Name: Micaela Crispin
Role: President
Email: mic5792@psu.edu
Micaela is an MS student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Penn State, where she conducts research in the field of rotorcraft flight dynamics and controls under the guidance of Dr. Joe Horn. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Kansas.
![](https://sites.psu.edu/pennstatevfs/files/2024/07/IMG_0042-580x943.jpeg)
Name: Yonatan Estifanos
Role: Vice President
Email: yxe21@psu.edu
Name: Costa Kandias
Role: Treasurer
Costa is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Penn State, working under Dr. Mark Miller. His research interests include the scaling of performance and acoustics of multirotor systems, and using a compressed-air environment to replicate full-scale rotor aerodynamics on a subscale experimental model. He has a B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering from York University in his home town of Toronto, Canada, and a MS in Aerospace Engineering from Penn State. In his spare time he enjoys playing the guitar and the bass, and working on his car.
Name: Kalyani Lakkanige
Role: Secretary
Kalyani is an MS/PhD student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Penn State University. Her research involves human robot interactions and the development of social networks in human and agent-based environments. In her spare time, she likes to catch up on reading thriller fictions and take a walk around the campus.
Name: Joel Rachaprolu
Role: Graduate Coordinator
Joel Rachaprolu is a Research Assistant in the Vertical Lift Research Center Of Excellence (VLRCOE). His research focuses on acoustic flight testing and noise characterization of multirotor aircraft. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, both from Penn State. He enjoys painting and watching soccer.
![](https://sites.psu.edu/pennstatevfs/files/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-10-132943.png)
Name: Alex Duffy
Role: Outreach Chair
Email: ard6128@psu.edu
Alex Duffy is the Outreach Director for the Vertical Flight Society for the 2024-2025 school year. He currently conducts research under Dr. Edward Smith in the areas of structural dynamics and STEM engagement. Alex is a rising sophomore majoring in Aerospace Engineering.
![](https://sites.psu.edu/pennstatevfs/files/2023/09/blank-photo-150x150.jpg)
Name: Adrian Gaidula
Role: Social Media Chair
Email: aeg5888@psu.edu
Adrian is an undergraduate student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Penn State. He is interested in vertical flight and aircraft design. In his spare time he enjoys playing the guitar and being outside.
![](https://sites.psu.edu/pennstatevfs/files/2024/07/thumbnail_lp_image-580x1031.jpg)
Name: Jacob Lungin
Role: Logistics Chair
Email: jfl6276@psu.edu
My name is Jacob Lungin and I am the on site logistics chair for the 2024-2025 school year. I currently conduct research under Dr. Edward Smith focusing on vibrations analysis of co-axial high speed aircraft. I am a rising Junior majoring in Aerospace engineering.
Name: Grant Lee
Role: Event Planner
Grant is a PhD student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Penn State University. His research includes flight dynamics and controls. He holds a B.S. in Physics and M.Eng. in Aerospace Engineering.
Name: Dylan Lewis
Role: Undergraduate Coordinator
Name: Dr. Edward Smith
Role: Faculty Advisor
Dr. Ed Smith has been a member of the Aerospace Engineering faculty at Penn State University since 1992. He also completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Penn State, where he worked as a George F. Wislicenus Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Applied Research laboratory (ARL). He attended graduate school at the University of Maryland Center for Rotorcraft Education and Research, earning MS and PhD degrees in Aerospace Engineering. Working under the supervision of Prof. Inderjit Chopra, Ed became engaged in research in helicopter dynamics and composite rotor blades.
Name: Dr. Jose Palacios
Role: Faculty Advisor
Dr. Jose Palacios joined the faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Penn State University in August 2013. Jose received his BS, MS and PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the same department and school. He spent 5 years as a post-doctoral researcher at the Penn State Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence (VLRCOE). During that time, his main research focus has been aircraft and wind turbine icing. Jose has developed testing capabilities to investigate icing physics and methods to prevent ice accretion. The construction of an Adverse Environment Rotor Test Stand (AERTS) and an upcoming Ice Crystal Wind Tunnel have helped secure funds for on-going research in the field of rotorcraft icing physics, engine icing, de-icing systems, and ice protective coatings.
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