Meet our Team!
Use the dropdown to see more information about a LUNAR team from a previous academic year!
Overview
The 2025–2026 team is made up of 40 members organized into a variety of sub-teams. Each sub-team is managed by a team lead or a manager and supported by four to eight members who handle specific responsibilities. The sections that follow outline each sub-team along with its key roles and duties.
Sub-teams
Avionics & Flight Computers
Designs and programs custom flight computers, circuits, and software supporting data collection, payload, and control systems.
- PCB design and embedded firmware
- Sensor integration and telemetry
- Data acquisition & analysis
Active Controls
Designs and implements control systems that stabilize and guide the vehicle during flight.
- PID & adaptive control algorithms
- Simulation & system modeling
- Collaboration with Avionics for real-time feedback
Vehicle
Responsible for the structural and aerodynamic design of the launch vehicle. Ensures stability, performance, and safe recovery from launch to landing.
- Airframe design and structural analysis
- Materials selection and composite fabrication
- Recovery systems design and testing
Manufacturing
Specializes in the production, assembly, and quality assurance of rocket components.
- Maching and 3D printing custom parts
- Composite layups and mold creation
- Tooling, integration, and assembly support
Payload
Designs and integrates the payload experiment to meet competition requirements.
- Scientific experiment design and testing
- Integration with avionics and recovery systems
- Data collection and post-flight analysis
Business
Plans events (fundraisers, open house, STEM engagement, etc.), manages social media content, tracks expenses and inventory, and coordinates sponsorships.
- Organize STEM engagement events
- Maintain sponsor relations and fundraising
- Oversee team branding and outreach
Team Leads and Management
Kirby King
Team Lead — Active Controls
Mechanical Engineering Senior
Kirby is a senior mechanical engineering student who previously contributed to Lamar University’s second appearance in the NASA USLI Competition, serving as a member of the avionics team. This year he has contributed a significant amount of time and effort to expanding the presence of the aerospace industry on campus. He now serves as Treasurer of the Lamar University Association of Rocketry (LUNAR) and is the Team Lead for the Active Controls team. Kirby is eager to participate in ESRA's IREC as part of a larger and more experienced team.
Grace Huckaby
Team Lead — Vehicle
Mechanical Engineering Senior
Vehicle Integration, Aerodynamics, Vehicle Design, Management of Vehicle Team
Ronald Mouser
Team Lead — Payload
Mechanical Engineering Senior
Integration of Payload into the Vehicle, Management of the Payload Team and Recovery Team
Ryan Bell
Team Lead — Flight Computers
Electrical Engineering Senior
Flight Computer Design, Management of the Avionics Team
David Outlaw
Testing Manager / Vehicle Member
Mechanical Engineering Senior
Manager of all testing and validation components (CFD, FEA, and MATLAB)
Elickxander Verdulla
Manufacturing Manager
Mechanical Engineering Senior
Design of Airframe, Management of Manufacturing Team
John Rice
Safety Manager / Vehicle Member
Mechanical Engineering Senior
Safety protocols documentation, Adherence to Safety Plan, Conduct FMEA and PHA analyses
Phuong Khuu
Business Manager / Manufacturing Member
Mechanical Engineering Senior
Financing & Procurement, STEM Engagement & Outreach, Social Media & Scheduling
Team Advisors and Mentors
Dr Yao, Chun-Wei
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Yao is an Associate Professor at Lamar University within the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He holds his Ph. D in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University, and a M.S. in Engineering Science from National Taiwan University. His research includes investigations into topics such as Hydrophobic Coating and Microdroplets. Dr. Yao’s academic interest covers a variety of topics including programming, manufacturing analysis, materials science, statics, dynamics, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics. Dr. Yao has been at Lamar University for 11 years and has had a tremendous impact on his students. He is currently the faculty advisor for the Lamar University AIAA Chapter and the LUNAR Rocketry Team.
Dr. Jenny Zhou
Faculty Mentor
Jenny Zhou is currently the Department Chair of Mechanical Engineering at Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas. Dr. Zhou received both her B.S. and M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Chongqing University in 1985 and 1988, respectively. In 2003, she earned a Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her research interests include dynamic responses and vibrations of micro-electronic systems, plant biomechanics, multi-scale and multi-physics modeling and research in engineering education.
Jacob Ammel
Team Mentor
Jacob Ammel is an Alumni from Lamar University where he obtained his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering. Jacob is the founder of the first rocketry club in Spring 2023. He led his capstone project and obtained his L1 and L2 certifications. His club evolved into LUNAR, one of the largest engineering organization at Lamar University. He currently works at CACI at Johnson Space Center as a systems engineer. Jacob has mentored the Lamar University rocketry club for the two previous NASA USLI competitions.
Members
| Name | Classification | Major | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonah Smith | Senior | Mechanical Engineering | Active Controls / Safety |
| Kathy Nguyen | Junior | Computer Science & Electrical Engineering | Active Controls |
| Klein Davis | Junior | Electrical Engineering | Active Controls |
| Landon Paulino | Senior | Electrical Engineering | Active Controls / Testing |
| Litzy Vasquez | Senior | Electrical Engineering | Active Controls |
| Samuel Soeder | Sophomore | Electrical Engineering | Active Controls |
| Trystan Hays | Sophomore | Mechanical Engineering | Active Controls |
| Fernando Uriostegui | Senior | Business | Business |
| Brian Hoffpauir | Senior | Computer Science | Flight Computers |
| Debani Herrarte | Senior | Computer Science | Flight Computers |
| Jose Rodriguez | Senior | Electrical Engineering | Flight Computers |
| Justin Mendoza | Junior | Electrical Engineering | Flight Computers |
| Luciano Flores | Senior | Electrical Engineering | Flight Computers / Testing |
| Micaleb Johnson | Junior | Computer Engineering | Flight Computers |
| Roy Vargus | Senior | Electrical Engineering | Flight Computers |
| Anthony Bruno | Junior | Mechanical Engineering | Manufacturing |
| Felipe Garza | Senior | Mechanical Engineering | Manufacturing / Testing |
| Francisco Alegria | Senior | Mechanical Engineering | Manufacturing |
| Giovanni Meredith | Senior | Mechanical Engineering | Manufacturing |
| Jacob Smith | Junior | Mechanical Engineering | Manufacturing |
| Nehemias Dominguez | Junior | Mechanical Engineering | Manufacturing |
| Abdul Qayyuum Salami | Junior | Mechanical Engineering | Payload |
| Alyssa Harper | Junior | Mechanical Engineering | Payload |
| Brandyn New | Senior | Mechanical Engineering | Payload |
| Courtland Carmouche | Senior | Mechanical Engineering | Payload |
| Daniel Durbin | Senior | Mechanical Engineering | Payload / Business |
| Jose Sifuentes | Junior | Mechanical Engineering | Payload |
| Kousik Mylam | Junior | Mechanical Engineering | Payload |
| Alex Paulino | Senior | Mechanical Engineering | Vehicle |
| Jesus Rodriguez | Junior | Mechanical Engineering | Vehicle |
| Kendyl Thomas | Junior | Mechanical Engineering | Vehicle |
| Matthew Brandenburg | Freshman | Mechanical Engineering | Vehicle |