The People Who Comprise CU Aerospace

CUA has a versatile cadre of engineering staff with a very broad range of experience accumulated over its 26+ year history, including spacecraft hardware flight qualification and delivery, and software productization and distribution. Due to its nimble small business structure and our multidisciplinary engineers, CUA is well-positioned for accelerated program efforts and the flexibility to address customers' specialized requirements and rapid turnaround. Additionally, our close partnership with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign allows us to engage with some of the finest engineering and scientific minds in the world to enable not just state-of-the-art solutions to difficult problems, but also visionary concepts.

Our focus is moving to the commercialization of our highly viable aerospace solutions, primarily our innovative satellite propulsion systems. To that end we are further investing in our talented staff to expand our production capabilities, adding precision welding expertise to our already extensive portfolio of skillsets. 

Team Group Photo

Meet Our Leadership

Our Partners have a very broad range of experience, some with careers of over 50+ years dating back to the Apollo-era. Specializations include Space Propulsion, Spacecraft Systems, Plasmadynamics, Advanced Materials, Astrodynamics Software, Optimization Software, Subsonic Aerodynamics including Aircraft Icing Safety Systems, and High Energy Lasers.

David Carroll
David Carroll
President

Dr. Carroll is the President of CUA with specializations in Space Propulsion and Systems, Plasmadynamics, Optimization Software, and High Energy Lasers.

 Wayne Solomon
Wayne Solomon
Chairman

Dr. Wayne Solomon served as the original President of CUA until 2011 with specializations in Space Propulsion, Chemical Engineering, and High Energy Lasers.

 Rodney Burton
Rodney Burton
Vice President, Research

Dr. Rodney Burton leads the division of Space Propulsion.

 Michael Bragg
Michael Bragg
Director of Aircraft Safety

Dr. Michael Bragg leads the division of Aircraft Safety and Subsonic Aerodynamics.

Victoria Coverstone
Victoria Coverstone
Director of Astrodynamics

Dr. Victoria Coverstone leads the division of Space Systems Software.

 Darren King
Darren King
Laboratory Director

Mr. Darren King leads experimental efforts at CUA with specializations in Space Propulsion, Plasmadynamics, and High Energy Lasers.

 Joseph Zimmerman
Joseph Zimmerman
Director of Plasmadynamics

Dr. Joseph Zimmerman leads the division of Plasmadynamics with additional specializations in Subsonic Aerodynamics, Aircraft Safety, and High Energy Lasers.

Phil Ansell
Phil Ansell
Director of Aerodynamics

Dr. Phil Ansell leads the division of Aerodynamics, Acoustics, and Electrified Air Vehicles.

Julia Laystrom-Woodard
Julia Laystrom-Woodard
Director of Operations

Ms. Julia Laystrom-Woodard is the Director of Operations with additional specialization in electric propulsion.

Curtis Woodruff
Curtis Woodruff
Director of Propulsion

Mr. Curtis Woodruff leads the Electric Propulsion laboratory.