Shawn Phillips

Dr. Shawn Phillips joined Elara Nova in August of 2025. His focus is on organizational growth and product development in the aerospace industry through a phased approach to technology readiness level advancement across the key swimlanes of strategy, stakeholders, portfolio, workforce and resources. He engages at all levels, from C-suite strategic advisement to site/manufacturing operations and RDT&E subject matter expertise.

Shawn H. Phillips was chief of the Rocket Propulsion Division within the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/RQR) at Edwards AFB, CA for nearly ten years, prior to his retirement in 2025. As a US Space Force Guardian, he served as the mission director for all research, development and testing at the $10.2B AFRL Rocket Lab, encompassing over 65-sq miles, 19 major rocket test stands, 340+ personnel and 136 buildings. Research efforts encompassed Space Access, In-Space Propulsion, and solid rocket motors for Strategic, Tactical and Hypersonic Boosters. Dr. Phillips has over 27 years of government service, all spent at the AFRL Rocket Lab, holding 10 patents and more than 28 publications in R&D and applied technology fields. He is also the author of 4 sci-fi/fantasy novels, with 3 more in the works.

Dr. Phillips entered the Department of Defense Civil Service May,1998 after employment as a Co-Team Lead for New Adipic Acid Routes and performing synthetic chemistry for DuPont, DuPont Nylon ESL. While at Edwards AFB, he also directed the polymer working group, the Materials Application Branch, the Liquid Rocket Engines Branch, and served as the Deputy Chief of the Rocket Propulsion Division.