Mark Pfeil

Senior Staff Propulsion Engineer

Huntsville-Decatur-Albertville Area

About

I am a missile propulsion subject matter expert that advises Army senior leadership and develops cutting edge propulsion technologies for current and future military systems. I lead a world-class team that is developing a revolutionary propulsion technology recently conceptualized. We have worked diligently to prove out fundamentals and advance the technology via rapid design, build, test, fail, iterate, and then succeed.

Experience

  • U.S. Army DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center (11 yrs 6 mos)
    • Senior Staff Propulsion Engineer
      Apr 2022 - Present · 4 yrs 3 mos

      Lead a world-class team developing a revolutionary propulsion technology and steer national efforts across the Department of War and Department of Energy. Advocate for, obtain funding, and direct technology development via rapid design, build, test, fail, iterate, and then succeed. Serves as a propulsion subject matter expert and advisor to Army senior leadership.

    • Staff Propulsion Engineer
      Feb 2017 - Apr 2022 · 5 yrs 3 mos

      Advocated for, acquired funding, and led multiple teams working on a wide range of missile propulsion technologies (solid rocket motors, ramjets, hypergolic engines, hybrid rocket motors, etc.) covering the realm of subsonic to hypersonic. Conceptualized a revolutionary propulsion technology and then obtained funding, built a world-class team, and began the process to take a concept to reality. Proved out fundamental principles of the technology via rapid design, build, test, fail, iterate, and then succeed. Collaborated across the Army and Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (USW R&E) enterprises to ensure propulsion technologies relevance, success, and transition to the warfighter weapon systems.

    • Senior Propulsion Engineer
      Jan 2015 - Feb 2017 · 2 yrs 2 mos

      Researched, identified, and developed a national understanding of the complex phenomena that leads to the rapid destruction (detonation) of solid rocket motor missile systems when subjected to adverse environments (bullet impact, fragment impact, sympathetic detonation, etc.) in the field. Employed this understanding to design new missile systems that were fundamentally safer and to design lightweight protection systems to improve the safety of current missile systems. Began the development of advanced missile propulsion technologies to improve capability and performance of military grade missiles.

  • Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN)
    • SMART Fellow
      2011 - 2014 · 3 yrs

    • Research Assistant
      2009 - 2011 · 2 yrs