Student Profile – Thomas Wong

Thomas Wong is a fifth year aerospace engineering major with a minor in creative writing at San José State University (SJSU). Raised in Daly City and the surrounding peninsula, he grew up surrounded by circuitry and curiosity thanks to his father’s electrical engineering roots. Outside of college walls he spends his time writing, hiking, scuba diving, reading, and building models, fueling the same restless imagination that’s driven him since childhood.

Thomas’ interest in aerospace took hold early in his life. While other kids chose fantasy novels for school projects, he picked a book on the history of wingless flight. The Artemis program, an effort to send humans back to the moon, would later reignite that excitement. That steady pull toward aeronautics and space eventually led him to strengthen the student community around him. He stepped into club leadership because he saw the organization struggling and felt responsible for rebuilding it.

One of his biggest impacts at the college of engineering has been restoring the Aerospace Projects Room, an area that sat quiet after the pandemic. Under his leadership it has become an active workshop and study room for students at all levels. He also helped expand Rocket Club’s momentum. As the GPS subteam lead, Thomas helped expand the Rocket Club’s momentum in the International Rocketry Engineering Competition. He built the ground station that tracked his team’s rocket, which reached over ten thousand feet and landed safely during the 2025 event.

Leadership has shaped the way Thomas sees teamwork, responsibility, and service. “My involvement in Rocket Club has helped keep me in tune with the needs of others and see things as a collective effort,” he explained. Thomas also understands the pressure that comes with making decisions. He recommends to always, “Trust yourself to make the right call.”

Those lessons guide how he now mentors younger students. He stresses grit, accountability, and the importance of enjoying the work, not just pushing through it. His goal is to create a club culture where people feel supported, involved, and able to grow as engineers. In the future Thomas hopes to earn a master’s degree and work in the aerospace industry, contributing to the next steps in space exploration and helping push the limits of what future engineers can achieve.

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SJSU Aviation Students Support Air Traffic Controllers During Shutdown

SJSU students stepped up to support air traffic controllers at Reid Hillview Airport this fall. Photo: Courtesy of Derrick Meyer.

With the recent government shutdown, a group of SJSU aviation students turned a class assignment into a way to support local air traffic controllers. After learning air traffic controllers at San José’s Reid-Hillview Airport were working without pay, aviation students started a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $1,100. The students used the money to deliver food and gifts to the employees as a thank you for keeping them safe during training flights.

The experience taught the students about community and the importance of supporting the people who make aviation possible. Now they’re working on holiday care packages for controllers at multiple towers and are asking the community to help contribute. If you want to learn more about the students’ efforts, read the full story.

Prof. Ahmed Banafa – DMV Approves Waymo’s Expansion Across the Bay Area

The DMV has given Waymo the green light to expand its driverless taxi service across the Bay Area and toward Sacramento. SJSU professor Ahmed Banafa says it’s a major milestone but notes that scaling and safety challenges still remain. Waymo insists it’s ready for more riders, but not everyone’s sold on hopping into a robotaxi just yet. Before service begins, the company still needs approval from the state utilities commission.

Dr. Karletta Chief: Engineering Water Resilience for Indigenous Communities

Dr. Karletta Chief (Diné) is a hydrologist and Professor of Environmental Science at the University of Arizona whose work focuses on protecting water and environmental health in Indigenous communities. Growing up in the Navajo Nation inspired her to pursue engineering and hydrology, eventually leading her to direct the Indigenous Resilience Center and develop off-grid technologies to support tribal nations. Her work highlights how engineering can serve community needs while honoring Indigenous knowledge.

She is known for leading community-driven research during crises like the Gold King Mine Spill, documenting both environmental and cultural impacts on Navajo families. By blending Western science with Diné knowledge and mentoring Indigenous students, Chief advances climate and water resilience while expanding Indigenous representation in STEM.