Dr. J. Mark Darden – NESC Academy Biography

J. Mark Darden graduated with Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree in 1987. He completed a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1989. Both degrees were completed at the University of Alabama. After graduation in 1989, Dr. Darden began his employment at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama. At MSFC, he began working in the field of turbomachinery rotordynamics and has continued in this field to the present. In the fall of 1994, Dr. Darden was given the opportunity to pursue PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Auburn University. The coursework for this degree was completed in the fall of 1995 upon his return to MSFC. The required dissertation for this degree was completed in August of 2001. His work primarily centered on the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Alternate Turbomachinery Program that was in the early design stages in 1989. This work extended over a number of years due to vibration issues on both the High Pressure Oxidizer Turbopump (HPOTP) and the High Pressure Fuel Turbopump (HPFTP). His work has spanned over a several different turbopumps including the SSME turbomachinery, RS-84 turbomachinery, J2X turbomachinery as well as experimental programs and analytical studies. The experimental work has focused on MSFC’s Annular Seal Tester (MAST) which yields rotordynamic coefficients for damping seals and smooth annular seals. From an analytical perspective, Dr. Darden has developed a series of codes used to analyze turbomachinery rotordynamics as well as codes that support rotordynamic analysis such as a code that predicts the rotordynamic characteristics of annular seals. More recently, Dr. Darden had the opportunity to serve as the Deputy Chief Engineer of the Space Shuttle Main Engine over the course of eight months during 2010.