“COGNITA PER EXPERIENTIAM”
“Learn by Doing.”
ESRA’s Mission
The Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA) is a non-profit organization founded in 2003 for the purpose of fostering and promoting engineering knowledge and experience in the field of rocketry.
ESRA’s primary focus is providing safe and exciting opportunities for academic groups to compete in aerospace challenges. ESRA’s flagship event, the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) has attracted tens of thousands of students since 2006.
Current Leadership
President
Steve Taylor
Director, Launch Operations
Mohi Khan
Vice President
Dr. David Abmayr
Executive Director
Andy Berger
Treasurer
Mandy Brown
Range Safety Officer
Jim Jarvis and
Dr. Ken Overton
Secretary
Ben Russell
Media, Public Relations and Livestream
Jessica McCarty
Event Manager
Stephanie Taylor
Registration Operations
Jamee Higgins
Director, Competition Operations
Anita Jimenez
Uprange Operations
OPEN
year round Volunteer staff
Hybrids Lead
Paul Holmes
Two-Stage and Special Projects Lead
Adam Knippa
Social Media
Duane McCarty
Webmaster
Teresa Yawn
Uprange & Queue Manager
OPEN
Award & Ceremonies Manager
Connor Sitz
Merchandise Manager
Ameen Kahn
Volunteer Support Manager
Karen Gloer
Emergency & Support Services Manager
Chad Davis
Solids Lead
Jason Brown
SDL Payload Challenge
Ryan Martineau
Safety Reviewer &
Pad Manager
Joe Pfeiffer
Rocketry Vendor Manager
Hanna Kruse
Our Volunteers
ESRA is operated entirely by unpaid volunteers from all over the world. ESRA is always looking for highly motivated volunteers who have some free time to support our mission. Hosting the International Rocket Engineering Competition takes a lot of work. This year ESRA welcomed 115 in-person volunteers to Midland, Texas, not counting those working in a hybrid capacity.
If you are interested in learning more, click the link below and complete the form to tell us about your interest and skills. One of our volunteer staff members will reach out to you and get you started. Welcome to ESRA!
