Marc Shoemaker

Dynamic operations and technology development professional with over 20 years of experience in the aerospace industry, particularly with NASA, focusing on control systems for propulsion testing. Expertise in designing, deploying, testing, and operating electrical systems that effectively monitor and control aerospace R&D propulsion test facilities. Proven track record in leading program management initiatives, including three years of oversight within the NASA SBIR/STTR program at Stennis Space Center, ensuring successful execution across all process phases. Instrumental in advancing federal solicitation development across multiple vehicles and phases, significantly contributing to the NASA SBIR/STTR Program Acquisition Management Unit and Solicitation Development Process Team.

• Provided expert guidance to NASA stakeholders, Small Businesses, Research Institutions, and Small Business Support Organizations for navigating federal funding opportunities resulting in several contract awards each year, including new-to-NASA small businesses.
• Led collaborative topic between Stennis and Kennedy Space Centers for 2024 Ignite solicitation to solicit innovative, leak-free cryogenic valve designs to support long duration missions and increased efficiencies resulting in $3M in contracts.
• Led Post-Phase II (PPII) solicitation development for NASA SBIR/STTR program including CRRPP, Sequentials, and II-E, and PI II-E review and selection, to identify technology and provide larger award values up to $4M each and up to ~$30M total annually for higher impact development of critical technology needs.
• Coordinated 2024 M-STTR Cohort for NASA SBIR Program, awarding 8 MSIs $50k ‘Phase 0’ planning grants each to prepare for Phase I proposals and increase participation and success from underserved communities.
• Led controls and electrical system software and hardware design, procurement, development, and operation of Scalable Mobile Autonomous Rocket engine Test platform. Funded through Center Innovation Fund and Rocket Propulsion Test program, incorporated innovative technologies and processes to provide lower cost test services with a reduction in schedule and improved turnaround times.
• Led selective CFD failure investigation and implementation of corrective actions to improve reliability of cryogenic transfer operations for all test stands, including no VFD failures for the entirety of E2 SLS Artemis I activation and testing.
• Acquired funding and led design and implementation to upgrade E-3 Facility Redline and DAQ systems to increase channel counts by 25% and double high-speed redline channels for significantly improved monitoring capabilities.
• Automated RS25 LH Lockup leak test performed after every engine test, providing more reliable, consistent processes to meet engine acceptance requirements with tightened tolerances.
• Automated RS25 Engine Drying to enable unattended process execution, reducing post-hotfire turnaround time by days.
• Spearheaded flexible sequencer software modification to load automated sequences to the facility PLC using OPC, significantly reducing cost and schedule to meet changing requirements between RS25 hotfire tests.
• Led planning and acquisition of hardware and software for A1 test stand controls systems upgrades to replace obsolete hardware and software and handle higher speed processing for next generation engine testing requirements.
• Led team of controls engineers to modify systems and processes to support DARPA 10x10 test series that demonstrated the unprecedented capability to hotfire an RS25 engine ten times in ten days.
• Led Remote Leak Detector helium intrusion investigation resulting in changes to Launch Commit Criteria for improved launch safety and system reliability that prevented costly countdown delays during subsequent Shuttle launch attempts.