Dr. Mark P. Jelonek
Dr. Mark P. Jelonek is the general manager of the Advanced Planning and Development Division, Defense Systems Group, at The Aerospace Corporation. Jelonek leads Aerospace’s support to the Space and Missile Systems Center Innovation and Prototyping Directorate, the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, and the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles and Directed Energy directorates.
He was previously principal director of the Advanced Intelligence Community Programs Subdivision, National Intelligence Division, National Systems Group (NSG), where he managed the Aerospace portfolio for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Air and Space Integration Center.
He was formerly the director of Enterprise Analysis in NSG’s Systems Engineering and Launch Division, where he supported the National Reconnaissance Office’s (NRO’s) Office of Enterprise Analysis in the Systems Engineering Directorate. Jelonek led analytic efforts in support of the joint NRO/NGA Geospatial Intelligence Futures Study and a variety of other architecture analysis and trade studies. He was also a key counter-space capabilities expert in the National Space Systems Engineering Division supporting the DOD Executive Agent for Space and was a substantial contributor to major studies, including the Defensive Space Control Capabilities Based Assessment, the Assessment of National Space Control Capabilities, and SATCOM, OPIR, and SSA Architecture Studies.
Jelonek retired from the U.S. Air Force as a colonel after serving in many leadership and command assignments involving counter-space weapons research and development, space operations, space policy and strategy, strategic communications, and budget programming.
Education
Jelonek earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from the Pennsylvania State University. He has earned three master’s degrees: one in engineering physics from the Air Force Institute of Technology; a second in national security strategy from the National War College; and a third master’s in airpower arts and sciences from the School of Advanced Airpower Studies. Jelonek also has a Ph.D. in laser physics from the Air Force Institute of Technology.
Awards and Honors
Among Jelonek’s awards are the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with battle star, and other meritorious service medals and service awards. He also led the Joint Space Operations Center to win the U.S. Strategic Command Omaha Trophy.