Kevin J. Miller
Director of Liquid Engine Development
SpaceX
BSAAE 2003
MSAAE 2005
"I was fortunate to start my Purdue aerospace education at a time when the school was committed to ramping up experimental propulsion research. The practical experience gained by building up new rocket test stands, testing combustion devices, and learning every day from the faculty and staff at Zucrow Labs provided the foundation I needed to contribute in a fast-paced and forward-looking work environment."
Kevin Miller graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering in 2003 and a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 2005.
Miller joined Space Exploration Technologies as a Propulsion Development engineer in 2005. His first responsibilities included completion of development testing of the pump-fed Merlin 1A rocket engine. He served as test director for the qualification of the Merlin 1A engine and supported flight operations of the Falcon 1 launch vehicle which launched successfully in September 2008. Miller stepped into the role of Manager of the Boost Propulsion group and was the responsible engineer for the Merlin 1C rocket engine developed for the Falcon 9 launch vehicle. He was a technical leader in the development the Falcon 9 launch vehicle propulsion systems and defined interfaces with avionics, software, and ground support teams. The Falcon 9 flew successfully in June 2010 and completed the first ever commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station in 2012. Miller was awarded the NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal in 2014 for contributions made toward commercial resupply services to the ISS.
Miller managed the development team for the Merlin 1D rocket engine which achieved the highest thrust-to-weight ratio of any other booster engine and is currently the most flown liquid rocket booster engine in the United States. The Merlin 1D engine demonstrated successful reusability during multiple test flights of the SpaceX "Grasshopper" experimental launch vehicle and was also the first rocket engine to successfully demonstrate supersonic retro propulsion and a targeted precision landing and recovery of a complete booster stage used in an orbital mission.
As Director of Liquid Engine Development, Miller was responsible for flight qualification and risk management for all Merlin engines as well as directing a team of over 60 engineers focused on the structural, thermal and fluid design of SpaceX's Merlin and Raptor engines. He also acts as the primary propulsion interface with multiple government review organizations at NASA and the USAF, in support of contracts valued at over $1 billion for commercial resupply and commercial crew flights to the ISS. In his current role as Principal Propulsion Engineer, Miller focuses on the most impactful technical issues confronting SpaceX's liquid propellant rocket engines.