MEET OUR TEAM!
Jacob Simon – Captain – Program Manager
Jake is a senior mechanical engineering major with a passion for all things aviation. Jake is a licensed aircraft mechanic (A&P), private pilot (PPL), and is an Repair Design Engineer Intern for Pratt & Whitney. Outside of aviation, he loves swimming, hiking, and cooking.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-a-simon/
Nathan Ware – Captain – Chief Engineer
Nate Ware is a senior in the UMass Amherst Commonwealth Honors College studying Electrical Engineering. He has a background in competitive robotics and autonomous underwater vehicles, and is interested in aviation https://www.linkedin.com/in/nware49/
Lithira Piyatunga – Internal Structures Lead
Lithira Piyatunga is a junior Mechanical Engineer from Sri Lanka deeply interested in aeronautics studying at UMass Amherst. He enjoys playing football/basketball, going to the gym and working on cars. He is driven to make a positive impact on the aeronautical and automotive industry by utilizing his passion to develop innovative and sustainable ideas/solutions.
James Schissel – External Structures Lead
James Schissel is a senior mechanical engineering major at the University of Massachusetts. He grew up in Pembroke, MA, and enjoys hiking and fishing. James’ passion for aviation stems from his father’s life long career as a pilot.
Jack McWethy – Finance and Marketing Lead
Jack is a junior from Medford, MA, studying Finance at the Isenberg School of Management. As the Finance and Marketing Lead, he leads a team of Isenberg students in creating budgets, overseeing all financial transactions, and organizing fundraising events. Outside of UMass, Jack loves shooting pool, completing crosswords, and cooking.