Mark Pacer

Mark Pacer serves as Program Manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where he leads the strategic acquisition of advanced propulsion, hypersonics, and high-performance materials research programs. Responsible for end-to-end contract execution, he ensures that technical milestones align with national air and space dominance objectives, managing complex R&D acquisitions from concept through prototyping and transition. His portfolio emphasizes engineering services supporting cutting-edge aerospace systems, with a focus on accelerating technology readiness levels for mission-critical propulsion applications. Pacer maintains consistent partnerships with industry leaders including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc, and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC, engaging them as prime contractors for high-fidelity modeling, materials development, and system integration efforts. These relationships are characterized by long-term, technically intensive collaborations grounded in competitive bidding and performance-based contracting, with a preference for firms possessing deep expertise in aerospace propulsion systems, adaptive flight controls, and advanced composite manufacturing. Pacer’s acquisition strategy reflects a 100% non-set-aside approach, prioritizing technical excellence and mission urgency over socioeconomic categorizations. While small business participation is not formally mandated, vendors of all sizes are evaluated strictly on technical capability, past performance, and readiness to deliver complex engineering solutions under tight developmental timelines. His primary procurement focus is on NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services), with acquisitions centered on computational fluid dynamics, propulsion system design, hypersonic thermal protection systems, and functional materials characterization. Pacer’s domain expertise lies in translating laboratory innovations into flight-ready propulsion architectures, relying on contractors with proven capabilities in high-temperature materials, turbine engine integration, and propulsion system survivability testing.