PSESMAS Advisory Board

Board of Directors

PRESIDENT

Dave Perdziola ('87 E SC, '90 M.S.)
(2019-2027), Chair
Manager, Structural Mechanics
Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc

VICE PRESIDENT

Mike Rudolph ('10 E SC)
(2018-2027)
Government Strategy Manager
MathWorks

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT 

Charles Gaston ('61 E SC)
(2013-2024), Previous Chair
Department & University Relations
Retired, Assistant Professor
Penn State York

SECRETARY

Wes Blakeslee ('69 E SC)
(2025-27)
President
Blakeslee LLC

RECORDING SECRETARY

Lana Fulton
(2024 - )
Coordinator for Alumni Development and Advancement
Engineering Science and Mechanics
Penn State University

AT LARGE MEMBERS

Kevin Chen ('95 E SC)
(2014-2025)
Director of Business Development
Applied Material

James Oliver ('75 E SC)
(2012-2025)
Consulting Engineer
Northrop Grumman

Kyle Sinding ('14 E SC, '15 M.S.)
(2016-2025)
Lawrence Livermore National Lab

Brent Wagner ('84 E SC)
(2019-2024), Co-Chair
Principal Research Scientist
GA Tech Research Institute

Rebecca Balkey ('18 E SC)
Sr. Principal Systems Engineer
Northrop Grumman

Abdalla Nassar (’08 E SC, ’12 PhD)
(2025 - )
Vice President
Astro America

ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT MEMBERS

Andrew Geng ('23 E SC)
M.S. Student
Columbia University

Bradford Lapsansky ('14 E SC)
Integrations and Testing Manager
General Atomics Integrated Intelligence

Jonathan Pitt ('05 E MCH, '09 ESMCH)
Research Faculty, Intelligent Systems Division
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Donald Heaney (’91 ES C, ’93 MS, ’97 MATSE Ph.D)
President and CEO
Advanced Powder Products

Maria Piedrahita ('14 E SC)
Global Transitions Project Manager
Pratt & Whitney