From a childhood passion for rocketry to a thriving aerotech supplier 53 years later
Gary C. Rosenfield is the president of RCS Rocket Motor Components Inc., a 27-year-old company based in Cedar City. Since 1995, his company has offered aerotech RMS-compatible parts for custom composite-propellant rocket motor fabrication. That includes everything from nozzles, tubing, motor casing materials and O-rings to plugs and insulator washers.
Rosenfield has been involved in both hobby and professional rocketry for 53 years. After he launched his first rocket in 1969, he quickly advanced through the full scope of rockets available to consumers at the time, then he began manufacturing and testing his own composite solid-propellant rocket motors in 1973. His inquisitive mind was always working to test, then improve, available rockets and parts as well as other experiments. In 1973, he built an experimental argon-ion laser and won second place in the Orange County, California, science fair and other awards, including a number from notable professional organizations.
He founded Composite Dynamics in 1975, one of the first companies to manufacture and sell composite-propellant consumer rocket motors. Rosenfield is a U.S. Air Force veteran who served from 1976 to 1980 as an imagery interpreter for the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas. From 1982 to 1984, he was involved in all phases of propellant and liner manufacturing operations for missile programs such as Minuteman, Peacekeeper, Harpoon, Polaris, Hawk, Standard Missile and the Sidewinder.
Rosenfield has invented and co-invented 12 granted and one pending U.S. patents covering technological advances and innovative designs in rocketry and laser, including single-use and reloadable solid-propellant motors, propellants, hybrid rocket motors, electronics, igniters and fin mounting systems.
RCS Rocket customers include NASA, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, the U.S. Army, Virgin Galactic and many more of the best-known names in the aerospace industry.
Rosenfield has worked with the SBA many times over the past few years, obtaining capital from different SBA programs: 7(a), COVID EIDL loans and PPP and is currently building a new facility with a 504 loan.
“The SBA was especially helpful during COVID as the PPP and EIDL loans helped us get through that stressful time without having to lay off employees and also enabled us to ramp up production so that we were better prepared with additional inventory when sales increased,” Rosenfield said. “Our SBA-guaranteed construction loan with State Bank of Southern Utah is helping us build our new facility, which will be absolutely essential, given the rapid growth we are now seeing.”
Rosenfield has spoken at SBA functions for veteran-owned business leaders and is an active member of his local chamber of commerce.
Rosenfield was in shock when being informed he won this award. He had no expectation of winning but is very thankful to Eric Heaton at State Bank for nominating his business.