Alijah McDonald is a first year student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University studying to get his undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering. Throughout high school he was heavily involved with his school’s engineering program and robotics team. Through these programs he has studied the basics of rocket propulsion, robotic systems, and 3D modeling and design. Now as a university student, he has become involved with the university’s rocketry teams, working with motor development and payload integration. Alijah is working towards becoming a senior test engineer in his career and hopes to do so at an aerospace defense contracting company such as Northrop Grumman or Lockheed Martin.