Chair: Eric Wahl
Eric Wahl is a multi-discipline engineer, with a variety of experience in different areas of technology. After obtaining a BSE in Software Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, he started his “first career” as a software engineer, working at companies both large and small, in positions up to the level of CTO. Eventually deciding that he wanted to work with hardware as well as software, he went on to earn an MS in Aerospace Engineering from San Jose State University, and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Santa Clara University. Since then, he’s enjoyed his “second career” as an aerospace engineer, including such positions as his current one at NASA, where he’s working on studies related to Advanced Air Mobility, and helping the FAA to automate their space operations mission planning.
Eric has been an AIAA member for many years, and now holds Senior and Lifetime Membership. Along the way, he’s come to appreciate the advantages that being part of the AIAA bring, including local meetings and technical events, knowledge access, networking, attending major industry conferences (which he’s presented papers at), and many others. Joining the San Francisco Council in the 2012 timeframe, Eric has served in different capacities since then, leading up to being Section Chair since 2017. He looks forward to contributing further in the upcoming years.
Vice Chair: Sina Aboutorabi
Sina Aboutorabi has been with AIAA since 2011 and an AIAA Section council member since 2022. He has served on the panel of judges for several AIAA Student Conferences. He has also been serving as a judge on many AIAA Scholarships and Graduate Awards review panels. He is a senior member of the American Astronautical Society. He is currently a teaching faculty member with the Department of Aviation and Technology at San Jose State University. He is also a lecturer with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at CSUN. He is an experienced electrical and astronautical engineer, particularly skilled in spacecraft and satellite communications systems.
Treasurer: Watson Attai
Watson Attai is the current treasurer for the San Francisco section of AIAA and has been for many years. In this role, Watson oversees the budget and monitors the finances throughout the year.
Watson holds a B.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering from University of California, San Diego. As part of the NASA Ames Research Center’s Engineering Systems Division, Watson works in the area of CubeSats, a subset of Small Satellites in the form of 10cm cubes that have gained popularity over the last few decades. More specifically, Watson build and test spacecraft for different NASA missions.
Board of Directors
Ladan Abootorabi
Ladan Abootorabi is an experienced electrical engineer and telecommunications expert with a 12-year history of working and learning in the fields of electronics, signal processing, communications systems, and telecommunications. She is a professional member of AIAA and IEEE. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering – Electronics, and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering – Electronics. She also holds an Associate Degree in Mathematics.
She has served on the panel of judges for the 2024 Region VI AIAA Student Conference and was appointed to the panel of online judges for the 2023 Region VI AIAA Student Conference. She has also been judging applications along with the AIAA Scholarships and Graduate Awards reviewing panels since 2023.
She holds two patents in RF electronic circuits. In her home country, she founded a start-up telecom company in 2009 and led the company as the managing director for four years. In her hometown, she has served on the board of directors of a MENSA-type organization dedicated to inventors and entrepreneurs.
Programming Director: Thomas Lombaerts
Thomas Lombaerts has a B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. (2010) in Aerospace Engineering from Delft University of Technology (the Netherlands). Research interests in flight dynamics and advanced flight controls. Worked at Delft University, German Aerospace Center DLR, and currently at NASA Ames Research Center, Division of Intelligent Systems. AIAA Member since 2005, authored and co-authored more than 30 AIAA conference and journal papers. Reviewer for multiple AIAA journals; served as technical chairs for AIAA SciTech Conferences in the past few years. Member of the AIAA Intelligent Systems Technical Committee; AIAA-SF Programs Director; AIAA Associate Fellow. Looking forward to continuing contributing to the AIAA locally and professionally in the coming years.
College Outreach Director: Ramuhalli Krishna
Ramuhalli Krishna obtained an MS in Astrodynamics, Ph.D. in Guidance, Dynamics and Controls (1984). Over 40 years experience in Aerospace Engineering (ISRO, NASA and DOD). Currently retired and trying to give back to aerospace community whatever he can as a volunteer. Associate Fellow, AIAA.
Honors & Awards Director: Swati Saxena
Swati Saxena completed her B.Tech. from IIT Kanpur, India and her MS and PhD from Penn State University in 2012. She has worked at GE Global Research for 5 years as a Lead Research Scientist and Program Manager in the areas of Turbomachinery and Flow Physics. She currently works at Ansys Inc. as a Technical Manager. She is a lifetime senior member at AIAA and is active at the national level as the member of technical committees (Applied Aerodynamics Committee) and conferences. She has served as reviewer for several conferences and international journals. She has more than 20 publications and 2 patents. Presently, she is the honors & awards director for AIAA SF Section and plans to continue contributing to the local chapter.
Communications Director: Sheen Kao
Sheen is a Mechanical Engineer from Cal Poly, who now does Machine Learning at a startup called Koko. He is responsible for running AIAA-SF’s website and electronic newsletter.
Rick Kwan
Rick Kwan is a computer scientist (BS, USC, 1981) with additional grad and undergrad work in astrodynamics, computer science, and general engineering. He has worked in the aerospace, computer, and semiconductor industries; including in So Cal (SDC/Burroughs, Hughes Aircraft, JPL), Taiwan (Acer Labs), and Silicon Valley (Sun, NASA Ames, Pioneer Research, VMware, Intel, MIPS). Associate Fellow of AIAA; member of AIAA SF section council, section officer (chair, webmaster, newsletter editor); member of AIAA Computer Systems Technical Committee; author of Computer Systems annual reviews in Aerospace America.
Membership Director: Prasad Gogineni
Prasad Gogineni is a retired Aerospace Engineer from Lockheed Martin, Sunnyvale, after 38 years of working on various missile programs. Ex-council member, and former Chair, of the AIAA-SF section. Would like to volunteer his services for the benefit of the Bay Area aerospace community.
