TARC Star Bobby Nordlund

Bobby�s enthusiasm for rocketry began in his senior year of high school during an elective rocketry class taught by his favorite teacher and soon-to-be TARC mentor, Roger Hall. Bobby was captain of his team, which placed 4th in the nation.

Bobby says that his TARC experience �was the highlight of my senior year.� Qualifying for the TARC competition required dozens of hours of working and reworking, but the payoff was worth it.

�It was the hands-on introduction to the real-world systems engineering process that showed me, on a small scale, the complex and wonderful world of engineering. Needless to say, I was sold.�

Bobby is currently a Sophomore at the U.S. Naval Academy studying Aeronautical Engineering. His TARC experience continues to be an advantage in his academic career, as he is currently applying what he learned during the competition to his work on a small rocket for his Introduction to Aerospace Engineering class.

After graduating from the Naval Academy, Bobby intends to become a Marine Corp aviator during his five years of required military service. After that, he is open to trying out the private sector and has even considered working for entrepreneurial space companies such as Brut Rutan�s Scaled Composites.

His advice to students who are interested in engineering? � �Love to learn and don�t ever stop.�