Industry Support Launches Rocket Club to International Competition

Weber State University’s (WSU) Rocket Club made its competition debut at the 2026 International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC), in Midland, Texas, from June 15–20, 2026. The club tested its inaugural 9-foot rocket after months of design, fabrication, and static testing.

Thanks to a generous sponsorship from Williams International, the team was able to travel to West Texas to compete alongside more than 150 universities from around the world and represent WSU for the first time. 

Weber State University Rocket Club - L to R: Santiago Bernal, Vinit Dudani, Reuben Payan, James Cabrera, Deogratias Tshulo Ngandju (seated), Justin Knighton (Faculty Advisor), Dustin Birch (Faculty Advisor), Jake Weathers, Logan James (behind). 

Despite the club being established only in the summer of 2025 and starting its rocket project three months later than many competing teams, students worked together to become competition-ready through dedication, problem solving, and teamwork. 

Faculty support also played a key role in the team’s success. Dustin Birch, faculty advisor for the Rocket Club, said, “the rocket performed nearly flawlessly.” He added, “it flew to 9,443 feet above ground level reaching a maximum flight velocity of Mach 0.88 which is 88% of the speed of sound. The recovery system (parachutes) deployed perfectly and the rocket was recovered intact with no damage. It met all of the basic performance requirements of the competition. The goal was to reach 10,000 feet above ground level, but for a first attempt, the rocket performed very well, missing the target by only 600 vertical feet. I'm very proud of the team. They accomplished a great deal for this first outing.”

More than a dozen scholarships are available through the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Manufacturing and Systems Engineering, helping students pursue engineering technology degrees and participate in hands-on learning opportunities such as the Rocket Club. The project gives students the opportunity to engage in exciting “real-world” engineering experiences while introducing them to future opportunities in the aerospace industry, as well as networking and building valuable professional connections they can carry throughout their careers. 

In addition, the partnership with Williams International, a global aerospace company that supplies gas turbine (jet) engines for commercial aircraft as well as several military programs, provided students with valuable industry experience. The company also has a large design and manufacturing presence in Ogden, Utah. Many WSU alumni and current students are employed by WIlliams, and a large percentage of its Ogden engineering team are proud Wildcats. 

Students interested in Engineering Technology programs or future opportunities with the Weber State University Rocket Club can contact east@weber.edu for more information.