Senior Personnel Dr. Estevez is the Director of the School of Public Affairs Research Institute (SOPARI) and professor in the Department of Geography & Planning at St. Cloud State University. His research an experience focuses on survey research in the field of planning and urban economics. Apart from his research and academic endeavors, Dr. Estevez …
Aaron is a community leader and advocate for unmanned aircraft systems technology. He earned a degree from the University of North Dakota in Airport Management. Aaron has a private pilots license, 107 certificate, and has been involved in sUAS since 2010. He was the co-founder of MAVMeetup, a community group focused on sUAS education, safety, …
GEOGRAPHY PROFESSOR Kirk Stueve is a Geography Professor at St. Cloud State University and has over a decade of experience using geospatial applications in academia, row crop farming, and product development for agricultural startup companies. He earned his Doctorate in Geography from Texas A&M University in 2009 and has authored publications in top journals such …
INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT Sandra Mikolaski, PhD, serves NCAT, along with Manjari Wijenaike, PhD, as external co-evaluators. She has over 25 years with NSF ATE Centers, grants, and programs. She previously served as PI, Co-PI, and Senior Personnel at the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies (Bellevue WA), one of the first NSF ATE Centers of Excellence …
INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT Manjari Wijenaike specializes in grant evaluation, development, strategic planning, and research for technician education programs. She has worked with National Science Foundation grants and STEM programs at community colleges and universities across the nation for over two decades. Manjari currently evaluates NSF Projects, NSF ATE Centers, and a Department of Defense Grant.
CHAIRPERSON | DIRECTOR – SPACETEC Steve Kane started his career in the Navy as an Aviation Structural Mechanic (AMS) maintaining Grumman EA-6B Prowler aircraft. Upon discharge he earned his FAA Airframe andPower Plant (A&P) license and began working in the regional airline industry. Over the course of eight years he worked for four airlines, progressing …
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | CHIEF SCIENTIST – SINCLAIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE Dr. Andrew Shepherd serves as the Executive Director and Chief Scientist for Unmanned Aerial Systems at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio. With experience in the defense industry and academia focused on modeling and simulation, research, course development, accreditation, instruction, and mentorship, Shepherd offers extensive knowledge in …
DIRECTOR | MATEDU Mel Cossette is the Executive Director/Principal Investigator for the National Resource Center for Materials Technology Education (MatEdU) and Project: Technician Education in Additive Manufacturing & Materials (TEAMM) funded by the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education Program housed at Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood, WA. Mel has over 25 years of experience …
FACULTY | PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR – PALOMAR COLLEGE Wing Cheung is a Professor of Geography and GIS at Palomar College in San Marcos, California. In addition to his teaching duties, he coordinates the GIS, Drone Technology and Environmental Studies programs at the College. He is Principle Investigator for the NSF-funded UAS Operations Technician Education Program (UASTEP), and …
DIRECTOR | TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS – CA2VES Dr. Kapil Chalil Madathil, the Director of Technology Operations of Clemson University Center for Workforce Development is a human factors and ergonomics engineer with a background in the entire spectrum of human-machine system design. Specifically, his area of expertise is in applying the knowledge base of human factors to the …
