voltage over time when the second threshold value is exceeded to generate the second fault signal. a peak detector circuit that detects a peak voltage associated with the monitored output voltage at the single POR; and characterized by said hardware-based overvoltage protection circuit further including: a fast overvoltage detection circuit that compares the peak voltage to a first threshold value and generates a first fault signal in response to the peak voltage exceeding the first threshold value; a slow overvoltage detection circuit that compares the peak voltage to a second threshold value and generates a second fault signal in response to the peak voltage exceeding the second threshold value for a duration of time; a diode OR circuit that logically combines the first fault signal with the second fault signal to generate a second overvoltage fault signal;