TECH FOCUS: AEROSPACE A Q&A with SAE Aero Design organizers Michael Beriswill and Richard DeBerardinis are among SAE's 2024 top contributors. Classroom learning is good. Hands-on experience is better. At least, that's the general sentiment among those who participate in SAE University Programs, a series of collegiate competitions covering all aspects of mobility engineering. Whether students want to explore the skies or test their limits on a Formula-style track, these competitions provide an unparalleled opportunity for young engineers to turn theory into practice. It takes a lot of effort to pull off these unique events. While students are busy in their workshops, countless volunteers work behind the scenes to orchestrate the most engaging and rewarding competitions possible. Two such volunteers, Lockheed Martin engineers Michael Beriswill and UPDATE Student teams build and compete radio-controlled aircraft at SAE Aero Design. Shown: Second place overall winner for SAE Aero Design East 2024, regular class, Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics. Michael Beriswill (left) and Richard DeBerardinis (right) at SAE's 2024 Contributor of the Year celebration. Richard DeBerardinis, have invested hundreds of hours into managing the annual SAE Aero Design East competition. Their hard work was honored during SAE's 2024 Contributor of the Year celebration, where both men were recognized as part of the year's top contributor class. February 2025 23 PHOTOS: SAE Internationalhttps://www.sae.org/attend/student-events https://www.sae.org/attend/student-events https://www.sae.org/attend/student-events/sae-aero-design-east/ https://www.sae.org/blog/coty-class-2024