Mark Nappi is the senior program advisor for Space Exploration Initiatives for Boeing’s Exploration Systems division. In this role, Nappi is focused on identifying opportunities for improvement across the division’s programs. He is responsible for ensuring there’s a disciplined approach to program management across Boeing’s human spaceflight programs. This includes incorporating lessons learned from Starliner into BES processes, relationships and contracts, as well as leading Lean activities and factory throughput on the Space Launch System (SLS) Core Stage and Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) production.

Prior to this role, Nappi served as vice president and program manager of Boeing's Commercial Crew Program where he played a pivotal role in advancing human spaceflight capabilities. Mark Nappi oversaw the Starliner spacecraft's development and operations during the Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) and Crew Flight Test (CFT).

Before joining the commercial crew program, Nappi served as the program director of Artemis I for the SLS program – leading all aspects from design to test to final operations at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In that role, he was responsible for assembling the workforce, establishing operations processes, commencing production of Core Stage 1, performing a full-flight duration hot fire test, and ensuring readiness for the wet dress rehearsal and launch of SLS on the Artemis I mission. Before leading the Artemis I team, Nappi was the director of Program Integration as well as director of the Core Stage Integrated Product Team that was responsible for the design, production and test of America’s exploration rocket.

Prior to joining Boeing in 2015, Nappi was the senior vice president and program manager at Vencore, managing the engineering services contract for NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. In this role, he led engineering support for design and development of the SLS and Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle ground support launch infrastructure, as well as
operating the Kennedy Space Center development shops and laboratories.

From 1996 through April 2012, Nappi served in management roles with
increasingly greater levels of responsibility with United Space Alliance, LLC, (USA). Nappi’s last role with USA was vice president and site executive for Florida operations, executing the Space Shuttle Program, Ares I-X processing, International Space Station support and several other Florida-based USA contracts. He was responsible for all of the
Space Shuttle vehicle operations leading up to and including the orbiter’s final launch, as well as all ground systems and facilities maintenance.

Nappi began his career at Kennedy Space Center in 1985 with Lockheed Martin, where he served for more than 10 years as director of Engineering, director of Launch Operations and in other engineering and management roles.

Nappi holds a bachelor’s degree in ocean engineering and a master’s degree in management science, both from the Florida Institute of Technology. He is also a graduate of the Lockheed Leadership Institute and the Boeing Strategic Leadership Seminar.