AZ Challenger Board and Staff

"The Challenger Center mission is right on target when it comes to inspiring our young people to reach for the stars in math and science."

Tom Ambrose
Phoenix Suns

"Challenger was without a doubt the best science experience for the students."

Victoria Day
8th grade Science Teacher

"My preschool class attended a field trip to your Center. I would like to thank you for such a great experience. My students had a wonderful time and 'Ms. Barb' had a great presentation that was geared for the younger student. Your facility is one of the few that offers educational opportunities for the very young. Thank you for your foresight!"

Jean Schubert
Santa Fe Elementary School, Peoria

"I just wanted to take a minute and say how pleased I was with how the mission went. Thanks to the crew at Mission Control, and to the Challenger for an educational experience closely related to our state standards and district curriculum."

Mike Holder
Science Department
Ironwood High School

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Board of Directors

Mr. Noah W. Foote
Field Operations Director
Cox Communications

Mr. William G. Gregory, Lt. Col. USAF, Ret. (Treasurer)
Advanced Instructor Pilot
Aviation Performance Solutions/Fighter Combat
Former U.S. Astronaut, Pilot, Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-67

Ms. Roberta “Bobbi” R. Magdaleno
Director, Community Relations
Arizona State University

Mr. Rick Kettner (Vice Chairman)
Senior Director, Engineering Technical Operations East
Orbital-ATK

Mr. Jeffrey B. Goldberg, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Engineering
University of Arizona

Mr. Michael Heath
Regional Supervisor, Transportation Services
SRP

Ms. Cyndi Newman, PE (Secretary)
Engineering Supervisor – Fossil Projects
Generation Engineering
APS

Mr. Robert Rasmussen (Chairman)
Director Technology Strategy
Honeywell, Aerospace Advanced Technology

Mr. Kishore Tipirneni, MD
Physician, Ortho Arizona
Owner Tipirneni Software

Dr. Bina H. Vanmali, MA, PhD
Director, Arizona Science Education Collaborative (ASEC)
Arizona State University

Honorary Members:

Brig. Gen. Richard Scobee – Deputy Dir. of Operations, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, CO. He is the son of Commander Dick Scobee, who died in the Challenger explosion in 1986.

Mrs. Nancy Stump – Mrs. Stump is the widow of U.S. Congressman Robert “Bob” Stump (1927 – 2003), Representative from Arizona’s 3rd District who served from 1977 – 2002 and Chaired the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and House Armed Services Committee. His vision for a more focused effort in STEM education in Arizona led to the partnerships in bringing the Challenger Space Center to Peoria, working with local, state and national agencies such as the Challenger Centers for Space Science Education.