Mark Lester has built a 30+ year career advancing aerospace and defense operations in both public and private sectors, including multiple executive and C-suite roles. He has served as CEO of a private equity-owned defense business with a successful exit, managed space and aviation operations, and led teams winning $4B in government services contract awards. In the space transportation sector, he has been an advocate and pioneer in tailoring spaceport operations to mimic the cadence and efficiency of commercial airports.
Before most recently re-launching his consulting firm Pantigo Lester, Mark was Chief Operations Officer (COO) for Phantom Space, a space transportation start-up. Prior to Phantom, Mark served as the CEO for Alaska Aerospace Corporation where he operated the Kodiak commercial spaceport without state subsidies, modernized launch infrastructure, and conducted several commercial and military launches.
Prior to Alaska Aerospace, Mark held various other executive roles, including serving as CEO for a private equity owned aviation company focused on military flight training, leading business development for a mid-market national security sector engineering services and technology solutions company, and as Principal of Booz Allen Hamilton’s critical strategic initiatives business development team.
Mark began his career as an officer in US Air Force space operations. During his 7-years of military service, he operated military satellites, pioneered tactics to integrate space capabilities into air combat operations, and led intelligence analysis.
Mark holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Norwich University and a Master of Engineering in Space Operations from the University of Colorado. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Aerospace Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.