Team-Members Page

Richard Zappulla II

Richard Zappulla II is a fourth year undergraduate student enrolled in the Honors Program at the School of Aeropsace Engineering, at Georgia Tech. After completing his undergraduate studies, Richard plans on attending Graduate School to reach his ultimate goal of earning his Doctorate. Outside of his studies, Richard has earned his Private Pilot's license with an Instrument Rating. Additionally, he is active member is the USAF AUX (Civil Air Patrol), where he participates in life-saving Search and Resuce (SAR), Homeland Security, Counter-Drug, and Disaster Relief/Recovery Missions as well as Electronic Searches. His roles include: Ground Team Leader and Mission Scanner/Observer/Pilot. Richard's interest in Rocketry began in high school where, in his senior year, his school earned a spot in the Team America Rocket Challenge (TARC) National Finals. During his time in high school, Richard as earned his NAR L1 qualification. Moreover, during his first at Georgia Tech, Richard founded what is now the Ramblin' Rocket Club (RRC). Richard is currently the Payload Manager for Georgia Tech's USLI Team.

Leila Dasher

I am a 5th year Aerospace Engineering student at Georgia Tech. I am graduating in May, 2010, and I plan to work for a company the designs and builds space-traveling vehicles. My mission is to further space exploration, and help raise public interest and support for extending humanity’s reach into the solar system and beyond. I became interested in high power rocketry at a meeting for the Ramblin’ Rocket Club here at Tech, and I obtained a Tripoli Level 1 certification in 2008. After becoming an officer of RRC, I found out about the USLI competition, and became enthusiastic about founding and continuing a Georgia Tech presence in the competition.

Kyle Yawn

I am a second year Aerospace Engineering major at Georgia Tech. I was born and raised in central Georgia a couple hours south of Atlanta. I became interested in rocketry and spaceflight thanks to a middle school science teacher and that interest has never faded. I have been building model rockets since 6th grade and obtained my high power level 1 certification through the NAR junior high power program in my junior year of high school. I was the leader of my high school’s Team America Rocketry Challenge team, which placed in the top 20 in the nation, and our Student Launch Initiative team as well. I also competed at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair with a science fair project in rocketry as well. I hope to obtain my level 2 high power certification soon, and I want to gain my private pilot’s license as well. I am very excited to be on the Georgia Tech USLI team and hope that my background can help provide another great asset to this team.

Joshua Ordway

I was born and raised in Georgia, in the metro-Atlanta area. I am enrolled in the undergraduate program in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech. I am the President of the Ramblin' Rocket Club. My interest in model rocketry began with a Cub Scout project of building and launching a model rocket. I look forward to joining NAR and obtaining my level one certification.

Ryan Cornell

I am a junior Aerospace Engineering student at Georgia Tech. I moved to Georgia at the age of seven. I was raised around aviation which developed my strong interest in Aerospace Engineering. I have had an interest in rocketry from a very young age, but did not have a chance to indulge in that interest until joining the USLI team. With this competition I expect to learn more about high powered rocketry, develop my skills in a team environment, and make great contributions to the overall final project.

Julia Sawyer

I am a second year Aerospace Engineering student at Georgia Tech. I was born in Texas and moved to Georgia when I was seven. I am the treasurer of the Ramblin' Rocket Club and have been an active member since I started college. I have a private pilot's license and have been flying for two years. I am in the process of obtaining my level one NAR certification.

Matt Vildzius

I am a in my second year in the Electrical Engineering program at Georgia Tech. I am originally from upstate New York, and I moved to Georgia five years ago after living in Montreal, Canada for two years and Oslo, Norway for two years. I have been interested in rocketry as a hobby since I was young, but it was not until I moved to Georgia that I became involved in high power rocketry. I obtained my Junior Level 1 certification in 2005, and I got my Level 2 in 2008.

Jimmy Sutehall

I am a first year ungraduate in the School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech. I grew up in the Metro-Atlanta area, where I moved at the age of 7. Before that, I lived in 3 other states and Mexico. Rocketry has always interested me, but I did not become involved in high power rocketry until I came to Georgia Tech and joined the USLI team. I look forward to growing and learning from the upperclassmen in USLI, not only in rocketry, but in my education in general. I also look forward to joining NAR and becoming certified.

Kevin Reilley

I am a first year Aerospace Engineering major from north metro Atlanta. I have been interested in space and spaceflight for many years, and I am excited to have the chance to participate with USLI. I have previously constructed a kite and a small model rocket, and look forward to a much larger challenge on this project. Outside of his academic interests, Kevin is a cellist, and teaches two intermediate students, as well as works in a local amateur orchestra.

Stephen Culpepper

I am a 5th year Mechanical Engineering major at Georgia Tech. I have lived in Georgia most of my life. I have been interested in rockets and space from a very young age. I have been involved in research with rocketry in both middle and high school prior to joining the USLI at Tech. I look forward to contributing to the mechanical design of the rocket and learning more about high powered rocketry.

Dong Yeon Yoo (Justin)

I am a first year Aerospace Engineering student at Georgia Institute of Technology, expected to graduate in 2013. I was born in Daegu, South Korea, but moved to New Delhi, India at the age of 6. In 2009, on my thirteenth year in India, I graduated from the American Embassy School, New Delhi and moved to Atlanta, Georgia for college education. My interest in aerospace and rocketry began since elementary school, and has continued within me until today. At Georgia Tech, I am also involved in the Ramblin’ Rocket Club and in ASDL(Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory)’s Project MAST (Micro Autonomous Systems and Technologies). Outside academics, I enjoy playing soccer and the saxophone. I am indeed excited to be on NASA’s USLI team at Georgia Tech, and I look forward to learning more about rocketry and obtaining certifications.

Louis Dressel

I am a 1st year Aerospace Engineering major. I was born and raised in a suburb south of San Francisco, California. While at Tech, I hope to get my pilot's license as well as my level 1 certification from NAR. As an AE student, I am very interested in rocketry, and find USLI a great outlet for this interest. I look forward to learning the intricacies of rocket flight.

Sangita Sharma

Currently a first year, Aerospace Engineering student at Georgia Institute of Technology, Sangita Sharma was born and raised in Columbia, Missouri. There, she fostered an interest in rocketry and the aerospace industry while participating in Columbia Aeronautics and Space Association. As a member of the GT USLI team, she looks forward to learning more about rocketry and obtaining certification.

Alex Buchanan

The son of Dale and Cathy Buchanan, Alex grew up in Charlotte, NC with his brother Willson. He graduated from Myers Park High School in 2006 and subsequently enrolled in The North Ave. Trade School in Atlanta, Ga as a member of the Mechanical Engineering Department. Alex is currently involved in a number of campus programs ranging from his fraternity, Chi Psi, to working as a Co-Op student for the Georgia Tech Research Institute. Alex's interest in model rocketry began early with experiences with model rockets in lower school that continued until he moved into high power rocketry late in high school. His interests in rocketry have continued into college by being one of the founding members of the GTRC his freshman year and most recently engaging in USLI.

Tony Contrada (Advisor)

As a young boy I was always interested in aviation and rocketry. I built several Estes rockets and also won a rocket design contest when I was in the 7th grade. I attended GA Tech over 30 years ago and also worked part-time at GA Tech’s Research Institute developing simulators for missile guidance systems. During my sophomore year I joined the GA Tech Flying Club and received a private pilot’s license and then an instrument rating the following year. Later on I received a commercial pilot’s license with a multi-engine rating. I currently have over 1500 flight hours. About two years ago I became interested in high power rocketry and joined some local clubs. I found that there were many fellow rocket enthusiasts in my age group, but also from all age groups. The interest in rocketry seemed to be contagious. I’m currently a NAR member with a Level 2 certification. The rocket I built for the L2 certification utilized a custom-designed flight computer which recorded the flight details along with controlling the drogue and main chute deployment.

Two years ago I accepted an offer to return to the GA Tech Research Institute after being in industry for over 25 years. Upon returning, I sought out the GA Tech Rocket Club only to find that it was just starting up and they desperately need some help. I offered my services and resources at GTRI to the club and in January, 2008 proposed that the club participate in NASA’s USLI. So here we are today!