Employee Spotlight -Mark Beltran

Title: Space Systems Engineer

-MS, Space Systems Engineering, Johns Hopkins University

-BS, SUNY Maritime College

Since I was young, I have always been fascinated with the space domain. After two ship tours, I was stationed at Vandenberg AFB (VAFB) supporting the Laser Clearinghouse (LCH) which was part of the Unified Space Vault (USV), one of the 5 divisions of the Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC). Upon completion of my tour at Vandenberg, I left Active Duty and have been a SETA supporting both title 10 and 50 space entities.

Favorite planet? Saturn

Traveling and spending time with my wife and our 2 young daughters.

I have known a few SSI employees throughout my career and heard many good things about SSI and its culture. When I was presented with an opportunity to join, I knew this was the best place to be.

Upon graduating from SUNY Maritime College, I was commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO). I was stationed on two ships; USS IWO JIMA (LHD-7) an amphibious assault ship based out of Norfolk, VA and USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) a guided missile destroyer based out of Yokosuka, Japan. After my tour on DDG-56, I was stationed at VAFB and was part of the USV and JSpOC. Upon leaving Active Duty, I joined the Navy Reserve and have served in various space units. I am currently serving in the reserve unit supporting NAVWAR Space Field Activity (NSFA). While on reserve duty, I served as the PMW-146 representative during launch and early orbit operations for the first Mobile User Objective System satellite (MUOS-1). In my civilian capacity, I have been a SETA in various space organizations, currently supporting the SEIT division for a System Program Office.