Meet The Board: 2025-2026

Chairperson
Oliver Whelan
Oliver is a third year Aerospace Engineering major with an environmental systems minor. He is originally from the UK but spent his whole life on the Caribbean island of Barbados. His favourite things are sailing, chocolate and cute puppies. He loves being a part of the AIAA not just for the free snacks that feed him, but because airplanes and rockets feed his soul.

Vice Chairperson
Anderian Sawa
Anderian is an Aerospace Engineering student, and doubles as the president for Vertical Flight Society (VFS) at UCSD. Before, he was an undergraduate student researcher at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography (SIO). He enjoys building drones, and has a Remote Pilot certificate!

Speaker Coordinator
Jason Chang
Jason is a fourth year student in Aerospace Engineering, Math-CS, and Cognitive Science. He’s an ex-JPL intern and currently in the Boechler Lab Group, working in active mechanical metamaterials. Besides AIAA, he’s involved in UCSD’s Origami Club, Rubik’s Cube Club, and Science Olympiad Chapter.

Graduate Liaison
Christopher Valerio
Transfer and first generation aerospace structures engineering student, minoring in Physics, with a passion for materials engineering and aircraft design. Previously, he was the External Coordinator for AIAA@UCSD. He also conducts research at Dr. Kim’s aviation lab in the SE department and works as a College Readiness Coach at Mission Bay Highschool.

Treasurer
Wesley Bantugan
Wesley is a third year Aerospace Engineer hailing from Eleanor Roosevelt college. This is his third year in the AIAA, and his second year as its treasurer. He also is a student athlete with the UCSD triathlon team, enjoys playing different sports, and overall being able to get out and explore.

Social Coordinator
Vince Bantad
Vince is a fourth year mechanical engineering student, returning for his third year as AIAA@UCSD's social coordinator, and doubles as secretary for Vertical Flight Society (VFS). He is involved in Triton Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and the UCSD Star Wars Club, where he recently starred in their fan film "Vader Blackout".

External Coordinator
Aladin Helmy
​Aladin is a second year Structural Engineering student with a focus on aerospace. You may have seen him giving covered wagon tours, developing a lunar colony at RASC-AL, building a methalox sounding rocket at SEDS, dominating Minecraft Skywars games, or working with industry. Sometimes.

Media Coordinator
Jenna Vo
(temp photo) Jenna is a second year student double majoring in Aerospace Engineering and Business Economics. She's also involved in Yonder Dynamics, TESC, Engineers without Borders, and the Economics Research Lab at UCSD. She's worked in children education, from Kumon to elementary schools instruction to summer camp counseling, but currently works as a mechanical engineer assistant at the Marine Physical Laboratory (MPL) at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography (SIO).

Development Coordinator
Matthew Kim
Matthew is a fourth year mechanical engineering student. This is his second year as Development Coordinator for AIAA @ UCSD. He is currently interning at General Atomics, and previouly interned at Sensable and Collins Aerospace, and is also an active member of Rocket Propulsion Laboratory at UCSD. In his free time, he enjoys playing jazz on his saxophone, surfing, juggling, and 100%ing Super Mario titles.
Meet The Board: 2024-2025
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Chairperson
Jorge Vergara
Jorge is a fifth-year Aerospace Engineering student. Before holding the chairperson position, he held the outreach coordinator position for 2 years. He is also currently a part of the Vertical Flight Society(VFS) UCSD chapter as the treasurer. Outside of school, he enjoys exercising, hiking, and camping.

Vice Chairperson
Oliver Whelan
Oliver is a second year Aerospace Engineering major with an environmental systems minor. He is originally from the UK but spent his whole life on the Caribbean island of Barbados. His favourite things are sailing, chocolate and cute puppies. He loves being a part of the AIAA not just for the free snacks that feed him, but because airplanes and rockets feed his soul.

Speaker Coordinator
Nicolas Stacy-Alcantara
Seth is a fourth-year Aerospace Engineering student. He has previously held the roles of Development Coordinator and External Coordinator for AIAA@UCSD. He also served as the Report Lead for the Design/Build/Fly team and is now a member of the Propulsion subteam of SEDS@UCSD.
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Graduate Liaison
Brandon Vinh
Brandon is a BS/MS student of Mechanical Engineering and is currently serving as the Graduate Liaison. This is his 5th year in the organization, previously serving as the Speaker Coordinator from 2020-2024. He is also the current Chairperson and one of the founding members of the Vertical Flight Society @ UC San Diego student organization and interns at the San Diego Wind Tunnel outside of school. He also plays on the UCSD badminton team and writes music in his free time.

Social Coordinator
Vince Bantad
Seth is a fourth-year Aerospace Engineering student. He has previously held the roles of Development Coordinator and External Coordinator for AIAA@UCSD. He also served as the Report Lead for the Design/Build/Fly team and is now a member of the Propulsion subteam of SEDS@UCSD.
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Secretary
Jason Chang
Jason is a third year student in Aerospace Engineering, Math-CS, and Cognitive Science. He’s an ex-JPL intern and currently in the Boechler Lab Group, working in active mechanical metamaterials. Besides AIAA, he’s involved in UCSD’s Origami Club, Rubik’s Cube Club, and Science Olympiad Chapter.

External Coordinator
Christopher Valerio
Transfer and first generation aerospace structures engineering student, minoring in Physics, with a passion for materials engineering and aircraft design. This is his first year as the External Coordinator for AIAA@UCSD. He also conducts research at Dr. Kim’s aviation lab in the SE department and works as a College Readiness Coach at Mission Bay Highschool.

Outreach Coordinator
Makayla Nguyen
Makayla is a first year structural engineering major with a specialization in aerospace structures. This is her first year as outreach coordinator for AIAA @UCSD. She spends most of her time at the beach, enjoys reading, and plays sports like tennis or surfing.

Development Coordinator
Matthew Kim
Matthew is a third year mechanical engineering student. This is his first year as Development Coordinator for AIAA @ UCSD. He is currently an active member of Rocket Propulsion Laboratory. In his free time, he enjoys playing jazz on his saxophone, surfing, juggling, and 100%ing Super Mario titles.
Meet The Board:2023-2024
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Chairperson
Seth McLaughlin
Seth is a fourth-year Aerospace Engineering student. He has previously held the roles of Development Coordinator and External Coordinator for AIAA@UCSD. He also served as the Report Lead for the Design/Build/Fly team and is now a member of the Propulsion subteam of SEDS@UCSD.
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Speaker Coordinator
Brandon Vinh
Brandon is a fourth-year Aerospace Engineering major with a mathematics minor. Since his first year he has held the speaker coordinator position at AIAA@UCSD. He is currently the project manager for Triton Unmanned Aerial Systems and enjoys writing music and playing badminton outside of academia.
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Graduate Liaison
Carissa Yao
Carissa is a graduate student doing her Masters in Mechanical Engineering. She is a part of the five year BS/MS program here at UCSD and recently graduated with her Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering. She previously served as the Outreach Coordinator from 2020-2021 and was Chairperson from 2021-2023 for AIAA@UCSD.

Secretary
Sherry Tao
Sherry is a fourth-year Aerospace Engineering student with a minor in philosophy. She previously held the position of social coordinator from 2021-2023 for AIAA@UCSD. She is currently a business lead for Triton Unmanned Aerial Systems and enjoys competitive speed cubing, dance and crochet in her free time.

External Coordinator
Gayathri Gunasekaran
Gayathri is a graduate student doing her MS in aerospace engineering as part of the BS/MS program at UCSD, having also completed her BS in aerospace engineering. She serves as social event coordinator for UCSD's MAE P2P Committee, and enjoys reading and photography in her free time.
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EDI Coordinator
Gabrielle Scott
Gabrielle is a fourth year mechanical engineering student with a specialization in robotics and controls. This is her first year as EDI Coordinator for AIAA@UCSD. She also works as a student staff member at the UCSD Design & Innovation Makerspace and enjoys drawing, painting, and wood carving in her minimal free time.

Outreach Coordinator
Jorge Vergara
Jorge is a fourth-year Aerospace Engineering student. This is his second year holding the outreach position. Outside of school, he enjoys exercising, hiking, and camping.
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Development Coordinator
Oliver Whelan
Oliver is a first-year Aerospace Engineering major. He is originally from the UK but spent his whole life on the Caribbean island of Barbados. his favourite things are sailing, chocolate and cute puppies. He loves being a part of the AIAA not just for the free snacks that feed him, but because airplanes and rockets feed his soul.
Interested in being a board member?
Check back in Spring 2026 for an application link!