Transcribed & Edited by SS (02/2003); Updated by FM (2005); Updated by JS (10/2008, 12/2022), Reformatted by JS (10/2009)
Career
- Founder and CEO of FMA Inc.
- 1976-1991: Founder and president of DJT Enterprises
- Developed Radio Control systems and accessories that were produced by ACE RC
- Has spent most of his professional career as a defense consultant to government and industry
- 1959-: Member of the District of Columbia Radio Control Club
- Member of the AMA frequency committee since 1978; served as chairman from 1987 to 1991
- Wrote two books on Radio Control modeling
Honors
- 1987: Vintage Radio Control Society Hall of Fame
- 1987: Howard McEntee Award
- 1990: AMA Distinguished Service Award
- 2001: Model Aviation Hall of Fame
Fred Marks the founder and CEO of FMA Inc. incorporated in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in 1985. Currently, Fred oversees all aspects of design, development and production, distribution and marketing of electronic equipment for commercial, industrial, and military applications, including the complete product line for sale through the FMA Inc. hobby products distribution arm, FMA Direct.
Fred is the founder and president of DJT Enterprises – a family business located in Gaithersburg that operated between 1976 and 1991.
With DJT, Fred developed a number of highly respected Radio Controlled (RC) systems and accessories produced by ACE RC, Kansas City, Missouri. Fred also served as vice president and general manager of Tech Serv Inc. located in Beltsville, Maryland, from 1982 to 1985. While at Tech Serv, Fred managed all operations, designed and supervised the production of over 100,000 aerial and ground target systems for the United States and foreign military forces. Fred spent the majority of his professional career as a defense consultant to government and industry. As vice president for weapon systems analysis at Booz-Allen & Hamilton, located in Bethesda, Maryland from 1976 to 1982, he directed the Booz-Allen weapon systems analysis and support industry.
Prior to his promotion to vice president, he served as engineering consultant and research director at Booz-Allen & Hamilton from 1965 to 1976. His primary duties included consulting to government and industry on design, development, and high-rate production of communication, aircraft, and ordnance systems.
Fred was a systems engineer at International Telephone and Telegraph (INTELCOM) from 1963 to 1964. His primary duties included systems analysis and engineering for the Interim Defense Communications Program (IDCSP).
Fred was also a flight test engineer and project manager for Fairchild Aircraft and Missiles Division, located in Hagerstown, Maryland, from 1957 to 1963 where he led flight test programs for commercial and military aircraft and for the WS-123A missile and the AN/LTSD-5 Surveillance Drone.
Fred began his extraordinary career as a flight test engineer on the B-47 aircraft, Boeing Airplane Co., Wichita, Kansas, in the 1956 Summer Student Program.
Fred’s adult education started with a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering from West Virginia University in 1957. He then received graduate studies in systems engineering at the American University of Washington, D.C. in 1966 and graduate studies from the Wharton School of Business, extension courses from 1977 to 1981.
Some of Fred’s professional affiliations include American Institute of Aircraft and Aerospace (AIAA) member, 1960 to present. He was a member of the Airport Design Committee from 1977 to 1982. He was also a member of Americans for Defense Preparedness Association (ADPA) from 1965 to 1981, and cofounder and member of Weapon Propulsion Low Cost Working Group from 1976 to 1981.
Fred is married to Patsy Greene Marks. They have three children, Diana, James, and Tim. Fred and Patsy are the proud grandparents of four grandchildren.
Fred is a deacon at the First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg, Maryland, where he has served from 1967 to present. Fred has been a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) since 1959. He is also a long-time member of District of Columbia Radio Control Club (DCRC) since 1959. He has held membership with the AMA frequency committee from 1978 to present and served as chair from 1987 to 1991. With the AMA frequency committee, Fred established the 1991 Radio Control specifications to which all current Radio Control equipment must adhere and coordinated all efforts with the FCC to provide the Radio Control industry with 70 new Radio Control channels on 20 kHz spacing. He has authored two books on Radio Control modeling, both of which were instrumental for added success in the Radio Control hobby.
In 2004, Fred was the recipient of the Fly R/C magazine’s Circle of Excellence Award as Man of the Year for contributions to development of advanced electronics for Radio Control, and for the introduction of lithium polymer batteries to Radio Control.
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