Press Release

Reaction Engines strengthens management team and establishes U.S. – based subsidiary

By SpaceRef Editor
July 11, 2016
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Reaction Engines Ltd., a U.K. based company developing a new class of aerospace engine, today announces the strengthening of its leadership team with two senior management appointments and the establishment of a U.S. – based subsidiary to lead its engagement with potential U.S. government and industry partners.

The company has appointed Mark Wood to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer & Engineering Director, with responsibility for operational leadership, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the business through integration, collaboration and operational best practices.
Mark Wood joins Reaction Engines from Safran Power U.K., where he most recently held the position of Engineering Director, with responsibility for Safran Power Engineering in the U.K. and for engineering services across the whole Power division. He will report to Mark Thomas, Reaction Engines’ Chief Executive Officer.

He will shape the company’s organisational development for the future and take on functional leadership of the Engineering Team, enabling Richard Varvill to focus on Chief Engineering the SABRE engine & technologies.

Mark Thomas said: “I am delighted to welcome Mark Wood on board. He has over 20 years’ experience in the aerospace industry and a very relevant and impressive track record of successfully delivering complex engineering programmes. He brings additional strength to Reaction Engines’ leadership team as we continue to grow the Company. Mark has hit the ground running and is integrating well. I look forward to working with him and know that his energy and experience will have a positive effect on everyone.”

Mark Wood said: “I am really excited to be joining Reaction Engines. The technologies that have been developed to date are truly cutting edge and I am delighted to be able to be part of the future growth of the company. I look forward to working with Mark Thomas and the team as we continue on this exciting journey.”

Reaction Engines has also established a new U.S.-based subsidiary, Reaction Engines Inc. to support the expansion of the company’s development efforts and lead engagement with potential U.S. government and industry partners.

The company has appointed Dr. Adam Dissel, an aerospace leader with over 15 years’ experience in the development of advanced vehicle systems, to lead the new subsidiary as President of Reaction Engines Inc. Dr. Dissel joins Reaction Engines Inc. from Lockheed Martin Space Systems where he served as System Architect for Responsive Space. He will report to Mark Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Reaction Engines Ltd.

Mark Thomas commented: “The establishment of a U.S. office is the obvious next step for us, building on excellent work done under a collaborative R&D agreement with future export markets in mind. I am delighted that Adam has joined the team as President of Reaction Engines Inc. His skillset, experience and strong customer focus is very relevant to the task ahead and I look forward to working together to grow this part of our business.”

Dr. Adam Dissel said: “I have followed the impressive progress of Reaction Engines and the SABRE engine with great interest for many years, and I am thrilled to now join such a fantastically skilled group of people and work towards future development and partnership opportunities in the U.S. The SABRE engine class is the most exciting new evolution in propulsion in decades and I am eager to advance the applications where these technologies could result in breakthrough system capabilities in high-speed flight and space access.”

SpaceRef staff editor.