# Mark Sommer

> Mark Sommer is the founder and CEO of Gamma Alloys, a Santa Clarita-based materials company that 'decorates' metal powders with ceramic nanoparticles to make aluminum strong enough to 3D print into aerospace and automotive parts. He simultaneously leads Del West Engineering, the Formula 1 world's go-to maker of titanium valves and lightweight valvetrain components. Backed by Boeing HorizonX, his bet is that of the roughly 5,500 industrial alloys in use, only a few dozen work with 3D printers today, and Gamma's nano-ceramic process can unlock the rest.

- **Role:** Founder & CEO at Gamma Alloys Inc
- **Organizations:** Gamma Alloys Inc, Del West Engineering, Inc., Del West USA
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.A. Political Science, University of California, Berkeley, M.S. Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Northridge
- **Known for:** Founded Gamma Alloys and built a nano-ceramic process that produces crack-free, high-strength aluminum for both wrought and additive manufacturing, Secured Boeing HorizonX's first investment in advanced materials development, Won three Pentagon Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants totaling roughly $300,000

## Career timeline

- **1994-1995** — Joins Del West Engineering; takes on leadership of the U.S. titanium valvetrain business
- **2008** — Founds Gamma Alloys to develop nanoparticle-reinforced metal alloys
- **2017** — Boeing HorizonX Ventures makes its first advanced-materials investment in Gamma Alloys
- **2020** — Publishes 'Gamma Alloys: Leading a 3D Printing Materials Revolution' framing the alloy gap in additive manufacturing
- **2025** — Appears on the 'Driven to Lead' podcast discussing how hard times reshaped his leadership

## Achievements

- Founded Gamma Alloys and built a nano-ceramic process that produces crack-free, high-strength aluminum for both wrought and additive manufacturing
- Secured Boeing HorizonX's first investment in advanced materials development
- Won three Pentagon Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants totaling roughly $300,000
- Helped lead Del West Engineering, the long-standing world leader in titanium and lightweight valvetrain components for Formula 1 and high-performance vehicles
- Assembled a small team that included four PhDs across California and Missouri

## Latest updates

- **2025** — Featured on Wayne Brannon's 'Driven to Lead' podcast in an episode on leadership through hard times.
- **2020-01** — Authored a LinkedIn piece arguing only ~25-50 of ~5,500 industrial alloys currently work with metal 3D printing - the gap Gamma aims to fill.

## Links

- Website: https://gammaalloys.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-sommer-78bb898
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd976VKbM_k

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/mark-sommer
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-11