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Director of Advanced Propellants, Dr. Michael Martin,
Named AIAA Associate Fellow
We are proud to announce that Dr. Michael Martin, Director of our Advanced Propellants Group, has been named to the distinguished Class of 2025 AIAA Associate Fellows, a prestigious honor awarded by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). This recognition highlights the exceptional contributions and dedication of Dr. Martin.
With over 20 years of experience in the aerospace industry, our newly named Associate Fellow has played a pivotal role in the development of non-catalytic 22 Newton-to-100 Newton class thrusters that run on Air Force Research Lab’s high-performance ASCENT monopropellant. Benchmark’s approach to making ASCENT a viable and reliable alternative to hydrazine is centered around the elimination of expensive catalyst beds to reduce thruster costs and accelerate the scalability and commercial adoption of ASCENT for future spacecraft. Dr. Martin has led this work since 2021.
His expertise spans across mechanical engineering, digital engineering, model-based design, and computational analysis/simulation. He is a leader in project and team management, having managed $9.2 million in research funding.
His career includes a wide range of contributions to NASA programs, from testing large rocket engines at NASA's Stennis Space Center to designing components for the NASA Orion spacecraft and supporting the construction of the Solar Dynamics Observatory. He was ADCO Flight Controller within NASA Johnson Space Center’s ISS Mission Control and helped with real-time mission operations for the International Space Station.
“I am beyond humbled and appreciative for being elected an Associate Fellow by an organization I’ve enjoyed since joining in college. My family and friends have supported me and listened to me talk endlessly about rockets. I have had many great coworkers throughout my varied career, and they’ve all helped me to some extent to become a better engineer. AFRL and NASA have funded my rocket research over the years. AIAA has been a constant guide for me as I tackled numerous space hardware projects and inspired me to keep going.) A very big thank you to them all!”
Benchmark remains committed to delivering cutting-edge mobility solutions for small satellites and beyond. The expertise and commitment of our team, exemplified by AIAA’s recognition of Dr. Martin, is a critical component of our success, as we contribute to a more dynamic and sustainable space ecosystem.
The Significance of the AIAA Associate Fellow Award
The AIAA Associate Fellow designation recognizes individuals who have demonstrated excellence in the aerospace field. It is awarded to professionals with a minimum of 12 years of experience and a track record of substantial accomplishments in their technical disciplines. Associate Fellows are selected for their outstanding contributions to the science and technology of aeronautics and astronautics.
Read the full announcement on AIAA’s website.
