SpaceDev announced today that Frank Macklin has been promoted to Vice President of Engineering. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Macklin was Chief Engineer for hybrid rocket propulsion systems at SpaceDev.
“Frank’s prior missile experience with the Air Force, and his more recent experience with the General Dynamics Atlas II launch vehicle and its Centaur upper stage, make him the right person to lead SpaceDev’s engineering team,” said Jim Benson, founding chairman and chief executive of SpaceDev. Frank’s broad engineering experience has already translated into an impressive body of successful space technology development projects at SpaceDev and I am thrilled that a candidate of this caliber has come from within our organization.”
Mr. Macklin is a California State registered professional electrical engineer with more than 20 years of experience with launch vehicles, ground launch control systems, launch sites and launch teams. While a member of the Peacekeeper developmental launch team, he was responsible for the $30M guidance and control system, led a group of 30 industry engineers and gave the final guidance system go/no-go for launch. Continuing his career at General Dynamics (and Martin Marietta), he integrated a new guidance system onto the new generation of Atlas launch vehicles, and is intimately familiar with all aspects of vehicle flight software and hardware. He designed and implemented diverse ground guidance performance and analysis software systems, and is a complete end-to-end systems expert. At SpaceDev, Mr. Macklin has led several vehicle design and development efforts. He developed a state-of-the-art hybrid motor ballistic simulation that is the basis of SpaceDev’s hybrid motor design, was the technical leader for SpaceDev’s NRO funded SPOTV Hybrid System Definition study, and is Chief Engineer for SpaceDev’s MoTV Hybrid Technology Development and Hybrid Booster Motor Development.
About SpaceDev
SpaceDev (OTCBB: SPDV – News) creates and sells affordable and innovative space products and solutions to government and commercial enterprises. SpaceDev’s innovations include the design, manufacture, marketing and operation of sophisticated micro- and nano- satellites, hybrid rocket-based orbital Maneuvering and orbital Transfer Vehicles as well as sub-orbital and orbital hybrid rocket-based propulsion systems for safe human space flight. Upon founding SpaceDev in 1997, Jim Benson started the trend of successful computer entrepreneurs moving into the space development arena. For more information, visit www.spacedev.com.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements concerning the Company’s business and future prospects and other similar statements that do not concern matters of historical fact. Forward-looking statements relating to product development, business prospects and development of a commercial market for technological advances are based on the Company’s current expectations. The Company’s current expectations are subject to all of the uncertainties and risks customarily associated with developing business ventures including, but not limited to, risks associated with new product development and availability of raw resources and suppliers, risks to marketed products and availability of financing and other sources of income, as well as risks discussed in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. The Company’s actual results may differ materially from current expectations. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this release and to read it in conjunction with the Company’s annual report on Form 10-KSB, including the consolidated financial statements filed therewith. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or for any other reason.
